The Business Advisory Blog

The Business Advisory Blog

Insight, news and updates from Alliott NZ Chartered Accountants, Auckland New Zealand. The views expressed here are the views of the author and should be discussed in further detail should an article be relevant to your individual circumstances.

While every effort has been made to provide valuable, useful information in this publication, this firm and any related suppliers or associated companies accept no responsibility or any form of liability from reliance upon or use of its contents. Any suggestions should be considered carefully within your own particular circumstances, as they are intended as general information only.

Greg Millar
Published on

Survey of Auckland tradespeople shows an Inland Revenue campaign highlighting cash jobs has hit home, with four in five believing they’ll get caught if they cheat on their taxes.

we understand tradies-104The survey of nearly 420 tradies followed an advertising campaign in Auckland during April and May, with the message that tradespeople need to declare all their income, including cash, “or risk everything”.

Inland Revenue said the results show that the message that doing under-the-table jobs is a tax crime is getting through.

There was a high level of awareness of the campaign, with nearly two-thirds of tradies recalling it and more than half considering it was relevant to all tradespeople.

The survey showed more tradies agreed that if they cheat on their tax, it is likely they’ll get caught, when compared to a similar survey in 2012.

That shows tradespeople do realise Inland Revenue will take action if it finds out they’re not declaring all their income.

While the majority of tradespeople do the right thing by paying their taxes, there’s a minority who are cheating the system and ripping off taxpayers.

The survey also found that in the Auckland region, there’s anecdotal evidence that up to a quarter of building and construction involves under the table work. What’s encouraging, though, is that tradies are talking about their tax obligations with their mates in the industry and with their customers. And most are saying it’s no longer okay to do work for cash and not declaring it.

Although Inland Revenue had identified the building and construction industry as being a high risk for tax evasion, all levels of tax evasion from any industry are treated very seriously.

Please call us at Alliott NZ in Auckland on 09 520 9200 if you need to get your building, plumbing or electrical business affairs in order. 

Source: NZ IRD Media

Topics: cash construction Income Inland Revenue Department tax trade businesses