If GST rises in the upcoming budget then superannuation payments would immediately rise by 2 percent in addition to any tax cuts that would apply, Prime Minister John Key said today.

Wellington, Jan 20 NZPA - Personal income taxes and company taxes are the worst for economic growth and consumption taxes are better, according to the Tax Working Group, which put options for a complete revamp of the tax system before the Government today.

Wellington, May 29 NZPA - Legislation to scrap tax cuts has been passed in Parliament.

Labour has attacked the Government for advertising the $10-a-week independent earner tax credit which starts tomorrow but Prime Minister John Key says it was cheap compared with Labour's taxpayer-funded messages while it was in power.

Taxpayers will get an indication in the May 28 budget on whether the scheduled 2010 and 2011 tax cuts will go ahead, Finance Minister Bill English said today.

Tax cuts that come in on Wednesday will deliver a billion dollar a year boost to the economy while changes to the business tax regime will help companies get through the recession, ministers said today.

A bill aimed at making life easier for small and medium sized businesses has been reported back to Parliament. The Taxation (Business Tax Measures) Bill is part of the Government's response to the recession and its provisions come into force on April 1.

Labour leader Phil Goff has offered his party's support to the Government should it change its stance on tax cuts.

Prime Minister John Key "believes" tax cuts for 2010-11 and will go ahead, but he stopped short of guaranteeing them today.

The Government's attempts to bolster the New Zealand economy against recession have been defended by Prime Minister John Key as balanced and effective.

The latest steps to insulate the economy against the chill of economic recession has been met with a warm, but muted response. Prime Minister John Key today outlined a "Jobs and Growth Plan" intended to make life easier for small to medium sized businesses.

Tax changes worth $480 million over four years targeted at small and medium business were announced this morning. The 11 tax changes were part of a package aimed at promoting growth and jobs as the Government reacts to an international finance crisis and recession at home.

The first pieces of the Government's Jobs and Growth Plan were announced this morning. They included tax changes worth $480 million over four years targeted at small and medium business.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in tax relief for businesses to help them through the recession will be unveiled tomorrow by Prime Minister John Key. Mr Key will outline policies aimed at helping out small and medium sized enterprises.

Prime Minister John Key said tax changes to help business will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Parliament will sit under urgency so the tax changes -- to be announced tomorrow -- can come into effect by April 1.

Parliament will sit under urgency next week to pass laws giving tax relief to business, Prime Minister John Key said today.

Prime Minister John Key is to make a speech on Wednesday outlining measures to help small and medium businesses. He told Breakfast on TV One this morning there would be a range of initiatives aimed at taking pressure off the sector which employs 95 percent of New Zealand workers.

Whakatane, Jan 14 NZPA - A former Whakatane tax agent who defrauded $45,000 from Inland Revenue narrowly escaped a prison sentence when she appeared in Whakatane District Court today.

The Government is going to fix a law to prevent already troubled finance companies being hit with an immediate one-off tax bill.

The National-led Government has passed its first major legislation -- enshrining tax cuts and KiwiSaver changes into law. The Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill passed its third reading this morning by 68 votes to 52.

Parliament is close to passing the Government's tax cuts legislation, with the Labour Party fighting the bill to the last minute.

Labour said last night it had forced the Government to admit low income workers would be worse off under its tax cuts than they would have been if the previous government's long-range package had been left alone.

The Government brought a bill to Parliament last night to enact its tax cuts programme and it provoked the first serious conflict with Labour since the election.

Prime Minister John Key is not going to copy his Australian counterpart and urge people to start spending windfalls to save the economy.

Cabinet has approved a double tax agreement with the United States, Prime Minister John Key said today. He said the protocol would reduce withholding tax on interest, dividends and royalties between the two countries.

Labour is accusing National of turning away job-rich investments by dithering over the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

Prime Minister-elect John Key today indicated National was willing to consider supporting a carbon tax.

The Government is waging a war of words and figures as it pulls apart National's tax cuts.

The overall bank balances of anyone in KiwiSaver will be worse off under National's economic and tax plan than under Labour's policy, Labour's finance spokesman Dr Cullen said today.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and National leader John Key today traded blows over his party's tax package as each sought to sell their economic credentials to voters.