FIF confusion reigns

New tax rules for foreign funds, introduced last year, are so complicated that few investors will be able to do their own returns.

Wednesday, July 2nd 2008, 6:45AM

That is the view of John Commins. Commins previously ran the Dorchester-owned advisory firm Equity, until that business was on-sold to NZX-listed Viking-subsidiary IRG. Commins recently left the firm and has set up a business helping financial advisers understand the tax changes.

He says many small accounting firms are also struggling to cope with the process.

"Accounting firms and tax agents are not experienced in identifying which is a foreign investment fund and which is not. Exemptions applying to about 80% of companies listed in the Australian Stock Exchange All Ordinaries Index do not help much and that exemption list will change year to year."

He says the rules and recent IRD determinations categorise a number of offshore investments as those for which some investors can claim losses, while others cannot. This is hardly fair.

Commins says that the IRD published new forms for FIF disclosure only in the middle of June. Taxpayers who do not use a tax agent must have their returns in by July 7, or must apply for an extension, so timing is getting very tight.

He says there is the prospect that investors audited by IRD at a later date will be penalised for not getting their sums right, despite the best intentions.

Commins said that the complexity will increase the cost of tax return preparation considerably for many investors and may be uneconomic relative to the size of their portfolio.

"In effect, the government is discouraging investors from properly diversifying their portfolios. This is irresponsible, especially given the concentrated exposure many investors have to failed New Zealand finance companies."

He says that the 'de minimus' exemption should be lifted to at least $250,000 as an interim measure and then further consultation between Government, the public and financial industry participants to work out a way to simplify the rules.

What is your experience of the new tax rules? Let us know by sending an email to us here.

The next issue of ASSET Magazine has a feature on the changes and tools being developed to help advisers understand the changes. If you don't get ASSET then send an email to us here

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