Is it a knot? Is it a tangle? The ever-growing tax web

The latest proposals for the tax treatment of residential rentals tips the tax code further into mind-bending complexity

Pattrick Smellie

Mon, 14 Jun 2021

If a low-rate, broad-based tax system falls apart over many years, does anybody notice?In case it’s not obvious, this is a clumsy attempt to liken the gradual erosion of the radical simplification of the New Zealand tax system in the 1980s to the old Philosophy 101 problem of whether a tree that falls in a forest makes a noise if nobody’s there to hear it.I was there when that 1980s transformation was taking place, as a junior press secretary to Roger Douglas, the finance minister at the time.Roger made short work of the question ab...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

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

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].interval) | 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 }}

On the Money

On the Money: Dalai Lama, Shane Jones, & the Wahs

Dalai Lama gets persuaded to Up the Wahs and Jones is in the spotlight, again.

Dileepa Fonseka 5:00am

Technology

It’s not just TikTok. The world uses lots of Chinese tech

The US can’t and won’t ban every technology from China. So now what?

The Washington Post 5:00am

It’s not just TikTok. The world uses lots of Chinese tech

Bloomberg

Firms do better when more women are on boards: analysts

The most gender-diverse companies deliver higher shareholder returns than others.

Bloomberg 5:00am

Firms do better when more women are on boards: analysts

Sponsored

Why Kiwis are embracing Bitcoin ETFs

The once hard-to-access investment option is becoming mainstream.

Smart

Sponsored

Boost worker health, boost results

Research shows flexible workspaces improve health and productivity

Regus

More Property

Property

Triple Connection faces liquidation

The debt collector says the company "don't pay their bills".

Gregor Thompson 13 Dec 2024

Property

Beachlands South development appeals settled

Appeals challenging the approval of a plan change for the Beachlands South development have been settled, paving the way for the multi-billion dollar project to proceed.“The success of negotiating a sensible outcome means that the development process can now move forward with the...

Staff reporters 11 Dec 2024