Have you received an email from the IRD? It could be a scam
Inland Revenue is warning of several scams circulating this tax season. Inland Revenue revealed earlier this month that there is about $183 million of tax refunds sitting unclaimed – enough to fly first class from Auckland to London and back more than 11,000 times.
Since then the IRD has been alerted to a scam email that asks users to enter their personal details to claim their tax refund. The email has the subject line, "IR3 individual income tax return 2016".
It's important to remember the IRD will not:
- Advise you that you are due a tax refund through email
- Send an email with a link to a webpage which asks you submit personal details
- Ask for credit card details or bank account numbers over the phone in order to process a monetary payment
- Ask you to pay a tax debt using gift cards or vouchers
- Sent you an email that does not include or ask for your IRD number
If you receive a suspicious email, SMS scam message or a fraudulent call please email phishing@ird.govt.nz or call them on 0800 227 774 (make sure you have your IRD number).
Log on to the Inland Revenue's website, register for myIR and use its calculator to work out whether you are owed money or have tax to pay.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.1% Yes
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15.1% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Craigs Workplace Giving for Christmas in Waikato focused on front line
It has been a delight for us to again coordinate the annual Christmas-time Workplace Giving by Craigs Investment Partners' Hamilton branch.
We've now passed on $13,100 in grants of various sizes from Craigs and its staff to the five Waikato community organisations they have chosen this year, namely Cambridge Lifeskills, Cambridge Tree Trust, Hamilton Land Search & Rescue, Paws 4 Life (who provided the photo below) and Waikato Women's Refuge - Te Whakaruruhau.
Quinton de Bruin, Investment Adviser at Craigs says: “We’re really proud of our Workplace Giving program here at Craigs.”
“Employees opt in to donate from their monthly pay cheque, building up funds over the year which we then donate to charities in need at Christmas time.
“Craigs also matches employee donations dollar for dollar, up to $500 per person per annum, so it’s a great way to be able to make a meaningful impact in our local community,” says Quinton.
We say well played Craigs Investment Partners!