In June 2022, Inland Revenue finished the multi-year programme to transform and modernise Aotearoa New Zealand's tax and social policy system.
At the heart of our transformation has been our drive to make it simpler and easier for customers to pay the right amount of tax and get the social policy payments they're entitled to.
We've assessed $100.6 billion in tax revenue, and distributed a net $2.92 billion in Working for Families Tax Credits and $4.6 billion in COVID-19 support payments and loans. This year, we've continued to take a supportive approach with customers struggling with their tax obligations.
Inland Revenue has needed to make some trade-offs in our services this year. Our compliance efforts and resources have focused on the areas of highest risk, and we're paying close attention to the integrity of COVID-19 initiatives.
This year, we've networked with the wider tax and social policy communities to deliver more for Aotearoa New Zealand. We're also focused on working to be a better partner in the Māori Crown relationship.
The people who work here have achieved a lot. They've stayed resilient and dedicated, and many have dealt with the effects of COVID-19 in their own lives.
We work to keep ensuring New Zealanders believe:
- when I pay my tax, I'm doing a good thing (and that's what people like me do)
- when I'm trying to do the right things, Inland Revenue will help me
- when someone else is trying to do the wrong things, Inland Revenue will find them.
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Tax and social policy payments centred around our customers
Aotearoa New Zealand now has a modern, digital system that enables customers to do as much for themselves as possible, in ways and at times that suit them.
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Tax and payments are simpler, open and certain
Our core work is collecting tax and making social policy payments. We've made a lot of changes over the last 5 years to make things easier for customers.
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New Zealanders received essential support to help deal with the effects of the pandemic and stay on track with their obligations
We developed relief packages rapidly and set up online applications with built-in checks, which make it easy for customers to check their eligibility.
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Making choices about where to focus our efforts
Responding to the demand created by COVID-19 support put a lot of pressure on us and we had to make choices about where we focused our people's efforts throughout the year.
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We're working with others to keep improving tax and payments
We continue to expand our connections with other government agencies, tax agents, and the community and social sectors, nationally and internationally.
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This year has been hard for customers
Aotearoa New Zealand's tax and social policy payments system is based on customers voluntarily making the payments they should.