Taxpayers’ Union welcomes ACT’s decision to question Commissioner on IRD funding
FEBRUARY 20 2019
More parliamentarians should join David Seymour in calling for answers on IRD’s decision to fund pro-tax articles on The
Spinoff, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.
Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says “IRD made a serious error of judgment in choosing to fund
pro-tax articles on the Spinoff. The articles, published alongside the Spinoff’s ‘Tax Heroes’ campaign, are clearly
intended to soften the public up towards a high-tax, high-spending society where IRD clips the ticket. Nearly a year
after we uncovered this spending, IRD still refuse to accept they made a mistake.”
“One of the articles explicitly sponsored by IRD clearly advocates for a capital gains tax. Introducing new complexities
to our tax system might be good news for IRD staffers looking for promotion opportunities, but it’s simply not the job
of IRD to spend taxpayers’ money to advocate for political positions.”
“While it’s good that ACT’s David Seymour has called for an investigation, other parliamentarians should add their
voices. The credibility of our public institutions depends on maintaining their reputations as apolitical.”
ENDS