16 Taxation Questions for New Zealand

Widening the common law notion of income

Choosing one of the approved listed topics to

(1) Should the Income Tax Act 2007 be amended to widen the common law notion of income?

(2) Should NZ introduce incentives for employee contributions to Kiwisaver schemes as is found in Australia?

(3) Should NZ introduce separate social security taxes to fund either healthcare or NZ Superannuation (old age pensions)?

(4) There are concerns about the increasing cost of New Zealand Superannuation as New Zealand’s population ages.  Examine whether the age of entitlement for New Zealand Superannuation should be raised or income/asset testing be imposed.   

(5) Should New Zealand introduce gender-specific income tax rates to compensate for the gender pay gap?

(6) Should a broad-based land tax be imposed by central government in New Zealand?

(7) Many local bodies claim that they have inadequate tax bases or sources of income to provide necessary services.  Should the New Zealand Government allow local bodies to introduce other taxes or levies on their residents?

(8) Should New Zealand introduce an estate duty to provide more revenue for central government and to deal with inequality?

(9) Should New Zealand introduce an annual wealth tax to provide more revenue for central government and to deal with inequality?

(10) Should married couples be able to file a joint tax return or average their incomes recognising the family rather than the individual as a taxing unit?

(11) The global economy is becoming increasingly automated, with more and more work performed by computers or robots.  Should robots be taxed in New Zealand?

(12) Should selective taxes be imposed upon foods and beverages with a high sugar and/or fat content to discourage their consumption and internalise their social/health costs?

(13) Should fuel taxes be further increased to further incentivise protection of the environment?

(14) How should electric, hybrid and propane (LPG) fuelled motor vehicles be taxed in future?

(15) Should presumptive taxes be adopted for the taxation of investments such as shares and rental property?

(16)   How could New Zealand tax multi-sided platforms?

(17)   New Zealand has low productivity compared to other OECD countries. How could the   tax system be reformed to promote productivity?

(18)  The OECD is the global policy-maker for tax reform. Given the lack of input by developing countries, is there an alternative to the OECD?

(19)   Should New Zealand increase personal income tax rates to levels comparable in Northern Europe?

(20)   Should New Zealand widen the concept of income to include all economic gains?

(21) COVID-19 lockdown forced many employees to work from home.  Under the “employment limitation in DA 2(4), employees are not permitted a deduction for any expenses incurred in relation to carrying on their employment duties from home.  Should New Zealand allow employees to make deductions against their taxable income?

discuss.