Taxing lunch: Corporate Taxpayers Group lobbies for rule changes on entertainment

Sausage roll – snack or lunch? Corporates say tax laws make a meal out of tracking entertainment expenditure. (Image: AP)

Garth Bray

Wed, 05 Mar 2025

Sandwiches for senior managers in the boardroom while they chew over tax law advocacy?Fully deductible, no fringe benefit tax.Lunch in the boardroom for the Revenue Minister and Inland Revenue Department (IRD) officials, plus clients whose cause you’re advocating?Only 50% deductible, but still no FBT.Note that these are by way of illustration – seek your own advice on your own tax affairs – but the vagaries of tracking and claiming entertainment expenses are such that they top a list of compliance cost concerns for major corpo...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}