Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
IRD botches tax assessment for some BNZ customers
IRD botches tax assessment for some BNZ customers
Human error at Inland Revenue has resulted in as many as 45,000 Bank of New Zealand customers being issued incomplete tax statements and possibly incorrect tax demands.
An IRD mistake led to tax statements and possibly incorrect tax demands being issued for some BNZ customers. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
The mistake has come to light after BNZ customers contacted RNZ, complaining their IRD statements had no record of their business with the bank, although their dealings with other banks were fully detailed.
"Inland Revenue has found that two batches of automatic tax assessments issued in June didn't include investment income information sent from the BNZ," IRD said in a statement.
"This is a matter of human error with how the information was dealt with when it arrived at Inland Revenue."
Some customers who complained to RNZ said they had been told in their statements they owed tax to IRD, and also said they had found it impossible to contact IRD either through its phone helpline or website to rectify the mistakes.
"We are still investigating the issue to determine how we can assist these customers to make any changes needed to their assessments when and if required."
IRD said it was confident the error affected only a small group of BNZ customers, who were less than 2 percent of the issued, and that it had the correct information from all the other major banks.
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
Peter Dunne: Luxon Gets Out His Butcher's Knife - Briefly
Binoy Kampmark: Warring Against Encryption, Australia Is Coming For Your Communications
Gordon Campbell: On Fast Track Powers, Media Woes And The Tiktok Ban
Binoy Kampmark: Censorship Wars, Elon Musk, Safety Commissioners And Violent Content
Gordon Campbell: On The Public Sector Carnage, And Misogyny As Terrorism
Ramzy Baroud: NATO’s Never-ending War: The 75-Year-Old Bully Is Faltering