Many New Zealand businesses are feeling the impact of New Zealand’s slow economy. Latest statistics show business leaders feel less positive about their business financials than they have in the past two years, with cash flow a major concern for many.
When times are hard, businesses may find themselves prioritising their finances and determining which creditors to pay first. While this can be a difficult decision, it’s essential to consider who you are legally and morally obliged to make payment to - including Inland Revenue.
The role of Inland Revenue
Inland Revenue has two main duties:
Broadly, this means they need to be fair and collect money efficiently. These duties are important when considering Inland Revenue’s position on debt owed by the taxpayer.
Prioritising payment
When funds are tight, businesses may need to make careful decisions about which creditors to pay, and when. While it can be tempting to prioritise paying the ‘squeakiest wheel,’ major suppliers and those who could interrupt your operations, it’s important to consider all your debt and the creditors you are obliged to pay.
Inland Revenue may not make the most noise and for some businesses, they may not always be at the top of the list when it comes to thinking about debt and prioritisation – but tax obligations must always be met. This is especially important given the $29 million allocated for compliance in this year’s Budget, which the IRD has said it will use to target people who have not met their tax obligations. Inland Revenue has indicated that they are focusing on tax debt owed by businesses in the construction industry, and businesses who took out the small business cashflow scheme loans.
We covered the role of fairness for Inland Revenue above. For business leaders, it’s equally important to be fair in meeting your tax obligations. If you practise fairness when dealing with Inland Revenue, you may find you receive fairness in return.
Practical tips for dealing with Inland Revenue debt
With this in mind, here are some practical tips for dealing with Inland Revenue debt.
Finally, it’s important to remember that when you’re dealing with Inland Revenue, you’re dealing with people. This can be easily forgotten in the increasingly technical world of chat bots, emails and AI. Keep this ‘people’ element top of mind - respond, don’t bend the truth, and do what you say you’re going to do; there’s a lot more greyness in this than “0s” and “1s”.
If you’d like any assistance meeting your tax obligations, give us a call.
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