IRD officials' preference for requiring every working New Zealander to file annual tax returns appears to have been squashed by Finance Minister, Steven Joyce, and Revenue Minister, Judith Collins.

Responding to this afternoon's announcement by the Ministers, Executive Director of the Taxpayers' Union, Jordan Williams, said, "There was a very real risk that officials got their way and the tax system was made more not less administratively burdensome. That's what they were seeking, at least in the earlier advice given to Ministers."

"It appears that Cabinet has overruled the tax mandarins, and opted for the rights of taxpayers over bureaucratic preferences. Taxpayers will be thankful that in years to come they will no longer have to file returns, or use tax refund companies, to get what is owed to them."

ENDS

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