Newsletter Archives

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June 2023


  • Approval of First Fair Pay Agreement Application
  • Safety in the Use of Public Device Charging Ports
  • Banks' Seven Day Processing of Domestic Payments
  • Less Single Use Plastic Packaging
  • KiwiSaver included in the Remuneration Package of Employees
  • "Workcation" - The new Travel Trend
  • Threshold Changes to Student Loan
  • Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport!
  • National Average Market Herd Values - 2020 to 2023
  • Light Humour - The Unspoken Rules of New Zealand Life

 


March 2023


  • Banking 365 Days a Year
  • Minimum Hourly Rate Wage Increase
  • Gun Owners Hit In The Pocket
  • Is Your Rental Up To Standard – Healthy Homes Compliance
  • One Egg or Two?
  • Preparation Tips for The End of the Year
  • Marginal Tax Rates – An Election Promise?
  • Accounting Software News – The Paperless Society
  • Private School Donations
  • Light Humor - Australian Raw Humour


December 2022


  • Xero Subscribers - Access to Free Confidential Mental Health Counselling
  • Sick Leave Entitlements - How we stack up against the rest of the World
  • A Charitable World - What Qualifies?
  • The End of "Tax Invoices" as we know them
  • Disclosing Trust Information to IRD
  • Electronic Monitoring of Employees - Will it happen in NZ?
  • When is a Marshmallow Not a Marshmallow? 
  • Reflection - Vintage Letters to Santa


August 2022


  • Parental Leave Payments
  • Proof in Lieu of a Medical Certificate
  • Cost of Living Payment
  • Tax Rules are catching up wit Cryptoassets
  • Essential Question:  How would Fair Pay Bargaining be Initiated?
  • Which Social Media is right for your business?
  • New Proposals on Modern Slavery place higher responsibilities on Organisations in N Z
  • Tuai Power Station boosts National Grid Capacity
  • Livestock Valuations
  • Light Humour - Potato Bag Strengthener


April 2022


  • Increase in Minimum Wage
  • Fuel Security? - The closure of the Marsden Point Oil Refinery
  • Interest Deductibility on Rental Properties
  • Changes to the Healthy Homes Standards
  • Fast Tracking Kiwi Citizenship
  • Income Insurance Scheme Proposal
  • New Zealand's Food to Waste Energy Converter
  • Light Humour - Caught!


February 2022


  • Leave Support and Short Term Absence Payment Schemes
  • Recovery in Tonga - Horticulture and Wine Grape Industries Support
  • Carbon 101
  • Farmers Voices - Vital on Agriculture Emissions Pricing Options
  • Resourcing of Small Community Police Stations
  • Launch of New Social Enterprise - A Boost to Sales of Sustainably Sourced Wool
  • The More We Sit - The Higher the Heart Disease Risk
  • Injuries Claims Galore during Lock-Down
  • Hoping to Retire?
  • Light Humour - Catnip


December 2021


  • Challenges & Opportunities in a turbulent job market
  • Statutory records for company clients moving to a cloud-based system
  • Is your Farming Business prepared for positive Covid-19 On Farm scenario
  • Amazing Covid Vax Rewards
  • Changing Employment T&Cs (including job descriptions)
  • IRD Employment Information Changes
  • Road User Charges - Payments made easier 
  • Where is this going? - Tax Legislation 
  • Did you know?
  • Light Humour - The Early Bird gets a Bargain


October 2021


  • Overseas Workers - Visa Extensions
  • Up with the play on Equal Pay
  • The "Coffice" - unspoken rules of working from a café
  • Wahlburgers!
  • Paid Parental Leave - and for who?
  • Connectivity Frustration
  • Demand on Water Tank 
  • The Employer's Guide to Working from Home
  • Light Humour - ID ten T Error


September 2021


  • Jury Service - Employer Obligations
  • Changes to Sick Leave Entitlement
  • Ailing Kiwi working from home
  • Eftpos now at Graham & Dobson
  • Deductions from an Employee's Pay
  • New Zealand's New Public Holiday
  • Interesting Points for Fair Pay
  • The Ute - Kiwi Icon or Tax Dodge?
  • An Inclusive Society? Start with Mobility
  • Cryptocurrencies and the IRD
  • Light Humour - Voices in the Night


June 2021


  • Fair Market Salary Reminder
  • Applying for Paid Parental Leave Online
  • Price Increase for Standard Mail
  • Low Value Asset Threshold
  • Supply Shortages
  • KiwiSaver Default Provider Schemes Changes
  • KiwiSaver Updates - Contributions and ESCT
  • Employer Accreditation Scheme - Work Visa
  • Recovery of Child Support and the Hague Convention
  • Employment Recovery
  • Minimising of Leptospirosis
  • Panic Buying - An Infuriating Trend!
  • Livestock Valuation - 2018 to 2021
  • Light Humour -  Be Careful What You Preach!


April 2021


  • Ongoing COVID-19 Support Packages
  • "Pink" Collar Crime
  • Casual Employment Relationship
  • Bereavement Leave Legislation - Miscarriages
  • Employer-Provided Employee Accommodation
  • Changes to the Holidays Act
  • The New 39% Tax Rate
  • Health & Safety At Work Act 2015 (Recreational Access to Land)
  • Incorporated Societies - New Reporting Audit Requirements
  • Farm Focus - Wagebook Changes
  • Light Humour - The Rules



March 2021


  • Minimum Wage Increase
  • Increase to Minimum Sick Leave Entitlements
  • Welcome to James, Harvey & Norman Clients
  • The Trusts Act 2021 - Transparency for Beneficiaries
  • Internships - To be paid or not to be paid
  • The Modern Age and the extinction of the Cheque
  • He Waka Eke Noa and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Working from Home
  • Light Humour - Wanted Desperately


December 2020

 

  • Is the Grass always Greener?
  • Farmstrong and Farmer Wellbeing
  • Flexible Working - Reduce, Recycle, Refold
  • Business Health Check
  • Corporate "Pre-Nup"
  • Increase in the Top Marginal Tax Rate
  • Light Humour - Wanted Desperately


October 2020


  • ACC Amendments - Keeping Employers in the Loop
  • Companies Office - Fees and Levies Changes
  • FBT on Vehicles during Lockdown
  • Westpac and IRD payments - Barcodes
  • What is Revenue? The Core Definition
  • Additional Compliance Statements for New Tenancy Agreements
  • Employee or Contractor?? - Getting it Right
  • Annual Leave and Holiday Pay
  • 16 & 17 October 2020 - Poverty Bay A&P Show - Pet Competition
  • Light Humour - Ain't that the Truth


August 2020


  • Paid Parental Leave Increases
  • In Work Tax Credit Change - Removal of "hours" test
  • ACC Levies remain unchanged
  • Support for Apprentices and Other Learners
  • The Internet Age and The Privacy Act 2020
  • Employment Rights in COVID 19
  • Rental Property Alerts
  • How much Tourism do we want?
  • Livestock Valuations - Declines in the Herd Scheme Values
  • Changing of the Guard
  • Light Humour - Self Assessment


June 2020


  • NZ Business Number - Global Identifier
  • Transparent Remuneration Package
  • Something for everyone - Tax Changes to Provide Cashflow Advantages
  • Coronavirus and X Chromosome
  • Wage Subsidy Extension
  • Our New Staff Member - Jeani Coetzee
  • Livestock Valuation
  • Light Humour - Rubber Gloves


April 2020


  • Employee Use of Telecommunications and Usage Plans
  • COVID 19 Information for Landlords
  • Graham & Dobson in Lockdown Level 3
  • Government COVID 19 Assistance for Businesses
  • Weekly Wage Subsidy vs Lump Sum Payment?
  • Wage Subsidy for Sole Traders/Contractors
  • Work, Sleep, Eat, Repeat!!! (Working from home during COVID 19)
  • Up-to-date Email Addresses in myIR
  • The making of ANZAC Day
  • Minimum Hourly Wage Rates from 1 April 2020
  • Light Humour - Taxi, Taxi...


February 2020


  • Summer Holidays - Annual Leave in Advance
  • Road Tax Misery 
  • RWT Changes - Providing your IRD Number and Exemption Certificates
  • Choosing the Right Secondary Tax Code
  • Are You Responsible?
  • Australian Bushfires
  • Landlord and Tenant Updates
  • Agricultural Emissions
  • Compliance for "Internet Enabled" Connected Gadgets
  • Light Humour - Driven and Outsmarting an Old Geezer


December 2019


  • Generation Z - The Workforce of the Future
  • Ever Dreamt Of Being Your Own Boss? - Wacky ideas to Inspire you
  • Playground in Parliament
  • Preparing for the Christmas Season - Employer's Guide to Cancelling a Shift 
  • Cloud Based Accounting and Payroll Data - What Are Your Responsibilities
  • Governance for Small Businesses
  • Three's a Cruise Ship Crowd
  • Light Humour - What Goes Around!


November 2019


  • IRD to stop taking cheques – March 2020
  • 5 Steps to Protecting your Identity
  • Income Tax Scams
  • Unusual Tax Rulings in the US
  • Residential Bright Line Test
  • Kiwi Access Identity Cards
  • The New Trusts Act – 30 January 2021
  • The Minimum KiwiSaver Contribution Rate – will this be enough?
  • Captain Cook's Cartography Achievements
  • Light Humour – Perfect Eyesight


August 2019


  • Increase of Paid Parental Leave from 1 July
  • Immigration's levy on foreign visitors
  • Buying or selling a property? – requirement to have an IRD number 
  • To reuse or not to reuse…? The coffee cup dilemma
  • Annual A&P Show Pet Competition
  • Ring Fencing your Residential Rental Property Losses
  • Emergency Locator Beacon (Rural farmers aid to survival)
  • Tax Evasion – the "black economy". 
  • Don't be scammed – Fake IRD Tax Refund Emails
  • Recycling - Good place for a "Cigarette Butt". 
  • Light Humour – The Geography of a Woman and a Man


June 2019


  • IRD's consulting on tax obligations for various forms of residential rental re Air Bnb, Bookabach, boarders or home-stay students etc
  • Tax Informant – is this the job for you?
  • Scammers Alive!!! Why you shouldn't reveal passwords or important information
  • Selling or buying tax? Flexibility regarding tax obligations.
  • American Fast-food chains - Paying employees as fast as their food 
  • Crush Protection on Quad Bikes - WorkSafe's recommendations.
  • Are you paying the correct KiwiSaver Prescribed Investor Rate?
  • Claiming Vehicle Costs
  • National Average Market Values for the years 2016-2019
  • Light Humour - Backyard Stuff!


May 2019


  • Minimum Wage Increase
  • One Billion Trees - Government's Grant for the establishing, maintaining and regeneration of trees for at least a 10 year period
  • KiwiSaver Changes - New Contribution Rates of 6% and 10%
  • Heating & Ventilation - Landlord Responsibilities for their Rental Properties
  • Landlords - Proposed changes to deducting losses made from residential rental properties.
  • New Mileage Reimbursement Rates 
  • Employee vs Contractor - The real nature of the relationship
  • Working for Accommodation - Tax and other related implications
  • GST on Low Value Imported Goods $1,000 or less
  • Winding up a Company - The Process
  • Wage & Salary Earners - Welcome to the New Age!
  • Light Humour - All Too True!


March 2019 


  • The Tax Working Group's Recommendations
  • Capital Gains Tax
  • Retirement Savings
  • International Tax
  • Raising the Low Income Tax Threshold
  • Simplifying Small Business Tax Compliance
  • Ir-File Discontinuing. Are you ready for Payday Filing
  • 2018 Law Changes - Letting fees ban; Payday filing; New hazardous substances regulations
  • Employment Law Changes
  • Employee Information Reminder
  • Are Bad Debts Tax-Deductible?
  • Light Humour - The Italian Book Keeper


December 2018


  • Is it appropriate for IRD to contact clients directly?
  • Deductible Legal Expenses when buying or selling a rental property
  • CashManager Rural Retirement - Rural Online Migration
  • Tax Invoice Documentation - the arrival of electronic invoices
  • The Three Certain things in Life - Death, Taxes and Employment Agreements!
  • Employers and Domestic Violence Leave - Preparing for the law change in April 2019
  • The Coalition's stance on Capital Gains Tax
  • Town & Around - Joanna Bradnock
  • Light Humour - Champagne Christmas


October 2018


  • Offshore persons applying for IRD Numbers - Satisfying the IRD Commissioner
  • Kiwibuild Homes - What, Where and Eligibility 
  • Road User Charge increases from 1 October 2018
  • Are you ready for Payday Reporting - Employer Obligations for PAYE "Payday" filing
  • The Definition of a "Payday"
  • Insulating Rentals before the compulsory date of 1 July 2019
  • The End of Tripod Farm Petrol Tanks 
  • Anti Money Laundering - Graham & Dobson Compliance Requirements
  • Staff Member in the Spotlight - Rachel Cook
  • Light Humour - Any Last Requests


August 2018


  • IRD Requests to pay Tax now being sent directly to clients
  • GST Refunds withheld - what are you rights?
  • Australian Biosecurity - "Don't be sorry, just declare it!
  • A Dream Project- BCITO Apprentice project encouraging more young Kiwis to sign up for a building apprenticeship
  • Anti Money Laundering Compliance - A significant problem in New Zealand and worldwide.
  • POLi Internet Banking - G&D now offer POLi Internet Banking to pay invoices
  • Work Related Meetings - Employees must be paid!
  • Illegal Interview Questions - What you need to know
  • Investment Properties for Land-type Businesses 
  • Vehicle Registrations - Top Five Selling Vehicles
  • Does your Employment Agreement contain the mandatory terms required?
  • Parliament and Cameras
  • Poverty Bay A&P Show - Pet Competition - G&D Diamond Sponsor
  • Light Humour - Not Food as we knew it!


June 2018


  • Best Start Tax Credit – A new weekly payment for babies born on or after 1 July 2018
  • Changes to Paid Parental Leave from 18 weeks to maximum of 22 weeks 
  • Cryptocurrency and Tax. What do you need to know?
  • Swift Acceptance of a Heated Resignation – An unjustified Dismissal?
  • Key Messages for Employers – Holiday and Leave Entitlements.
  • Interest-Free Advances to assist with Home Insulation
  • Companies Office Website Access Security
  • Wellbeing in the Workplace – Promoting good health and wellness within the workplace.
  • Livestock Valuation – National Average Market (Herd) Values 2015-2018
  • Light Humour – Seeing Eye to Eye!


April 2018


  • Auckland's new petrol tax to raise funds for 10 year transport programme
  • Congratulations to G&D client announced as winner of Gisborne/Wairoa Hill Country Farmer of the year
  • 2018 increase to paid parental leave scheme
  • Trouble in toyland as older brands struggle to keep up with digital technology
  • IRD audits – what you need to know
  • Employment: Trial Periods vs. Probationary Periods
  • Public holidays and 'otherwise working day' considerations
  • Compulsory insurance for builders?
  • Light humour - The Bagpiper


February 2018


  • Minimum wage increase from 1 April 2018
  • NZ trailblazing uncharted territory for pay parity 
  • Livestock rustling creating serious risk to farmers and their businesses... amendment bill to deter this is before Parliament
  • Tip jar squabbles in USA - who 'owns' the tips? Proposed rule changes pending...
  • Food sellers - are you registered for the new Food Act which comes into effect 1 April 2018?
  • Callaghan Innovation - are you aware of this crown entity offering research and development grants?
  • Enduring Powers of Attorney - some things you need to know
  • Employment Law - proposed changes regarding breaks, trial periods, collective agreements and unions
  • Car Insurance and warranty products - it is important to know what you are paying for
  • Light humour... Married 50 years!


December 2017


October 2017


  • IRD attempting to make tax simpler - draft bill in parliament proposes collecting more information on various earnings much more frequently
  • Are you earning income from YouTube or other online platforms?
  • The right to disconnect and not check emails during rest periods
  • Do you hire 'casual' employees? A note of caution regarding holiday and leave entitlements
  • The "Internet of Things" - The evolution of internet connectivity and networking across various devices
  • Annual leave entitlement and 'continuous' employment - the effect of unpaid leave
  • The commercial use of drones
  • Does your business use petrol for purposes other than driving on public roads? You may be entitled to and excise duty refund.
  • Light humour... the long and the short of it


August 2017


  • A warning on companies offering "Lay-by" or "buy now pay later" services
  • Minimum wage update and annualised minimum wage calculations
  • Paying employees under 16 years of age
  • Cash Manager Rural - cloud based development
  • The Australian budget - tax measures that may affect NZ businesses
  • NZX recommendation to disclose listed companies' executive pay packets
  • GST filing online - how to amend errors and allowing others to manage your MyIR
  • Significant changes coming to payroll reporting and administration of PAYE
  • Livestock valuations - NAMV 2014-2017
  • Let us know if you will receive money from overseas
  • Poverty Bay A&P Show - G&D is annual sponsor of Best Pet (Lamb, Goat or Calf) competition
  • Light humour: Hard of Hearing...


June 2017 


  • Worksafe's clarification: Carrying passengers on quad bikes
  • Interesting graphs and statistics - vegetation in our district and global mobility
  • Beware of paying family members excessive salaries
  • When in Norway… 
  • GST refunds must now be paid by direct credit to nominated bank account
  • Improvements to how IRD charges interest on provisional tax
  • Are you recording your employees' start & stop dates? How to amend them if necessary
  • Applying for an IRD number made simpler
  • Charities reporting regime – year two
  • Taxation of insurance receipts
  • New paid parental leave rules - options with other leave
  • Inland Revenue information sharing with the Registrar of Companies
  • ACC changes - work levy to go down
  • Light humour: Well, I never...


April 2017 


  • School expenses - are you claiming a donation rebate on your school donation?
  • IRD refunds $100million to 166,000 customers... and $700m more unclaimed
  • Changes to schedular payments allows contractors to chose their own tax rate
  • The basic requirements of an employment agreement
  • Market value of employee accommodation
  • Changes to farm dwelling expenditure deductibility
  • Non-structural, seismic restraints failure in last year's earthquake
  • Making deductions from wages or salaries - know the rules
  • Rural areas to be covered nationally by Fire & Emergency Levies - possible rates reductions for rural property owners
  • New way to calculate mileage claims for business - take your odometer reading now!
  • Reminder about entertainment expenses and the percentages deductible
  • Light humour - Bragging!


February 2017 


  • AirBnB - are you renting out a room?
  • New minimum hourly rate from 1 April 2017
  • Worksafe's ten year strategic plan
  • Market rent data for Gisborne properties
  • an unusual tax balance date in the UK... quite a story behind this!
  • Proposed legislative changes to Trusts
  • Major improvements to GST filing with MyIR
  • Changes to FBT on the horizon
  • Tax planning before 1 April with regards to bad debts, asset purchases, accruals and provisions and charitable donations
  • Rations - what can be claimed by farmers?
  • Certificates of exemption from Withholding Tax
  • Hot topic - funding for the fire service from insurance levies
  • emailing wages or HR enquiries - please use payroll@grahamdobson.co.nz


December 2016 


  • Do you provide food and accommodation in exchange for work? There are tax implications!
  • Full time students with student loans may be able to get an exemption for repayments over summer
  • KiwiSaver for temporary employees (employed for 28 days or less) 
  • Casual employee versus permanent part time - do you know the difference?
  • Paying staff, 'Days in Lieu' and "Mondayisation" this holiday period
  • Is your business cyber safe? NZ lags behind comparable economies
  • Farmhouse expenses - 25% concession is changing from 2018 tax year
  • Staff inductions: under-rated and underutilised
  • Light humour - The thoughtful Christmas gift! 


November 2016


  • Employment agreements must be current and up-to-date
  • Smoke alarms now required in all residential rental properties
  • Paying the Police for certain costs that benefit private individuals
  • IRD focusing on tax compliance with regards to deducting withholding tax
  • New Reserve Bank restrictions on high loan to value ratio lending
  • Profit - the nuts and bolts - what can you learn from your financial statements?
  • Buying a property and depending on the LIM report provided by vendor? Our tips...
  • Entertainment expenses - gifts of food and drink - what can you claim?
  • Don't be caught unaware by insolvent debtors
  • Are you correctly filing BOTH employer forms each month?
  • Light humour - You can't argue with kids! 


August 2016


  • Unemployment rate drop points to strong economic growth
  • G&D is annual sponsor of the A&P Show Pet Competition
  • Dairy prices down
  • Construction Contracts Act 2015 - further amendments
  • Vehicle Fringe Benefit Tax - are you paying too much?
  • Instant fuel discounts
  • Need to correct your Employer Monthly Schedule after filing?
  • Banking on the law
  • Farming land sales subject to the Bright-Line test
  • Charities reporting changes - common issues
  • Livestock Valuations -National Average Market Values (Herd Scheme) 2014-2016
  • Light humour - Poor Ole Bill 


June 2016


  • Changes to the child support qualifying age
  • KiwiSaver contributions by new employees 
  • Would you like to attend a refresher workshop at G&D for Banklink or Xero?
  • Use of Money Interest - what is it?
  • Reduced vehicle registration costs from 1 July
  • Does wearing a tie increase your productivity?
  • New reporting requirements for charities - do you know where you fit?
  • Private use of business vehicles - are you paying FBT?
  • Changes to paid parental leave for primary carers
  • Reduction in mileage rates for expense claims
  • GST to be charged on remote services from October 2016
  • Light humour - Irish Medical Terminology 


April 2016 


  • Changes to IRD's administrative systems with regards to GST and PAYE
  • IRD's focus areas for audits
  • How is your record keeping system? Recent prosecutions indicate it would be a great time to check on yours!
  • Rental property chattels and depreciation
  • New employment laws came in 1 April 2016 - what do you need to know?
  • NZ Superannuation - read the fine print if you want to get it!
  • What happens to your estate if you don't have a will?
  • Light Humour - They walk amongst us!


February 2016 


  • A round up of law changes in 2016:
        - ACC levy changes
       - Health and safety at work
        - Zero hour contracts
        - Enforcement of employment standards
  • Do you hire overseas workers? Make sure you're aware of the changes to work visas
  • Health and Safety when working from home or on holiday
  • Tenancy agreements for farm employees provided with accommodation
  • Thinking of purchasing a business? Be sure to do your own due diligence
  • No room for passive company directors - new rules bring potential personal liability
  • Light Humour - Dress for the job you want!?!
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