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IRD’s use of debt collectors unacceptable

Thursday, 21 April 2011, 3:34 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Labour Party


Stuart
NASH
Revenue spokesperson

21 April 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
IRD’s use of debt collectors unacceptable

The use of independent debt collectors by the IRD to collect outstanding taxes is unacceptable and has to stop immediately if public confidence in the confidentiality of the system is to remain intact, says Labour’s Revenue spokesperson Stuart Nash.

"The IRD holds a great deal of highly confidential information and to breach the trust of Kiwis by releasing such information to an independent debt collection agency is simply not right," Stuart Nash said.

"Of course we all expect New Zealanders to pay their fair share of tax, and I would expect the IRD to come down hard on tax cheats, but to do so in-house using their own significant powers and resources.

"If it is a matter of in-house resource constraints then the IRD should look to employ more people in the role of tax collection. After all, the department informed me that they receive a $60 return for every $1 spent chasing tax debt,” Stuart Nash said.

"I understand in one case, the partner of a taxpayer was given the information by a debt collector and asked if he would like to pay the outstanding debt by credit card. This is a blatant breach of confidentiality.

“The IRD also relies on New Zealanders to voluntarily provide quite a high level of personal information. Taxpayers must be able to expect the highest level of confidentiality, not have their information pawned off to an independent company.
“Labour MP Shane Jones and I made it clear to the IRD at a Finance and Expenditure select committee meeting earlier in the year that we would be most unhappy for taxpayer information to be handed to anyone outside of the department.

“I have never seen anything that gives the IRD the mandate to pass on a taxpayer’s private information to an outside agency.

“I urge the Minister to review this process before it is muddied further and taxpayer confidence is threatened.

“This breach of privacy must be stopped immediately,” Stuart Nash said.

ENDS

 
 
 
 
 
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