13 July 1999
PR68/99
Inland Revenue has agreed to change the time it sends out Employer Monthly Schedules following a request from Federated
Farmers.
Following lobbying from Federated Farmers, the Inland Revenue Department has agreed to send out the Employer Schedules
during the first week of each month.
When Inland Revenue changed to a new system for collecting PAYE wage deductions in April, the time when they mailed the
documentation changed from the end of the month before the payment was due, to the 10th of the month when it was due.
Farmers living in remote areas with infrequent mail delivers were unable to meet the IRD deadline, as this is only ten
days before monthly payments are due on the 20th.
Federated Farmers firmly believes that the Inland Revenue Department should not impose penalties on farmer employers who
fail to meet the 20th of the month deadline because of the short timeframe involved.
"This arbitrary change by IRD did not allow for rural mail delivery schedules. When approached, IRD said there was no
reason the Employer Schedules could not be mailed out a week earlier. It would be grossly unfair if any late payment
penalties imposed are left in place," said General Policy Manager Gavin Forrest
Federated Farmers wants to hear from any members who have been charged penalties because of the too-brief time allowed
by the IRD and whether the new timeframes are realistic for their individual circumstances.
ENDS