“Brian Edwards presents a documentary about the New Zealand tax system and finds out where New Zealand taxpayer’s money goes, what return we get for our tax dollar, whether some people are better off than others under our tax system, and contrasts the public perception of the tax process with the reality.” from New Zealand Listener
00:00:07 Model of taxation system at NZ Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) explained by Geoff Bertram, economist; Graham Holland, commissioner Inland Revenue on public perception; Dr John Yeabsley, NZIER; Robin Oliver, general manager IRD; Greg Fouhy, supporting wife, Sandra, and 2 teenagers; taxation through history; introduction of GST; taxation percentage of Fouhy’s income; Trevor de Cleene, member of Labour government that introduced GST; commercial break;
00:21:59 Bridget Frame, single and bringing in nearly $70,000; taxation percentage of Bridget’s income; Brent Gilchrist, taxation consultant; Khorshette Sutri, beneficiary on the benefit system; taxation percentage of Khorshette’s income; commercial break;
00:33:56 Dick and Jan Holloway, superannuiants; taxation percentage of Holloway’s income; Brent Gilchrist, taxation consultant on superannuiants; Robin Oliver, general manager IRD on New Zealand’s position as a higher tax country; protests at cuts in government funding; government spending; Bill Birch, minister of finance on lowering taxes; commercial break;
00:45:20 on getting round taxation via the Internet; Katherine Roberts, author of taxation avoidance study for Price Waterhouse; Graham Holland, commissioner Inland Revenue on the Internet; Dr Michael Cullen, opposition spokesperson finance on why taxation; Bill Birch, minister of finance; commercial break;
00:55:47 Doug Hazlewood, self employed plumber, ‘sole trader’; Brent Gilchrist, taxation consultant on self employed; commercial break;
01:05:14 Tim Ward and Leon Surynt, owners of the Matterhorn bar and restaurant, on paying company tax; their turnover; John Wilson, regional IRD representative; Graham Holland, commissioner Inland Revenue; Brent Gilchrist, taxation consultant on power of the IRD; Julie McKinlay, homestay operator after a visit from the taxman; commercial break;
01:17:15 black economy - illegal income and tax evasion; Catherine Healy, spokesperson for Prostitutes Collective; ‘Jimmy’, marijuana grower; Robin Oliver, general manager IRD; commercial break;
01:32:02 Brent Gilchrist, taxation consultant on tax shelter of Cook Islands in 1980s; top 10 companies’ taxation percentage; Dr John Yeabsley, NZIER on how corporates avoid tax; Doug Hazlewood, self employed plumber, Jan Holloway, superannuiant and Greg Fouhy on corporates; Brent Gilchrist, taxation consultant; Peter Shirtcliffe, Telecom chairman on company tax; Ken Millwood, farmer on subsidies; Brent Gilchrist, taxation consultant on farmers’ tax bills; taxation percentage of Ken and Pauline Millwood’s income; Brent Gilchrist, taxation consultant on family trusts; commercial break;
01:45:40 spending; Jan Holloway, Tim Ward, Jimmy, Doug Hazlewood on spending; government budget, main expenses; Bill Birch, minister of finance; Dr Michael Cullen, opposition spokesperson finance; Graham Holland, commissioner Inland Revenue on the future;
01:55:29 end