Individuals forums - recent comments

Doesn't this already exist

Litterarum — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:22:53 +0000

Doesn't this already exist through online services?

The only area I find frustrating about the existing online services, is that I can't update our family assistance details, because the Family Assistance is in my spouse's name - even though it's our joint income that needs to be updated. We have given IRD authority for the other spouse to speak to them on our behalf, but I still need to ring up when my income changes to update the family assistance calculation.

Providing a website users can

100000596760411@facebook — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:16:13 +0000

Providing a website users can log into and enter / update information will allow people to do what they do now via another medium. It will be more efficient for both parties and I am a strong supporter of it.

However what could revolutionise the way individuals deal with the IR is to move these communications behind the scenes. There is a small (but growing) segment of the community that currently use software to manage their personal finances. Providing a web-services layer with the portal that allows their current personal finance software can communicate with will lessen the burden of tax compliance considerably.

To move to an electronic

100000596760411@facebook — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:14:59 +0000

To move to an electronic environment one needs a computer, access to internet and ability to use the computer. The biggest challenge will be ensuring those without these (elderly, poor, etc...) are able to file.

The tax credit regime currently provides for rebates for childcare etc. Why not extend this to accountants. Allow people access to file manually if they wish, however instead of sending the IR3 equivalent to the IR they send it to a Chartered Accountant who then keys the information into their electronic system.

The proposal to make PAYE

Norman West — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:29:53 +0000

The proposal to make PAYE deducted a final tax with no provision for refund of overpayment is flawed.

Recent experience when dealing with CODES calculated by IRD based on monthly employer returns and notified to the employer for mandatory application resulting in significant overpayment suggests that IRD systems take no account of changed circumstances and the stage in the Tax Year in which they occur . The case in point related to a young entrant to full time employment in January 2010. Income to that point was minimal (under $9,000). After the first month of Full Time employment and the employers return to IRD this seemingly was interpreted by what appears to be a computerised function to represent Annual Income of $30,000. The mandatory change advised to the employer resulted in an over deduction of a significant three figure sum which has now been refunded, but the proposal to make deductions final would have precluded that.

IRD procedures for dealing with approaches to report changed circumstances are also flawed. Their letter to the employer based upon a false assumption must be acted upon by the employer. The onus to correct falls upon the employee who must present another declaration. IRD do not send another advice to the employer to correct the matter.

I strongly support the

Jordan — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:02:02 +0000

I strongly support the proposal to allow electronic statements and notices from Inland Revenue. This should be on an opt-in basis. Users should have the opportunity to choose to receive statements and notices electronically, in paper form, or both.

Personally, I would find electronic updates much more user-friendly. They would be easier to file, easier to search, and easier to integrate with electronic time management systems (for example, the "tasks" function in Microsoft Outlook allows users to "tag" an email and set reminders and deadlines for response).

Ideally, users would be able to also be able to view past electronic statements and notices online, through a secure portal. This would show all correspondence in one place, with the ability for users to request a particular statement or notice to be resent (for example, if an email was accidentally deleted).

This is a dreadful

michael — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:00:37 +0000

This is a dreadful idea.

Last year the select commitee was taking submissions for changes to Transport (Vehicle and Driver Registration Act) 1986, for varied reasons including that Veda Advantage was data mining the motor vehicle register to sell the infromation to companies for direct marketing purposes.

The first I was aware of this was when I received an offer from Cigna for a life insurance and they used my first name. This raised warning bells as I always go by my middle name which is Michael. I contacted them and found out they had obtained my details from Land Transport Motor Vehicle Registry via Veda. I also received an offer for a pre approved charge card from American Express in a similar fashion.

A few years ago I also discovered how easy it is to screw up someones credit rating, again it was Veda Advantage involved (Known as Baycorp then). All the perpretrator has to do was make up a phony invoice with my company's name on it, and send it to Veda with the correct phone number but fake address, and presto - screwed credit rating I had engage a lawyer to threaten them with legal action. Ironically Veda were also pursuing the perpetrator's business for $100k.

I recived a phone call from Veda, I strongly denied the debt, and that was the last I heard so I thought the matter was finished. Unfortunately I hadn't replied to their letter (I didn't recieve it) and they did what they did, no proof whatsoever required for the phony 'debt'.

In short while credit rating agencies may serve a useful purpose to commerce but they are also a law on to themselves and they are not to be trusted.

My Mother's last law job in law was working in the legal side of debt collection. She also told me about Baycorp and co's cowboy antics.

It will be a big mistake for the IRD to give them or any of their ilk any implied credibility.

(Please delete my above post and replace it with this one)

In the past personal tax

exeman — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:37:39 +0000

In the past personal tax number card for all workers and beneficiaries as cardboard style card no good as I noticed as least one worker has plastic card with tax number detail and name of the individual on it as there was no information on website and brochure how do I get one thing like that that was really surprised me earlier this century.

It should be available for all.

In the past the deaf

exeman — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:43:14 +0000

In the past the deaf customers has experienced in unnesscaary requirement of proof ID of each deaf individual was not popular really due too much paperwork and other relevant documents as well booking NZSL interpreter procedure never informed deaf community was a result time consuming and unnecessary paperwork as the process of booking an interpreter for IRD interview never made public within deaf community as in most case felt uncertainly and unprepared.

The problem deaf community was not fully aware of the booking and ID confirmation when contacting IRD via standard procedures.

Major problem was constant procedural changes never informed deaf community was very distressing / shock for deaf customers here as a result too many struggling and unprepared.

Electronic ID would best to speed up rather than paperwork.

It should be consultation within deaf community when procedural changes before reach agreement first before implementations.

Technological changes within IRD can very barrier to deaf customers really no joke at all.

The online service allowing

Peter RS — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:48:46 +0000

The online service allowing people to update PTS details needs to be extended to Tax Agents.

The PTS's issued this year don't show whether a bank account is loaded, so the only options for checking this are to access the details online (only available to the individual), or ring one of the IRD lines. I rang today to check/update 3 clients' bank account numbers and it took 45 minutes of my time - hardly efficient.

If you have a joint bank

Midge — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:01:22 +0000

If you have a joint bank account or a personal bank account and do not supply your IRD number to your bank then they will tax you at the highest rate.

If you supply your IRD number then you can choose which rate you expect to be taxed at for the year on your Interest.

But this is still irrelevant because once you do your tax return at the end of the year.. all your interest income and tax already paid on that interest is included so if you pay too much you will get it back in the refund anyway.

If you have a joint bank account then the interest and tax credits are split between the both of you 50/50 and again this will be balanced off in your tax return.

Your question - How are people going to get a refund if too much tax is deducted? That is the main reason people get a refund.... because they have had too much tax deducted throughout the year. (unless they are eligible for a tax rebate of course)

Same thing goes with Dividends and Imputation credits.

I agree. Businesses used to

joolst — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:52:11 +0000

I agree. Businesses used to receive a prepaid envelope with their PAYe forms etc. The IRD should send these out to individuals as well - not just businesses, particularly where they are requesting information from the individual.

It is not a good idea. One of

joolst — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:47:34 +0000

It is not a good idea. One of the basic principles of the privacy act is that no inofrmation is held under a common unique identifier. This would be necessary to enable this kind of sharing. If other government agencies need to see my data they can put in an official request and then the IRD would have to follow the principles of the Privacy Act to supply that information. The more automated sharing of data is allowed, the more margin for error exists. Also the more information that is held in one place about someone, the greater the exposure to possible identity theft by anyone who obtained unlawful access to that information.

The majority of people are law abiding and will provide information when requested. I do not wish to sacrifice my rights to Privacy for the sake of the criminal minority.

Why cant the IRD supply a

Dude — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:28:18 +0000

Why cant the IRD supply a prepaid self addessed envelope. Taking our money and then not even supplying a stamp like any other organisation does is just an insult these days

I'd like to see a much fairer

Dude — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:39:32 +0000

I'd like to see a much fairer tax system for single income families and salary and wage earners.

Salary and wage earners should be able to claim expenses for getting to work, paying for food at work, clothing for work, vehicle for getting to work or running costs, just like self employed and company owners can.

Single income families should be able to split the income across the couple. This is only fair, if the partner that isnt earning isnt able to claim any kind of benefit because they are treated as a couple. My family would be much better off if we were divorced.

Far too many are slipping through the cracks of the tax system and are paying much less tax than their fair share and as a result claiming more benefits than their fair share,

I dont feel I am taxed fairly and I am sure I am not alone with this opinion.

Your website is too useless

Dude — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:23:54 +0000

Your website is too useless to do this. I use the internet for everything, I was going to do my tax online but I couldnt even get logged in

I couldnt simply use my ird number for a login, you wouldnt accept a password I use on other sites

First I had to call to activate my account, well it was after you hours so I couldnt do this.

So I got sent your temporary password.

couldnt remember my login since i couldnt use something easily remembered

Tried calling but its after hours..... Do I have all day to mess around calling the IRD?

So I just did the paper version, a lot easier

Also, I cant find a thing on your website.

Its good to have online version available, but you need to get your website sorted and people using it first.

Kim, thanks for your

Moderator — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:30:30 +0000

Kim, thanks for your feedback. This is the first time we have built a website with videos, and we were concerned that the needs of those with disabilities were met. This is why we provided a transcript for each video. The main purpose of the transcripts was to provide access to the video content for visually impaired people who rely on screen readers, although the transcripts also provide an alternative for those with hearing loss.

However, your point about lingual separation and providing captions on the videos themselves is a good one, and we will aim to implement that when we next launch a site which uses videos.

Moderator

Ok i think this has the

Pascal — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:18:19 +0000

Ok i think this has the potential to go horribly wrong. There is already enough information readily available to any government department thanks to the policy that was released over xmas last year that states something along the lines of any department can have ANY facebook information and any email sent by any person at any time. The ISP's are required to keep this information and hand it over if asked.

All this along with all the other information the IRD holds is really really dangerous. I don't want this kind of power in any government bozos hands just so i can skip a few forms!

Please, if you make changes,

admini — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:20:32 +0000

Please, if you make changes, keep getting feedback from a wide range of real people who have to deal and interact with your new systems (not just the corporates and techies either)

Paying PAYE is compulsory but

admini — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:25:00 +0000

Paying PAYE is compulsory but reliant on the payroll officer getting it right. In some small busineses, where that person is responsible for multiple admin functions, that person is not 100% competent in payroll and makes mistakes such as deducting too much PAYE when paying an annual bonus. Been there! Dont take away my right to get it squared up at the end of year. That seems unbelievably unfair.

Terrible idea. Sometimes

admini — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:18:37 +0000

Terrible idea. Sometimes trying to find important info online is just a real mission and so frustrating, particularly when you are not quite sure what you are looking for. It would be like the dreaded Microsoft Help function - it just makes you wanna give up! Hard copy is so much easier to navigate and also I learn more because i come across things as I skim read searching for what I need to know.