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Good morning.

Thank you for inviting me to join you once again. Over the last few years it has always been my great pleasure to come and speak to you. 

Your role as payroll professionals and mine as Revenue Minister have a common interest in the smooth running of the tax system.  If it works well for you, then it’s working for me.

We all use the tax system at one time or another, whether it is paying income tax, child support, paying off a student loan or receiving tax credits, it all goes through the tax system.

It’s great to be here with you again.

First I want to say thank you. We have had an extremely busy year in the tax community. It has been a year of heavy lifting.

In just this year we’ve put out 14 consultation papers on policy, seen the introduction or passing of seven bills, and have been involved in the development of other legislation.

There has also been significant progress on the Business Transformation (BT) front from a tax administration point of view.  

That is huge. 

It is my pleasure to be with you here today to unveil the next important stage of how the Government is making tax simpler for business. 

Over the last few years we have taken the first steps in what is a very significant journey towards a simpler tax system for New Zealand.

While our tax system is among the best in the world, and is internationally recognised for that, I know that we can do better. The reality is that as the world becomes more and more connected, and more digital, we need to keep looking at what we can do to improve.

Good morning

Thank you for joining me here today.

My thanks to the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce for providing this opportunity to talk to you.

As Minister of Revenue, there are certain things I have noticed about tax.

Thank you for inviting me to open your conference once again.

Following last year’s General Election I am pleased to have retained the Revenue portfolio. Actually rightly or wrongly, I asked to be able to retain it - and I look forward to working with you once again as Minister of Revenue.

The relationship that exists between IRD and the tax advisory profession is mature and one we need to continue to cultivate.

Thank you for inviting me here today. It is always a pleasure to address tax professionals.

I’m especially pleased to be here given the theme of your conference, The Future ­ Moving Forward.

That’s a very topical issue and something that I am deeply interested in.

Taxation is a necessary part of society as long as government is required to provide services such as health and education, police and defence, conservation and civil defence.