TaxBlog

A serious illness or injury can have a huge impact on your finances. You probably have health insurance which would cover your medical expenses, but do you have income protection insurance? Health insurance covers your medical expenses due to a medical condition, but you need an income protection in New Zealand in order to have protection against lost income due to a medical condition.

Income protection insurance is optional insurance that is in the best case scenario provides a piece-of-mind so that you will not have to worry about lost income due to loss of work for medical reasons. And in the worse-case scenario, it provides a benefit payment of 75% of your income for a prolonged period of time, when you are not able to work for a medical reason.

Income Protection and Qualify of Life

This insurance is recommended for those people who need their income to maintain their current quality of life. It is probably hard to imagine how your life would be affected if you lost your income because of a medical condition. Would you be able to live in your current home if you became disabled? Do you have other bills, for things like schooling, which you would be unable to pay if you lost your income? If the answer is yes, then you should give income protection insurance some serious consideration.

There are different types of income protection policies. They can vary depending on your needs and your specific situation. For example, a commissioned sales person might opt for a different policy than someone who has a more stable income. Also, different policies can make differentiations between what is considered a disability. Each policy will have a specific waiting period to specify the amount of time you must wait, after becoming disabled, before you will start receiving your benefits. Generally, this period varies between 1 and 3 months. You also select the period of time that your benefit will be paid after the loss of work. The choices are normally 2 years, 5 years or up to 65 years of age.

The price of a policy will vary depending upon the variables discussed above, however in general this type of insurance is more expensive than medical insurance. In addition, income protection insurance costs less for a non-smoker. As with all over insurance policies, it is important that you understand the policy completely before signing on the dotted line.

There are restrictions that apply to these policies. Benefits are not granted if the loss of work is due to a self-inflicted injury, any criminal activity or a pregnancy, unless there is a complication of pregnancy lasting longer than 90 days. Also, you need to consult your advisor if your work situation changes to make sure you have the right type, and right amount or coverage. A change in your job could have an effect on your policy.

Lastly, keep in mind that income protection plans are protection for loss of income due to medical reasons only. This coverage is not for someone who is no longer working because of redundancy or if they are fired.

Try to imagine how drastically your life would change if you became ill and were no longer able to work. Not only would there be a mountain of medical bills to be paid, but you would no longer have your income from your job. An event like this will have a negative impact on virtually all aspects of your life. If maintaining your current quality of life is contingent on your current income, you should get an income protection insurance in New Zealand quote today. Taking action today can make all the difference in your world tomorrow.

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New Zealanders have an obsession with property.

After thinking about it, these are the reasons why:

This article deals with investment properties, which specifies that the intent when the property was purchased was to own it long term or more than a couple years.

Rental properties are a sound investment. The rental market in New Zealand is strong and there are no signs of it weakening. Since the cost of living continually rises, it is reasonable to believe that you will be able to increase the rent for your investment property over the years. At the same time, the mortgage on that property remains a fixed amount. This means that your net income on the investment property will almost surely increase over the years.

Expenses that are incurred in order to produce income are tax deductible. This means that the expenses incurred for your investment properties, are tax deductible. This would include any maintenance (such as paint and carpeting) and any repairs (such as new siding or roof repairs) needed for your investment property.

Increases in property values are tax free. What a nice benefit. If the value of your income property increases due to a favorable housing market or economy, improvements made on the property, or for any other reason, the increased value is not taxable.

Depreciation of investment property is also tax deductible. Whilst there have been some changes recently to the rules around depreciation (depreciation on building is now at 0%), depreciation on some chattels is still allowed. Depreciation is defined as the lessening in value of something due to normal wear and tear. Either straight-line or diminished value depreciation can be written off on your taxes.

In summary the best advice for property investors is:

1) Make sure you structure your investment right to maximise the tax benefits

2) Make sure claim all deductible expenses. Restructure your borrowing to ensure that deductible interest is charged against rental income. For example if you owned a personal house, and a rental property it would be advantageous to have all of your borrowings against the rental property and none against your personal house. Consult your tax professional to ensure that any restructure is done legally.

3) Reduce your expenses. Right now banks are offering special rates if you ask for them. Mortgage brokers help buyers find the best mortgage for their needs. There are mortgage brokers who work specifically with property investors. These brokers know this segment of the industry. They understand the loans available and the tax implications of owning investment properties. They work for the investor and not the lender, but the lender pays their fee. Since mortgage brokers work with multiple lenders, they will be able to negotiate a good deal with the banks they work with. A mortgage broker can be an invaluable piece of mind-of-mind for the property investor, whether this is your first time investing in income property or if you are a seasoned investor.

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Thanks to all our readers over the last few months.

We look forwards to seeing you all back next year.

From Chris and the TaxBlog Team.

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I was looking at the way people come to our site the other day and hands down the most popular search at the moment was relating to the change from the Loss Attributing Qualifying Company (“LAQC”) regime to the Look Through Company (“LTC”) regime.

So I thought it best with the changes nearing that we write some more about how these changes may impact the average punter.

When I had a small accounting firm, by far the majority of our business was made up of Mum and Dad’s who have a rental property.

The most popular way of structuring their rental property (or three or four) was to use a LAQC company.

That said, one of the main proposed changes to the regime is called the loss limitation rule.

The IRD’s intention is to tax LTC’s as limited partnerships, and limited partnerships are subject to this loss limitation rule. I called this post the lurking danger, because I haven’t heard the media (or most accountants) advising their clients that at some point they may not be able to claim the losses from their LTC. The expectation is, flip the LAQC into an LTC, carry on, life is good.

Life will not be so good, when the losses run out in the LTC company however.

So what is this loss limitation rule?

Put simply, shareholders in a LTC will only be able to offset losses (against their personal income) to the extent that those losses represent their economic loss, i.e. your losses cannot exceed the amount of your investment into the company.

There are some exceptions to this however, such as where shareholders guarantee loans on behalf of the company.

There are also provisions which allow you to transition to other forms of business such as a sole trader or limited partnership without any tax cost.

All I can say is watch this space, we’ll keep you up to date.

Chris

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Fact sheet – Changes to the qualifying company rules

The Government announced in Budget 2010 that the qualifying company rules would be amended. A new transparent form of tax treatment would be introduced to ensure that shareholders who use a company’s losses also pay tax on any company profit at their marginal tax rate.

The changes introduced today:

• change the tax treatment of loss attributing qualifying companies (LAQCs) so shareholders can no longer claim losses against their personal income. This will prevent these shareholders being able to claim losses at their higher marginal tax rate and profits at the company tax rate;
• allow existing qualifying companies (QCs) and LAQCs to continue to use the current rules without the ability to attribute losses, pending a review of the dividend rules for closely held companies;
• provide look-through income tax treatment for electing closely-held companies.
• allow QCs and LAQCs to transition into a new look-through company (LTC) vehicle or change to another business vehicle such as a partnership, without a tax cost during the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013.

Look-through companies

What does “look-through” mean?

• “Look-through” effectively means that we ignore the company, which is the legal entity carrying on a business, and tax its shareholders on the company’s profits instead. It also means that shareholders can use a company’s losses against their other income, subject to the loss limitation rule.
• Look-through treatment applies for income tax purposes only. An LTC retains its corporate obligations and benefits, such as limited liability, under general company law.
• An LTC’s income, expenses, tax credits, rebates, gains and losses are passed on to its owners. These items are allocated to each person in proportion to the number of shares they have in the LTC.
• The income of an LTC is taxed and expenses are deducted as if each owner had received that income and incurred the expenses personally. Any profit is taxed at the owner’s marginal tax rate. The owner can use any losses against their other income, subject to the loss limitation rule.
• The LTC loss limitation rule is similar to that for limited partnerships. This means owners can offset tax losses only to the extent the losses reflect their economic loss. Any loss that cannot be used is carried forward and may be claimed in future years, subject to the application of the loss limitation rule in those years. There are certain rules about the use of these losses if the LTC ceases to be an LTC, or if the owner sells their shares.
• An LTC is still recognised separately from its shareholders for certain other tax purposes, including GST, PAYE, and certain administrative or other withholding tax purposes under the Income Tax Act.

What sort of company can use the LTC rules?

• The rules are designed for closely held companies which are resident in New Zealand.
• An LTC must have five or fewer “look-through counted owners”. Related shareholders may be treated as a single owner for the purposes of this test – for example, if a mother and daughter both hold shares in an LTC they are treated as “one” owner. There are special rules for determining who counts as an owner when shares are held by trustees.
• Only a natural person, trustee or another LTC may hold shares in an LTC. All the company’s shares must be of the same class and provide the same rights and obligations to each shareholder.

How does a company become an LTC?

• All owners must elect for a closely held company to become an LTC. Once a company becomes an LTC it will remain in the LTC rules unless one of the owners decides to opt out, or if it ceases to be eligible – for example, by having more than five counted owners.
• LTC election forms will be available early next year from Inland Revenue. In the interim companies can elect just by writing to Inland Revenue with details and signatures from all their shareholders, and details of the shareholding of each.
• Elections should be received before the start of the income year to which they apply. However for the next two income years (starting from 1 April 2011), existing QCs and LAQCs have a six-month extension period to decide whether to transition to the LTC rules (see “Existing QCs and LAQCs” below).

What happens when an owner sells their shares in the LTC?

• Owners of an LTC are treated as holding LTC property directly, in proportion to their shareholding. When owners sell their shares they are treated as disposing of their share of the underlying LTC property. If this includes, for example, revenue account property or recovery of depreciation, the shareholder may have to pay any tax associated with the disposal. Tax will only be due if the disposal amounts are above certain thresholds.
• If the company stops using the LTC rules or if the company ceases to exist there will be a deemed disposal and acquisition of the company’s property at market value. This may mean the shareholders have to pay tax on any income arising from the deemed disposal.

Existing QCs and LAQCs

Existing QCs and LAQCs have several options to choose from in one of the first two income years starting on or after 1 April 2011; the year they choose is called the “transitional year”. These rules apply only to companies that are already QCs or LAQCs in the 2010–11 income year.

They can continue to use the QC rules. Or if they choose to leave the QC rules, they can have a smooth transition into the LTC rules or they can choose to change their business structure into a partnership, limited partnership or a sole trade, with no tax cost.

The QC or LAQC can:

• Continue as a QC, without the ability to attribute losses. The QC rules are otherwise unchanged.
  • This will be the “default” option for all existing QCs and LAQCs.
  • An LAQC will no longer be able to attribute losses to shareholders.
  • Income will be taxed at the company level, and only dividends with imputation credits attached will be taxable to shareholders.
  • Capital gains can be distributed tax-free without winding up the company.
• Choose to be taxed as an ordinary company.
  • The QC or LAQC election must be revoked.
  • Any losses must be used by the company, not the shareholders.
  • All dividends will be taxable to shareholders, although imputation credits may be attached.
• Choose to be taxed as a look-through company (LTC).
  • Existing QCs and LAQCs have six months from the start of their transitional year to elect to become an LTC.
  • Look-through treatment will apply from the start of the transitional year.
• Transition to become a limited partnership, an ordinary partnership, or sole trade.
  • Owners of existing QCs and LAQCs have up to six months from the start of their transitional year to tell Inland Revenue that they will restructure their business into a limited partnership, an ordinary partnership, or become a sole trader.
  • The partnership or sole trade must consist of the same person(s) who owned the QC or LAQC.
  • The transition into the new business form must be completed by the end of the transitional year.

http://taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/news/2010-12-07-budget-related-measures-added-gst-bill#factsheets

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One of the questions that we are frequently asked is around the rules relating to GST and charities.

I have written the attached issues paper to assist charities with the complex GST rules.

http://www.taxblog.co.nz/wp-content/GST-Advice-to-Charities.pdf

Chris

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John Key has become impaient with the red tape required to setup NZ as a financial services hub.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/inland-revenue/news/article.cfm?o_id=89&objectid=10691438

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/taxation/news/article.cfm?c_id=335&objectid=10691944

Prime Minister John Key has slammed bureaucratic pin-pricking over the proposed New Zealand financial services hub as “absolute rubbish” and stepped in to put the project on the fast-track.

Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee has been ordered to produce an urgent paper covering a zero tax rating for the relevant foreign funds which Key wants incorporated in the November taxation bill and passed by April 1 next year.

Then in the Heralds editorial we find this commentary:

Just about every business could justify tax-free status on the basis of the jobs it creates. If administrative services to foreign funds has a case for tax exemption we are all ears.

Funds should locate their back office functions here for the reasons Mr Brownlee suggests: transparent, stable and neutral law, consistent regulation and taxation, a talent pool, time-zone advantages.

The Herald raises a good point here, what is the basis on which these funds will be given “zero rating”? That they create jobs?

On a similar topic I was reading the list of companies who received Government support towards their R and D costs:

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/67m-govt-grant-london-listed-endace-134602

I think what’s important here is that these are all great ideas in principal, but exactly how many jobs are being created by giving away these R and D grants? How many jobs will be created by setting NZ up as a tax haven? There needs to be more transparency around how these decisions are arrived at and what the alternatives are.

Chris

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The Herald has an article out today suggesting that the IRD are getting aggressive with taxpayers.

Accountants say the Inland Revenue Department is taking a new and tenacious approach to tax collecting, going direct to taxpayers and demanding payment in full regardless of the circumstances.

They say IRD’s softly-softly approach during the downturn is over and the gloves are off as it tries to maximise the tax take for the cash-strapped Government.

One tax agent is quoted as saying:

“In several cases that I’ve heard of, legal action is almost the first used debt-collection tool.

“It’s almost like the IRD has said, ‘right, the recession’s over, we have been nice to you for a while, now let’s get stuck into the debt’.

This approach surprises me as I have heard that the Department has been very reasonable in most cases since the 2008 GFC.

I would be interested in hearing from others out there and what your experience has been.

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Given S & P recently put NZ on a credit watch negative suggestions are arising that we need to trim our budget deficits.

Several changes have been mooted this morning by John Whitehead in this NZ Herald article.

Whitehead said tax was one of a number of important policy areas. Although the company tax rate was reduced to 28 per cent in the Budget, it was not low by international standards.

The Savings Working Group was looking at a range of options for reforming capital taxation as a means of promoting savings and investment.

“And, as you are probably already aware, the Treasury has previously explored the introduction of a capital gains tax as a means of removing significant distortions from the tax system.”

Is anyone else confused? in an article about reducing the deficit he is discussing cutting the corporate tax rate.

28% represents a move in the right direction, especially as it is lower than Australia at 30%.

If we were to reduce it to 25% over the next 5 years or so then we would be able to convince Companies to move from Australia to NZ, becoming the finance hub John Key wants us to be.

Chris

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There was an interesting article in the Herald yesterday showing that majority of people are unhappy with the tax changes.

A nationwide HorizonPoll survey of 1558 people between November 16 and 19 found 8.2 per cent felt better off because of the changes, 53.5 per cent thought they were worse off while 35.6 per cent felt their situation was unchanged.

Of lower income households, 71.5 per cent earning less than $20,000 a year felt worse off while 60 per cent of those earning between $20,000 and $30,000 felt the same.

Among households earning between $100,001 and $150,000, 39.3 per cent a year felt worse off (19.6 per cent better off) and 53.2 per cent of those in households with incomes of $200,000 plus felt worse off (24.6 per cent better off).

Of households earning $30,000 to $50,000, 5.5 per cent felt better off, 54.3 per cent worse off.

Among middle-income households earning $50,001 to $70,000 a year, 11 per cent felt better off, 45.9 per cent worse off.

A further poll on the Herald website shows that the split is more 50/50 than the Horizon Poll and at the time of writing had 12,000 votes.

I find these results surprising as the middle classes would be significantly better off under the tax realignment. How much you are better off, depends on what percentage of your income you spend of course, and an earlier survey showed most people were using their extra money to pay off debt. That being the case they would be better off after the changes.

Perhaps the poll results show a perception problem for the Government, that the increase in GST attracted more headlines than the decrease in PAYE, or perhaps the left did a good job in convincing workers that the tax cuts benefited the rich.

Personally I think the move was in the right direction, although the timing of the GST increase hits hard especially at the petrol pump where prices had only recently increased due to the carbon tax. In a recession perhaps putting a greater price on spending is the way to help realign Kiwis behavior.

Chris

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