Tax
CAN YOU RENT INVESTMENT PROPERTY TO YOUR FAMILY?
Can you rent investment property to your family? Helping a child save for a house deposit. Supporting elderly parents. Giving a sibling an affordable place to live. These are all common reasons why property owners consider renting a residential investment property to a family member. At first glance, it seems like a win-win arrangement. Your…
Read MoreWHEN CAN LAND SALES BE TAXED AS A PROFIT-MAKING SCHEME?
When can land sales be taxed as a profit-making scheme? Inland Revenue has released a draft interpretation statement, PUB00519, that revisits an issue which has been debated by tax advisors, property investors, developers, and Inland Revenue itself for decades. And it is potentially a huge shift in IRD thinking. At the heart of the draft…
Read MoreMOTOR VEHICLE FBT CHANGES
Motor vehicle FBT changes you say? Yes. The New Zealand Government has confirmed the most significant overhaul of the motor vehicle Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) rules in decades. From 1 April 2027, employers will no longer calculate FBT primarily by counting the days a vehicle is available for private use. Instead, they will classify vehicles…
Read MoreCOMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT TAX POOLING
Common questions about tax pooling: what do you need to know as a New Zealand business owner, property investor, or individual navigating provisional tax obligations? You may also hear it described as IRD tax pooling, provisional tax smoothing, or tax payment flexibility solutions—all referring to the same core concept: managing your tax payments more efficiently,…
Read MoreTHE DANGERS OF USING AI TO DO YOUR TAX RETURN
The dangers of using AI to do your tax return? What dangers? Well…. We all know that artificial intelligence has become remarkably accessible. Today, anyone can ask ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude, or another AI tool a tax question and receive an instant answer that appears authoritative and well researched. That convenience creates a real danger.…
Read MoreCOMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TAX RETURNS
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TAX RETURNS. Have you got tax return questions? Great! We try to answer them. Top questions first
Read MoreARE RENTAL PROPERTY LEGAL FEES TAX-DEDUCTIBLE?
Rental property owners often ask one core question: are rental property legal fees tax-deductible? The answer depends on why you incurred the legal cost, not simply that you paid it. Legal fees regularly arise for landlords: They appear during disputes, lease negotiations, trust administration, and property management issues. However, Inland Revenue does not treat all…
Read MoreCAN YOU DEDUCT HOLDING COSTS ON PRIVATELY USED PROPERTY THAT IS TAXED ON SALE?
Can you deduct holding costs on privately used property that is taxed on sale? That’s a good question. Property investors focus on outcomes. Cash flow, tax, risk, and long‑term value drive decisions far more than legal theory. However, one legal issue now affects thousands of everyday investors in a very practical way: When Inland Revenue…
Read MoreNZ TRUST TAX ISSUES WHEN MOVING TO AUSTRALIA
NZ Trust tax issues when moving to Australia. Is that “a thing”? Ooooh yes. Let’s explore: New Zealand trusts are often treated as simple, stable structures. That sense of stability can quickly unravel when trustees or beneficiaries move offshore—particularly to Australia. Every year, thousands of New Zealanders relocate across the Tasman for lifestyle, family, or…
Read MoreDeFi & CRYPTO TAX IN NZ: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IRD’s NEW GUIDANCE
DeFi & Crypto tax in NZ: What you need to know about IRD’s new guidance. New guidance you say? Yes, Inland Revenue has released a new issues paper in February 2026. It applies to anyone using crypto in DeFi – including wrapping, bridging, lending, borrowing, or staking. This paper sets out IRD initial views on…
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