The calvary arrives — finally!
The first batch of overseas drivers for local agricultural contracting work is expected in the country next week, says Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) chief executive Roger Parton.
Inland Revenue has warned people operating illegal tax schemes in the agricultural and horticulture industry that they will face serious consequences.
A Bay of Plenty man has today been sentenced to 12 months home detention and 300 hours community work after admitting tax evasion charges involving $188,000.
Balbir Singh, a 46 year old kiwifruit contractor from Opotiki, was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court after earlier pleading guilty to 22 tax evasion charges.
Investigations and advice group manager, Patrick Goggin, says Inland Revenue has been aware for some time of tax evasion schemes in the horticulture and agriculture industry and has placed a strong focus on them.
"Mr Singh is the latest in a number of prosecutions in recent years where we've caught people in the industry cheating on their tax obligations. Those who are tempted need to know we're closely watching and will take strong action.
"Our staff had spoken to Mr Singh and educated him about his tax affairs, but he deliberately chose to try to evade his responsibilities, thinking he'd get away with it.
"So our message is think again, you will be caught, and you will be dealt with," Goggin says.
Singh set up his horticultural labour contracting company, JLP Enterprises Ltd, in June 2008. Its registration showed the company required tax forms for 19 employees, and was required to file PAYE returns monthly and GST returns every two months.
Goggin says the company filed returns and made payments until February 2009, as required, but did not make PAYE and GST payments after that.
"Inland Revenue also found the company actually had between 50 and 60 employees at times and was still supplying labour to orchards after Mr Singh cancelled the company's PAYE registration in October 2009."
Inland Revenue records show PAYE returns of $52,031 that were filed but not paid. A further $77,784 in PAYE and $58,742 in GST was not filed and remains unpaid.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.