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TaxTalk Newsletter Aug / Sep 16

 

Phone phishing scam

Phone Phishing Scam

 

- Over the past two weeks Inland Revenue has received reports of a telephone phishing scam from several hundred customers around New Zealand. 

The scam calls have been made to landlines and mobile phones, with messages being left on voicemail if the calls haven’t been answered. 
The callers state that they are from the Inland Revenue Department and the following scenarios have been reported, that the customer:

  • is wanted for historic tax evasion or tax avoidance
  • has a red flag on their file
  • is in debt

and they or their lawyer must return the call as soon as possible. Some customers have been told to make a payment via Western Union within 30 minutes, or risk arrest.

They are often told to ring a Wellington number—(04) 830 2441—and recommended to speak to a “Kenneth Mathews”, “James Matthews” or “Kevin Sousa” to arrange an immediate payment so as to avoid serious repercussions.

Customers have reported the callers as having “foreign sounding” accents, with many different accents reported. Sometimes the caller is female. The callers are very confident and convincing, and we have received anecdotal reports that some customers have been taken in and paid significant sums of money to the scammers.

Some customers have called the number referred to above and reported the background as sounding like a Contact Centre environment with multiple accents.

These customers have also reported the callers as becoming angry and aggressive when challenged.

We would like to remind all customers that Inland Revenue staff would not leave messages like these.

If you receive a suspicious email, SMS scam message or a fraudulent call, please email phishing@ird.govt.nz and include:

  • the email received, or
  • the number that the text message or phone number (Caller ID) originated from (if not blocked)
  • any names and call-back numbers given by the text sender or phone caller
  • details about the scam including:
  1. the amount of tax refund quoted
  2. the reference number
  3. the information requested, and
  4. any other relevant information.

 

Read invoicesReading ACC invoices

 

From 1 July, businesses will start to receive their recently redesigned ACC invoice.


The key design changes include:

  • an improved layout
  • simplified design
  • fewer pages
  • the removal of unnecessary colours.

More information about the invoices, including examples, are available on the ACC website.

ACC worked with customers, and ACC staff who deal with business customers every day, to include their feedback while redesigning their levy invoices. The result is an invoice that is clearer and easier to read, while keeping all the information businesses need.

Share your feedback about the new design with ACC at feedback@acc.co.nz.


 

MBIETaking care of business events

 

Business events are being held around New Zealand, giving owners and managers an opportunity to talk directly with the government agencies they deal with day-to-day.

"Taking Care of Business: Government Supporting Your Business" is a series of 16 events being held around the country from June to October.

The aim of "Taking Care of Business" is to make that interaction easier and more efficient so you can get on with the business of being in business.

At these events, experts from several different agencies, including Inland Revenue, will outline government support available for businesses, discuss new legislation and how to comply, and answer any questions business owners might have.

Register now for the event nearest you on www.mbie.govt.nz


 

The futureFinding out what the future of tax could look like

 

IRD want to make managing tax faster and easier for small businesses.

IRD’s new "Changing for You" website shares ideas for the future of tax in four areas:

  • starting a business
  • employing people
  • filing and paying PAYE and GST
  • calculating income tax.

Visit this website for more information:

www.changingforyou.ird.govt.nz


 

Box of chocolates
Chocolates prove to be the right sweetener

 

A South Island company sent a box of handmade chocolates as a thank you when they delivered an order.

The company makes furniture.

It's different from its competitors. It doesn’t only send the chocolates after it has delivered the goods, but it sends another box a year later and so on.

Is this a good idea? We think it's brilliant. Some people will include a present as part of their after-sales service, but whoever thought of repeating the present several times. This is what happened.

“We got a box of handmade chocolates from …,” the customer was saying to someone who also needed some furniture. “Come up and I’ll show what we bought.” she said. “You can go on the internet and see their full range.”

The friend placed an order worth $5000!

When you've made a good sale, keep in touch with the customer.

You're looking for referrals.


 

PlumberWebsite not always the answer

 

If you're in business, you’ve got to have a website, right?

Well, maybe. While websites are certainly important marketing tools, it's better to have no website than a bad one. Too many small businesses are drawn into the idea that they must have a website at all cost. But what cost? Let's look at four of the issues that can lead to poor websites.

Time: If you don't have the time to update your website regularly, don't have one. Likewise if you don't have the time to set it up with the content you really need (& not what a web designer thinks you need). Regularly updated websites rank highly on search engines and give visitors a reason to return. But some researchers say about 65% of small business owners find updating their website a problem. If that's you, allocate the time each week, get help from someone who can write content, or minimise the website to a home page with only contact details and something about your business.

False economy: Websites can nowadays cost very little in monetary terms, but even when they're free, they'll cost you in the long run if they're not maintained. You'll look unprofessional & you could lose business, or fail to attract business you really should be attracting.It's also false economy to spend big money on a fantastic website that no one visits. You'll need to look at how to drive people to the site.

Poor content: You know your business, so get it right first time. Ask around so you get the best advice. Make your site engaging and have impact. Use photographs whenever possible. Ensure spelling and grammar are correct.

Management: If you have to rely on a web agency to manage your site, be prepared to pay (as you should, they're in business, too). It's best if you can manage your site content yourself so you have control. Choose your website manager carefully – if the web company closes down or the manager in your own business leaves, how will you maintain the site?


 


Resident Land withholding Tax


 

Starting 1 July 2016 RLWT may be deducted from some residential property sales/disposals.

RLWT will generally apply to New Zealand residential property:

  • owned (or part owned) by an offshore RLWT person, and
  • purchase/acquired on or after 1 October 2015, and
  • sold/disposed of within two years of purchase.

If you purchased/acquired New Zealand residential property on or after 1 October 2015 and you sell/dispose of it within two years you need to declare if you’re an offshore RLWT person.

You'll need to do this by completing a Residential land withholding tax declaration (IR1101) form. The IR1101 confirms if RLWT will be deducted from the sale.

If you're a lawyer or conveyancer, you may have obligations to withhold RLWT from the property sale/disposal.


 

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Important: This is not advice. Clients should not act solely on the basis of the material contained in the Tax Talk Newsletter. Items herein are general comments only and do not constitute nor convey advice per se. Changes in legislation may occur quickly. We therefore recommend that our formal advice be sought before acting in any of the areas. The Tax Talk Newsletter is issued as a helpful guide to our clients and for their private information. Therefore it should be regarded as confidential and should not be made available to any person without our prior approval.