Clarification of role of tax agents and others released

IR has issued an update to clarify how tax agents and other intermediaries can co-exist. In a nutshell:

Tax agents can link to most account types with the exception of child support accounts, KiwiSaver and paid parental leave. A client authority is required to enable the agent to act, and only tax agents qualify for EOT arrangements to file income tax returns. Tax agents can also choose where client mail and refunds are sent for linked account types. They can also link to a customer master link that gives them access to a client’s customer level mail.

Bookkeepers and other representatives can link to the same account types as tax agents. However, they cannot choose where client mail and refunds are sent.

PAYE intermediaries and payroll bureaus can only link to payroll accounts and register clients as an employer. Client mail and refunds for PAYE intermediaries are sent to the intermediary as they are legally responsible for filing and paying employer taxes. Client mail and refunds for payroll bureaus are sent to the client. Customers can have many intermediaries acting on their behalf, but they cannot have more than one intermediary of the same type linked to the same account at any time. All intermediaries must keep a signed authority to act so Inland Revenue can be satisfied that information is being released to the correct parties.

You can refer to IR’s website for the full article.