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Keeping connected with current business matter is important. If you’re after the latest in current affairs, take a look at our Latest news. Or check out our Let’s talk series – topical, editorial sound-bytes, authored by the MCI team.
From Hobby to Hustle
May 2026 | Let’s Talk
With the cost-of-living biting and many of us tightening the belt, more and more people around the region are turning their skills into side hustles - home baking, fencing jobs, craft stalls, gardening, small repairs. It usually starts the same way - someone asks, you...
End of Tax Year Planning
April 2026 | Let’s Talk
With the financial year end here for many businesses, now is a good time to utilise some relatively simple tax planning tools to minimise your end costs. Prepaying Expenses If you prepay certain expenses before balance date a tax deduction is available in that tax...
Interest Deductibility on Residential Rentals
March 2026 | Let’s Talk
What Property Investors Need to Know New Zealand’s residential property tax landscape continues to evolve, and has involved significant recent change for landlords. Interest deductibility on residential investment properties is now fully restored to 100%, reversing...
Crypto Gains and Tax Pains
February 2026 | Let’s Talk
Cryptocurrency may feel new and digital, but in the eyes of Inland Revenue, it has been taxable for some time. As more New Zealanders buy, sell, and use cryptocurrency, tax rules have become clearer, and from April 2026, crypto transactions will be far more visible to...
MCI & Associates: A Client‑Focused & Community‑Driven Firm
January 2026 | Latest News
MCI & Associates Ltd is a proudly locally owned accountancy and advisory practice with offices in Dannevirke and Pahiatua, serving individuals, families, and businesses across the wider Tararua region. Built on long‑standing relationships and a deep understanding...
2026 Proposed Payroll & Leave Changes
December 2025 | Let’s Talk
The government has recently announced changes to the current Holidays Act. These changes aim for a simpler and more workable legislation than exists in the current Holidays Act 2003. Proposed is a change from the gross earnings formula to a more straightforward...
Don’t Forget the Risk from Within
December 2025 | Latest News
Online scammers and phishing attacks have become extremely sophisticated lately. Hence, it is understandable that we are constantly warned to be vigilant and on the lookout for the next attack. But as focus shifts to looking outside the organisation, an eye needs to...
IRD Interest Rates
December 2025 | Latest News
There are certain topics that we enjoy being cynical about. The speed at which oil companies increase their price at the pump when the price of crude increases versus the speed at which it drops when the price of crude decreases. Or similarly, how quickly banks...
FBT Changes
December 2025 | Latest News
Earlier this year, Inland Revenue (IRD) released an officials’ issues paper titled “Fringe Benefit Tax – Options for Change”. The paper sought feedback on potential reforms to the FBT regime. The most notable proposals related to the application of FBT to motor...
Tougher Debt Stance from Inland Revenue
December 2025 | Latest News
Over the last six to twelve months Inland Revenue (IRD) has been taking a firmer stance when it comes to collecting overdue tax. This is in the form of increased liquidation action and enforced withdrawals directly from a taxpayer’s bank account. Given the potential...
Taxing the Sun
December 2025 | Latest News
If you or your friends or neighbours have solar panels on the roof of their home it is likely the excess electricity is being sold back to the retailer for a credit on the bill. It is also likely that not much thought has been given to whether that ‘credit’ is...
Following Those Dreams and Ambitions
November 2025 | Let’s Talk
Have you ever thought about breaking free from the 9-to-5 routine? Maybe it’s that business idea you can’t stop thinking about, or a vision you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to start. Launching your own business is bold and exciting; it’s hard work and it’s...
New Tax Incentive to Boost Productivity
October 2025 | Let’s Talk
New Zealand’s productivity is lagging — we are ranked 31st out of 38 OECD countries for labour productivity. To help close that gap, Budget 2025 introduced a new tax incentive – Investment Boost – aimed at encouraging businesses to invest in new assets and modernise...
R&M or Capital?
September 2025 | Latest News
In the past year, Inland Revenue has increased its audit activity after a period of subdued activity that stretched from before the Covid-19 pandemic. As their activity has increased, it has been interesting to see what areas they are focusing on. Observation suggests...
A good PIE
September 2025 | Latest News
A Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE) is a type of investment vehicle that is able to pay tax on behalf of its investors, and depending on the ‘prescribed investor rate’ chosen, the tax liability on the income is able to be capped at 28%. This can be a material benefit...
The Big and the Beautiful
September 2025 | Latest News
Over the past few months President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” received quite a bit of attention before it was passed on 4 July 2025 - but why the fuss? The key business facing elements included: 100% first-year deduction for U.S. spending on...
Feedback from Charitable Sector
September 2025 | Latest News
On 24 February 2025, Inland Revenue released an Officials’ Issues Paper titled Taxation and the not-for-profit sector. The paper sought feedback on several potential areas including the taxation of charity-run businesses, the treatment of donor-controlled charities...
Inland Revenue Scrutiny
September 2025 | Latest News
Imagine you are pulled over by a police officer and asked “Were you speeding?”, however, your speedo is broken, so you’re actually not sure. That is how it can feel when Inland Revenue (IRD) notifies you of an audit or investigation. On the one hand you know it is...
Investment Boost
September 2025 | Latest News
On 22 May 2025, as part of the 2025 Budget, the Government introduced a new tax incentive called the ‘Investment Boost’, aimed at encouraging capital investment. It allows an immediate upfront deduction for 20% of the cost of an eligible asset. The new legislation...
Uncertainty and Risk in Business
September 2025 | Let’s Talk
In the world of business, uncertainty and risk are ever-present. Uncertainty involves unpredictable events, like geopolitical changes, where outcomes are hard to quantify. Risk, on the other hand, refers to measurable potential losses, such as market swings and loss...
Starting out in Business
August 2025 | Let’s Talk
Creating a new business or purchasing an existing one? Exciting and daunting, common feelings when embarking on a business ownership journey. Whether it be starting from scratch or purchasing an established business, early decisions and great planning can shape...
Business Ownership
July 2025 | Let’s Talk
Change in business ownership at some point, is inevitable for most. A first step to progressing this direction is accepting the need for it, then building a plan to support the change. A recent Rabobank report highlights more than half of New Zealand’s farm and...
Australian Budget
June 2025 | Latest News
With the New Zealand Budget released on 22 May 2025, it is worth looking over the ditch and seeing whether the grass in Australia is greener as a result of their Budget that was released on 25 March 2025. A tax cut was introduced for individuals. The rate applying to...
Trust Disclosure Review
June 2025 | Latest News
From the 2021-2022 income years onwards, the Inland Revenue (IRD) introduced increased disclosure requirements for trusts. The increased disclosure requirements were aimed at supporting the Commissioner’s ability to evaluate compliance with tax rules, develop tax...