Thursday 5 August
MEDIA RELEASE

Inland Revenue encourages child support debt

Inland Revenue has introduced a new form of child support statement. The New Zealand Child Support Reform Network is receiving increasing reports of problems with these statements. Incorrect information on statements will mean parents unwittingly underpaying, resulting in debt and automatic ten percent penalties.

“Parents from throughout the country are finding issues with the new monthly child support statement format,” observed Jim Nicolle of the New Zealand Child Support Reform Network.

“In the worst cases the ‘Total Amount to Pay’ is missing from the statement or if a parent pays the ‘Please Pay by 20 August 2004’ amount, they will pay les than is due , resulting in debt and automatic penalties.”

“Introducing the new statement at the same time as issuing tens of Thousands of reassessments is a major headache for parents who just can’t make sense of the figures,” concluded Nicolle.

ENDS

Jim Nicolle was co-convener of Men’s Convoy 2004 and is a long time child support reform advocate and founding member of the New Zealand Child Support Reform Network.

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