Wellington, Aug 30 NZPA - The Government is looking at changing the rules around social assistance so people who don't need help don't get it, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says. He has issued a tax policy issues paper and wants feedback on suggested changes.

Wellington, Aug 24 NZPA - Law changes to cut compliance costs around the upcoming GST rate change tax are among "business friendly" changes being made to a key piece of tax legislation, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says.

Wellington, Aug 24 NZPA - Ratepayers should only be required to pay 12.5 percent GST on their rates bills for the current year, the Labour Party says.

Wellington, Aug 23 NZPA - Two leading professional directors say the accounting treatment of tax changes in the Government's May budget has distorted company accounts by more than $1 billion and is making them misleading.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, Aug 17 NZPA - New Zealand's foreign debt is one of the worst in the world and people have to save more, Prime Minister John Key says.

By Peter Wilson of NZPA Wellington, Aug 17 NZPA - Peter Dunne could have a hard time getting his income-splitting bill enacted because it would cost the Government $450 million a year in lost revenue.

Wellington, Aug 16 NZPA - The Government is reserving judgment on United Future leader Peter Dunne's income-splitting bill and will wait to see how the public reacts to it before deciding whether it should become law.

Wellington, Aug 16 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key is setting out a compelling case for compulsory superannuation and says public opinion has shifted since it was rejected in a 1997 referendum.

Wellington, Aug 16 NZPA - More than 300,000 families will be able to split their income for tax purposes and reduce their liability under legislation announced today by Revenue Minister Peter Dunne.

Wellington, Aug 13 NZPA - A new tax scheme with the potential to save couples with children as much as $9000 a year will be announced on Monday by Revenue Minister Peter Dunne.

Wellington, Aug 11 NZPA - Revenue Minister Peter Dunne wants feedback on suggested changes to the rules around asset depreciation. He said today the review included non-residential building fit-outs, which was announced in the May budget.

Wellington, Aug 10 NZPA - Increasing the GST rate in October will now be easier for businesses after the Government made changes for goods and services that straddle the October 1 change over date. GST will rise from 12.5 percent to 15 percent from this October.

Wellington, Aug 5 NZPA - No goods and services tax (GST) will be payable on commercial land transactions between GST-registered parties from April 1 next year if a bill introduced into Parliament today goes through.

Wellington, August 3 NZPA - New Zealanders leaving to work overseas for an extended period should seek professional advice before filling in Inland Revenue's residence questionnaire, or face a potential legal challenge to the department, the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA)

By Kate Chapman of NZPA Wellington, July 28 NZPA - Personal information held by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) could be given to credit rating agencies if proposed changes to privacy of tax information go ahead.

Wellington, July 23 NZPA - Revenue Minister Peter Dunne today addressed some unintended consequences of the Government's move to increase the goods and services tax (GST) to 15 percent from 12.5 percent on October 1 -- to sighs of relief.

Wellington, July 21 NZPA - A bid to remove GST on healthy foods to lower costs has been slammed by the Government.

Wellington, July 8 NZPA - Treasury and Inland Revenue Department (IRD) were at odds over the Government's decision to cut the company tax rate to 28 percent.

Wellington, July 8 NZPA - Treasury and the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) did not think a comprehensive capital gains tax was feasible for the 2010 budget and argued it could be considered later in continuing strategic tax reform.

Wellington, June 28 NZPA - The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) believes users of financial information, including banks, will look through the large deferred tax liabilities companies are currently reporting.

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.