Having worked in accounting for 15 years and for the largest privately owned travel group in New Zealand, Scott returned to public practice accounting in 2020. “I missed the people side of public practice accounting, being able to help clients directly, having a real impact on their businesses and their lives.

Meet Lucan Bartlett, our recently promoted Associate. Lucan’s journey to success in the field of accounting is nothing short of inspiring.

On the eve of his promotion from Associate Partner to Audit partner, Stuart Hansen reflects of the importance of Shared Common Humanity and Business Acumen to thrive in professional services.
 

With several payroll changes coming 1st April 2024, it’s important to understand the changes and how they will affect your business.

The Government has chosen to delay the phasing out of the interest limitation rule for residential property investors, as outlined in the coalition agreement between National and Act parties.

The Hon Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance, has recently unveiled proposed amendments to tax legislation aimed at rectifying the over-taxation of low-earning trusts.

The story of Freeze Dried Foods (FDF) stands out as a testament to hard work, dedication, and strategic partnerships.

As increasing interest rates have bitten and with industry sectors such as retail and construction not performing as strongly, some businesses are struggling. As the end of the financial year approaches, now is a good time to assess whether any of your accounts receivable need to be written off as ‘bad’.

For 99.9% of the time, New Zealand companies are incorporated to operate a business and derive income.

After the introduction of the Trust Disclosure rules in March 2022, in November 2023 Inland Revenue released a high-level summary (in the form of a 40-page report) of insights from the first year of reporting. While tax advisors and clients alike may have begrudgingly completed the disclosures initially, the statistics may prove to be interesting.

The Working for Families Tax Credit (WFFTC) is a notoriously complex scheme when it comes to determining eligibility and quantifying entitlement. This leads you to wonder how well the scheme is policed by Inland Revenue, and whether fraud is able to ‘fly under the radar’.

The concept of what is a “dividend” is very broad and starts with the default proposition that any transfer of value from a company to a shareholder is a dividend. That concept includes the simple scenario of an interest free loan to a shareholder or a person associated to a shareholder; which can also include loans between companies.

The Laura Fergusson Trust is an independent charity providing residential, rehabilitation, respite and recreational services for adults with physical or neurological impairments.

In the dynamic landscape of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, New Wayz Consulting has emerged as a trusted boutique consultancy.

When the top personal tax rate for individuals increased to 39% from 1 April 2021, it was not surprising to see an increase in the number and quantum of dividends declared by companies (owned by individuals) in the lead up to the change.

Given the necessity of providing fast relief, the wage subsidy scheme provided during COVID in NZ was largely based on trust. Today, MSD operates a Wage Subsidy Integrity and Fraud Programme aimed at ensuring the integrity of the payments and who received them.

For a standard 12-month year, provisional tax is due in three instalments. The instalments generally fall on the 28^th day of the fifth, ninth and thirteenth months. However, this is varied in certain situations.

With the recent inflation driven surge in the cost of living, apparent increase in crime and seemingly constant complaints about the education and health systems, some New Zealanders are considering packing up shop and moving across the ditch to Australia.

The Business Payment Practices Act 2023 (‘the Act’) was enacted on 26 July 2023. It will require certain entities (‘reporting entities’) to publicly disclose specific information about their payment practices.

Succession planning is an often underestimated yet critical component of a legal firm's long-term success. While legal professionals are primarily focused on providing exceptional legal services and growing their client base, it is equally essential to have a well-crafted succession plan in place.

As Chartered Accountants, we are often tasked with the responsibility of evaluating and appraising various businesses and assets.

We are pleased to announce Sam Bassett has taken over as Chair of Moore Markhams New Zealand.

As a manufacturing or product-based business, efficient stock management is a big part of running a smooth operation. But the way we manage stock and inventory has changed radically in the past decade, in no small part due to the evolution of inventory technology.

Why is cashflow so central to good financial management? Here's our plain English guide.

Do you dream about starting your own business? And, can anyone become an entrepreneur? Let's take a look at what makes a good entrepreneur.

Your profit and loss statement (P&L) helps you understand your business performance and profitability over time. It’s sometimes called an Income statement and its main purpose is to list income and expenditure.

In April 2021 the top marginal tax rate was lifted from 33% to 39% for individuals with taxable income over $180,000. More recently the Government has announced that the tax rate for trusts will also go up to 39% from April 2024, and both Labour and National plan to go ahead with this change. This 39% tax rate will apply to all taxable income of the trust.

In today's dynamic business landscape, risk management and good governance have become paramount for organisations striving for long-term success and sustainability.

Andrew Steel, an audit partner at Moore Markhams in Wellington, emphasises the tremendous importance of not-for-profit organisations in society.

Meet Árbol, a locally owned and operated construction company that is making waves in the industry with their commitment to sustainability

On 18 May 2023, the government introduced the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. The Bill includes draft legislation that will see the trust tax rate increase from 33% to 39% from 1 April 2024, thereby aligning it with the top personal marginal tax rate.

A standard data policing check completed by Inland Revenue is to review taxpayer GST filing patterns to identify taxpayers that are GST registered, but perhaps shouldn’t be.

The leaky homes crisis represents one of the most severe problems faced by New Zealand’s property sector and continues to cause stress and anxiety for those affected. Adding to the uncertainty for rental property owners has been the question of whether repair costs are immediately deductible as ’repairs and maintenance’ (R&M).

Given that either Labour or National are likely to enter into coalition agreements of some form with the Green Party and Act, respectively, and the tax policies of the two main parties are more ‘vanilla’, it is worth reviewing the tax policies of the two minor parties as this is where unexpected change may come from.

The buoyant covid subsidy funded days are behind us, New Zealand has entered a ‘technical’ recession. This was reinforced by the recent announcement that New Zealand’s corporate tax paid was almost 11% down in the 11 months to May relative to Government expectations.

In today's fast-paced and competitive business world, it is crucial to recognise that behind every successful organisation are its dedicated and talented employees.

Continuous development is essential in the finance and accounting world to stay credible and excel in the profession. At Moore Markhams, we prioritise ongoing learning to navigate regulatory changes, enhance technical competence, nurture industry expertise, foster innovation, boost credibility and trust, and attract top talent. By investing in our staff's growth and staying ahead of the curve, we solidify our position as a trusted partner in our clients' financial journey.

Mid-market M&A remains strong despite economic volatility