Questions Over Appropriateness Of Commercial Link On IRD Website

National's Revenue spokesperson Annabel Young says she is "astonished" that the Inland Revenue Department is effectively endorsing a commercial body set up by private tax consultants.

"A link on the IRD website takes internet users directly to the homepage for 'TINZ', a collective of private sector tax consultants. The clear implication is that IRD is endorsing these commercial services," Ms Young said today. "That would appear to be wildly inappropriate.

"The organisation in question makes no bones about its aim which is reducing the amount of tax people pay. A graphic on the TINZ homepage which is linked to from the IRD site turns into a picture of a man's hand clutching a bag of money labelled '$$$$$ mistakenly taken by Government'.

"I have no gripe with this organisation, and support the idea of people and businesses not paying more tax than they are required to. However I must question whether it is proper for a Government department to endorse a select group of private sector tax consultants.

"If the IRD site contained a link to all registered tax agents, that might be appropriate. But linking to a site which clearly promotes a select group of consultants is ethically very dubious.

"The Minister should immediately look into this practise, and review whether it is right for his department to include this sort of commercial link," Annabel Young said.

TO ACCESS THE COMMERCIAL SITE:

Go to the main menu for the IRD (www.ird.govt.nz/menu.htm Ends

A printable formatted copy of this press release will be available on http://www.national.org.nz along with an archive of previous releases.

Annabel Young MP National Party Spokesperson on Revenue National Party List MP responsible for Wellington Central and Rongotai Do you want to be added to my tax email group? Have a look at my tax web-site http://www.tax.org.nz

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