Inland Revenue has produced Special Reports on three of the measures in the newly enacted Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Act 2024 to provide early guidance.

Trustee tax rate

The trustee tax rate has been aligned with the top personal tax rate of 39%. A $10,000 threshold has been introduced to help prevent the over-taxation of lower-income trusts. 

Special report: 39% Trustee tax rate

Further changes to the rules for the platform economy

In March 2023, new GST rules for marketplace operators involved in the supply of ride-sharing/ride-hailing and delivery services for food and beverages, as well as for marketplace operators and listing intermediaries involved in the supply of accommodation services. Additional changes have been made to those rules to ensure the rules are workable and consistent with the policy intent.

Special report: GST on accommodation and transportation services supplied through online marketplaces 

Offshore gambling duty

The new legislation also introduces a new gaming duty. From 1 July 2024, offshore operators will be required to pay a 12% gaming duty,

Special report: Offshore gambling duty

These will be included in full coverage of the new legislation in an upcoming Tax Information Bulletin.

The Government has announced that it intends to introduce a FamilyBoost payment as part of Budget 2024. The proposed FamilyBoost will be a new childcare payment made to families with young children to help with the rising costs of early childhood education (ECE).

The FamilyBoost payment will be equal to 25% of ECE fees already paid by households. This would be a maximum weekly refund of up to $75.

FamilyBoost will be available for ECE fees paid from 1 July 2024, with the first FamilyBoost refunds being made in October. Further details will be released as part of the Budget 2024 announcements on 30 May.

For more information about FamilyBoost and how you can access it see:

• the Government’s FamilyBoost announcement
• FamilyBoost questions and answers
• Regulatory Impact Assessment

An Amendment Paper for the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill has been released by the Minister of Revenue. It contains proposals to: 

• Restore the ability to claim interest deductions for residential investment properties
• Repeal the current ten and five-year bright-line tests and replace with a two-year bright-line test
• Remove the ability to depreciate commercial buildings
• Improve the tax treatment of the disposal of trading stock at below market value
• Introduce a new gaming duty Introduce a transitional rule relating to platform economy rules

Amendment Paper No 20

Commentary to the Amendment Paper No 20

Regulatory Impact Statements relating to Amendment Paper No 20

The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023-24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill, introduced on 18 May 2023, was reported back to Parliament on 11 March 2024.

For more information see:

• the Bill as reported back
• the Finance and Expenditure Committee’s report on the Bill, and
• the Departmental Report on submissions received on the Bill.

Following the repeal in December 2023 of the Taxation Principles Reporting Act, the following documents are being made available:

• Taxation Principles Reporting Act: Annual Report
• Cabinet papers and minutes relating to the Act