Conference explores sweeping changes to tax

Tax conference explores sweeping changes to tax landscape

Tax industry experts are set to explore the changed tax landscape brought on by Budget 2010 and recent developments in the courts on tax avoidance law at the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants annual conference in Auckland this Friday and Saturday.

NZICA taxation committee chair Geof Nightingale expects the conference to be well received by attendees and the wider tax industry. “We have an excellent line-up of expert speakers including the Australian and New Zealand tax commissioners, the Hon Peter Dunne, Minister of Finance as well as Australian and New Zealand academics and practitioners. We will be discussing the current state of tax in New Zealand and ultimately, what the future may hold for businesses and other taxpayers.”

The conference has a number of important sessions with a particular focus on the effects of the tax changes on property and tax avoidance in the once-in-a-decade Budget 2010.

Highlights include:
• Discussion about the Government’s planned reform of Loss Attributing Qualifying Companies (LAQCs), how this will work in practice, including its advantages and disadvantages.
• A keynote address from Australia and New Zealand’s tax commissioners on the future direction of tax administration.
• ASB’s Nick Tuffley will discuss how tax changes in the 2010 Budget, along with wider economic forces; have implications on the price property investors are willing to pay.
• A session on whether New Zealand’s tax reform is heading in the right direction.
• A discussion of the Budget 2010 changes to property tax and a look at the evidence that exists to suggest buildings depreciate.
• Rt Hon Sir Edmund Thomas, retired Court of Appeal Judge, discussing the development of tax law and how the courts are evaluating tax avoidance cases.

The conference will also give an update on GST changes as well as look at proposed changes to Working For Families tax credits and cross-border transactions.

The one and a half day event will start at 9.15am on Friday, October 29 and finish on Saturday, October 30 at 1.30pm at the Hyatt Regency, Auckland.

Media are welcome to attend.
ENDS

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