The proposals around the LAQC and QC rules to shore up the integrity of the tax system are questionable, says NZICA tax director Craig Macalister.

The Government Budget was a welcome return to a simpler tax system, removing some of the incentives to structure economic activity for tax purposes rather than for commercial purposes, says the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA).

A New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) member has been removed, three suspended and one censured after a hearing of the Disciplinary Tribunal on 13 April.

At its recent Annual General Meeting in Wellington the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants elected its office-bearers for 2010.

Recent court decisions on tax putting emphasis on what Parliament was contemplating when it made changes to tax rules are a "dangerous tool", says PricewaterhouseCoopers chairman John Shewan.

An increase in GST would cause major disruption to businesses, says one of the country's GST specialists.

Alignment of tax rates and closing property investment tax loopholes appear to be the government's main priorities for tax reform.

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne has opened the NZICA Tax Conference with a speech covering a wide range of topics. The full speech is produced below. We have added bookmarks so you can get to the bits you want.

Small businesses' tax compliance costs could potentially be cut by up to a third, according to recommended changes in a report by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) and Tax Management New Zealand.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants has announced the finalists in its 2009 Leadership Awards.

"Our three leadership award categories recognise outstanding individual achievement, organisational leadership and best practice in accountancy,"chief executive Terry McLaughlin says. "These finalists have all excelled in their accountancy careers, their businesses and in their services to the community."

Timaru chartered accountancy firm Noone & Maxwell has changed its name after principal Brian Maxwell sold his interests in the firm.

While the Prime Minister John Key virtually ruled out a capital gains tax yesterday, he is much less unequivocal about other forms of tax on property investment.

 

A capital gains tax is not the magic bullet for economic stability NZICA's tax director Craig Macalister says.

"The Government must ensure New Zealand continues its reputation as a good place to do business", says Steven Bailey, the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants' Director, Government Relations.

The broad thrust of the Inland Revenue's recent officials paper has received support from the Institute of Chartered Accountants - but the department needs to provide rulings more quickly.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants has elected eight new directors under its new constitution.