Note: All news content is archived by year and accessed using the links below. Some older content may not be available - a general rule is the older the link, the less likely it is to be there. To search for information by topic rather than date, try our Alphabetical Site Index.

Wednesday 31st December
I own a small business. My employees are entitled as a condition of their employment to staff buying privileges. One of my employees has resigned and is currently working out his notice period. Can I deduct the amount owed on his staff account from his final pay? If not, how can I recover this money?

Tuesday 30th December
Having problems with direct credits? This useful checklist will allow you to make sure you haven't missed a step while exporting your direct credit file from Ace Payroll.

Monday 29th December
Fraud experts say the chances of financial fraud are now greater than ever because businesses are using more scanned images and PDF documents instead of original documents.

Friday 26th December
Five Tips for Surviving Burnout.

Thursday 25th December
Merry Christmas from all of the team at Ace Payroll. Our help desk continues to operate throughout the holiday period 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, public holidays excepted.

Wednesday 24th December
Employing seasonal staff over Christmas? Remember that from 24th March 2003 the adult minimum wage increased to $8.50 an hour and the youth rate to $6.80

Tuesday 23rd December
The Kiwibank help desk says I can process direct credits by diskette. How do I do this in Ace Payroll?

Monday 22nd December
Questions about holiday pay?. You may like to review our holiday pay entitlement tutorial and related links.

Thursday 18th December
The Holidays Bill 2003 was passed in Parliament yesterday.

Wednesday 17th December
We take this opportunity to wish all clients a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Our help desk continues to operate throughout the holiday period 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, public holidays excepted.

Tuesday 16th December
A hangover is the No 1 reason for people taking unnecessary sick days, a new poll suggests.

Monday 15th December
Frequently asked questions written by the Employment Relations Service designed to help with common questions about leave issues.

Friday 12th December
Sackings at two firms over sexually offensive messages sent electronically and in a more traditional form have had mixed sequels in the Employment Relations Authority.

Thursday 11th December
IRD Agents Answers - December 2003 is now available online.

Wednesday 10th December
In this article we look at how the taxation of holiday pay is handled in Ace Payroll

Tuesday 9th December
What are the different things I can access using the function keys in Ace Payroll?

Monday 8th December
When planning work drinks or office related functions, it is worth thinking about the safety of employees affected by alcohol.

Friday 5th December
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is, where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.

Thursday 4th December
How do I show employee IRD numbers on the payslip?

Wednesday 3rd December
Businesses will be able to free post their payments of GST, PAYE and fringe benefit tax from the beginning of next year, the Minister of Revenue announced today.

Tuesday 2nd December
Employers who objected strongly to a Government proposal to limit their ability to check the validity of claims for sick leave have had a small victory.

Monday 1st December
I have deductions set up for many of my staff. Some of these deductions are linked to a bank account, but some (such as "Repayment of Advance") are not. How can I see which deductions have been direct credited?

Friday 28th November
The employment agreements of all salaried workers will have to be re-worded to recognise that the person is being paid time-and-a-half for public holidays.

Thursday 27th November
An Auckland cook and barman traumatised by three armed robberies in less than three months is suing his former employer for more than $230,000 after being refused accident compensation.

Wednesday 26th November
This FAQ explains the handling of casual employees in Ace Payroll.

Tuesday 25th November
Questions about holiday pay?. You may like to review our holiday pay entitlement tutorial and related links.

Monday 24th November
The High Court is taking a tough line on tax abuse with an "extremely strident" approach of 100 per cent penalties in the $226 million Actonz judgment issued last week, according to a leading tax expert.

Friday 21st November
How do I allow an employee a day in lieu in Ace Payroll?

Thursday 20th November
Light-fingered employees are costing retailers almost as much as shoplifters, and the bosses are striking back.

Wednesday 19th November
The interest rate used to calculate fringe benefit tax on low-interest, employment-related loans has dropped from 7.33% to 7.08%, with effect from 1 October 2003. The change was approved by Order in Council yesterday.

Tuesday 18th November
Written initially for prospective clients, this explanation of the different routines in Ace Payroll designed to provide data security should be of interest to current users who wish to be prepared should disaster ever strike!

Monday 17th November
How do I backup to a zip drive in Ace Payroll?

Friday 14th November
After paying a $83,000 tax bill for a Hawke's Bay health trust that paid its workers and trustees "koha", the Health Ministry has warned other trusts not to make the same mistake.

Thursday 13th November
Using the As Per Act method, why is no current usual daily rate shown?

Wednesday 12th November
The introduction of four weeks' annual leave could backfire on workers looking to build a career in the hospitality industry.

Tuesday 11th November
The IRD has sent us an IR23 Special Tax Code Certificate asking to deduct student loan at 12 cents in the dollar. How do we do this?

Monday 10th November
IRD Payroll News - Issue 58 November 2003 is now available online.

Friday 7th November
Workers hoping for an extra week's holiday will probably have to wait till 2008 after the Government opted to give businesses the longest possible lead time to prepare for the extra costs.

Thursday 6th November
IRD agents answers - November 2003 is now available online.

Wednesday 5th November
The cabinet yesterday deferred a decision on its contentious "transfer of undertakings" proposal to protect workers when businesses are sold, merged, taken over, split up or contracted out.

Tuesday 4th November
Employers can employ new staff on trial periods, as long as they specify in writing that the employee is on a trial period - now also referred to as a "probationary arrangement".

Monday 3rd November
Cary Hubbard has an intimate relationship with 300 Hamilton business people. Once a week she or one of her five staff can be found in the offices, salons and call centres of 50 city businesses.

Friday 31st October
Ace Payroll receives many calls immediately after every public holiday, asking whether a particular employee is entitled to be paid for the public holiday.

Thursday 30th October
A list of IRD forms relevant to employers - all forms are in PDF format and can be printed out and used when needed.

Wednesday 29th October
I used to check my direct credit schedule against my Management Report to make sure the total matched the net pay. Now that I am also direct crediting deductions to WINZ, the total doesn't match the net pay. Is there a report I can print to reconcile this?

Tuesday 28th October
What is the correct way to show ACC payments on the IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule?

Monday 27th October
The Government may phase in its extra week's paid leave from 2005, hoping to lessen employers' hostility by giving them more time to adjust.

Friday 24th October
A former ministerial secretary has been convicted for her part in passing on confidential Inland Revenue Department information to a family member who was chasing a debt.

Thursday 23rd October
With about nine weeks to Christmas, the heat is on in the build up to summer. The forecast is for hot weather, employees on leave and staffing challenges unique to the season.

Wednesday 22nd October
Changes to the non-resident contractors' withholding tax rules were made yesterday, with effect from 1 December 2003.

Tuesday 21st October
A stripper, a muddy floor and a worker who wants $750,000.

Monday 20th October
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.

Friday 17th October
Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard this week warned that too many New Zealanders are taking higher risks than they realise in the way they borrow and invest.

Thursday 16th October
Are your workers employees or independent contractors? The time has come to revisit this question and perhaps re-document your agreements.

Wednesday 15th October
Despite the ongoing housing market boom, the construction industry is New Zealand's slowest when it comes to paying bills, says a survey made public today.

Tuesday 14th October
Frequently asked questions written by the Employment Relations Service designed to help with common questions about leave issues.

Monday 13th October
I have a number of casual employees on my payroll, but when I go to do my weekly wages, they are not there. How do I pay them?

Friday 10th October
A proposed change to the tax laws has raised fears that the four-year limit on when the Inland Revenue can challenge a tax return could disappear.

Thursday 9th October
Labour costs rose 2.2 per cent in the year to June, the fastest rate for six years.

Wednesday 8th October
Under the Wages Protection Act an employee can insist on being paid their wages in cash.

Tuesday 7th October
Employee theft comes in many guises; misuse of company credit cards, stolen petty cash, personal photocopies, borrowing software or personal use of e-mail.

Monday 6th October
What Ace Payroll files do we need to backup to the file server?

Friday 3rd October
IRD agents answers - October 2003 is now available online.

Thursday 2nd October
The Holidays Act 2003 is currently before parliament - it is presented here in browsable format should you wish to become familiar with it.

Wednesday 1st October
The tax rules on payments to non-resident contractors are to be simplified, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced last week.

Tuesday 30th September
What questions are employers entitled to ask prospective employees about their state of health prior to employing them?

Monday 29th September
It seems that even businesses as big as Microsoft can overlook the wide effects of our fringe benefit tax laws.

Friday 26th September
Set your clocks forward one hour on Sunday 5th October. If staff are employed during the transition, our Daylight Saving and the Time Act 1975 clarifies the situation.

Thursday 25th September
This FAQ documents how to change the batch number in Ace Payroll, which your bank may occasionally ask you to do.

Wednesday 24th September
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is, where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.

Tuesday 23rd September
It's never been easier to put in a hard day at the office without actually getting any work done.

Monday 22nd September
How do I reconcile total direct credits to total nett pay?

Friday 19th September
More than one in four small businesses have been victims of fraud in the last two years - and an accountants' group says business practices are partly to blame.

Thursday 18th September
Using the As Per Act holiday pay method, I have an employee who has been employed for more than a year, receives four weeks holidays a year, and is terminating their employment. How do I pay 8% of gross for the part year period?

Wednesday 17th September
Workplace bullying is thought to affect about half of the working population.

Tuesday 16th September
My company has been asking people to take all their leave in the year in which it is due to be taken, and doesn't want us to carry any of it over. I don't think this is fair, and it isn't flexible. What can I do about it? Does the Holidays Act allow this sort of thing?

Monday 15th September
Should I backup my data before or after I file my pays?

Friday 12th September
Imagine asking your boss for help over work-related stress only to be told to either suck it in or go jump off the balcony.

Thursday 11th September
Ace Payroll is sometimes asked what the difference is between a casual and a part time employee.

Wednesday 10th September
IRD agents answers - September 2003 is now available online.

Tuesday 9th September
What protection do I have if an employee leaves and starts up in competition? Alison Gray of the Chapman Tripp Employment Law Team replies.

Monday 8th September
Ace Payroll version 3.20D was released today. The major changes in this version are enhancements to our import utilities and specifications, and changes with the creation of zip files.

Friday 5th September
A well written guide from OSH describing the Health & Safety obligations of employers.

Thursday 4th September
Earnings Certificates provide your employees with a record of their earnings, tax payments and deductions for the financial year selected.

Wednesday 3rd September
Taxpayer audit consumes 23% of the total cost of running the IRD and is the largest single activity undertaken. A superbly presented report from the Auditor General.

Tuesday 2nd September
This FAQ explains how to reserve a fixed amount of cash for an employee, prior to direct credits being paid.

Monday 1st September
Companies that need maintenance shutdowns more than once a year look set to get an exemption from a new Holidays Bill clause aimed at letting firms close only over Christmas.

Friday 29th August
The interest rate used to calculate fringe benefit tax for low-interest, employment-related loans has decreased from 7.74% to 7.33%, with effect from 1 July 2003.

Thursday 28th August
Resources to help keep yourself, your family & your workplace injury free from the ACC.

Wednesday 27th August
Employment-related rules topped the list of concerns for businesses worried about compliance costs and regulatory constraints on growth, a study commissioned for the Government shows.

Tuesday 26th August
Australia faces an occupational crisis, with the number of people entering the workforce predicted to fall by a staggering 90 per cent in the next 15 years.

Monday 25th August
I do weekly and fortnightly payrolls. When I do a backup, does it backup both of them?

Friday 22nd August
Things have come to a pretty pass for New Zealand business when our liberty rests in the hands of Jim Anderton. Alas, that appears to be the situation.

Thursday 21st August
New holidays legislation has been held up and will not be enacted until early next year. But the two holidays bills will undoubtedly go ahead and will undoubtedly harm small businesses.

Wednesday 20th August
Questions about holiday pay?. You may like to review our holiday pay entitlement tutorial and related links.

Tuesday 19th August
If your printed IR348 Employers Monthly Schedule as produced by Ace Payroll is returned by the IRD as unsuitable, there are only three possible causes.

Monday 18th August
Introduction of the new Holidays Act 2003 has been delayed for three months, with the select committee being given until 1st December 2003 to report back.

Friday 15th August
From 24th March 2003 the adult minimum wage increased to $8.50 an hour and the youth rate to $6.80

Thursday 14th August
The truth of the old saying that there is no honour among thieves has been demonstrated during Auckland's regional rates row.

Wednesday 13th August
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.

Tuesday 12th August
What defines someone as a contractor rather than an employee?

Monday 11th August
How to search for an employee on the Ace Payroll employee index.

Friday 8th August
The withholding tax deduction rate for independent contractors involved in the production of films, television and videos has been set at 20%, in line with the rate for entertainers. The change was approved by Order in Council this week.

Thursday 7th August
When an employee simply does not turn up and it is repetitive, it is important not to lose your cool and dismiss the employee. You must be fair at all times.

Wednesday 6th August
IRD agents answers - August 2003 is now available online.

Tuesday 5th August
The casual agricultural tax code CAE reputedly taxes at 22.2%. Farmers and orchardists regularly ask why the calculation in Ace Payroll differs by a few cents.

Monday 4th August
Four Inland Revenue staff have been sacked recently for improperly accessing taxpayer files and more could follow.

Friday 1st August
An Indian restaurateur and immigration consultant has escaped having to repay a migrant who claimed to have handed over $15,000 to "buy" a job in Auckland.

Thursday 31st July
This page provides links to all holiday pay information on the Ace Payroll site, and on the site of the Employment Relations Service.

Wednesday 30th July
The cash economy has grown since the introduction of the GST, meaning it has failed to deliver on the Government's key promise that it would halt tax avoidance.

Tuesday 29th July
This FAQ describes the best way to direct credit all an employee's nett pay.

Monday 28th July
Last week the Reserve Bank reduced the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 5.0 per cent.

Friday 25th July
How is holiday pay worked out? An updated guide from the Department Of Labour.

Thursday 24th July
The government announced on Monday that it will introduce legislation to clarify that financial contributions made to local authorities under the Resource Management Act and the Local Government Act are subject to GST. It will also legislate to clarify that, late payment penalties imposed on unpaid rates under the Local Government (Rating) Act are exempt from GST.

Wednesday 23rd July
Ace Payroll version 3.20C was released yesterday which includes a new Payment Reconciliation report, especially useful for tracking linked deductions, as well as several small enhancements.

Tuesday 22nd July
It was revealed this week that a presentation given by Canadian federal tax officials to the Minister of National Revenue Elinor Caplan some months ago showed that Canadian citizens are investing ten times more money in low tax jurisdictions than they were in the late 1980's.

Monday 21st July
This FAQ explains how to overwrite a PAYE deduction in Ace Payroll.

Friday 18th July
Employers will have to foot a $908 million bill if they are forced to give their staff an extra week's annual leave, a business group says.

Thursday 17th July
The Government's law drafter and IT services firm Unisys are arguing over whether an $8 million project to make legislation available free on the internet is suffering "scope creep" and whether the bill should go up.

Wednesday 16th July
Restaurants and other businesses servicing tourists may have to close on public holidays because a new law will increase payroll costs, says a Marlborough hotelier.

Tuesday 15th July
Browse through this list of questions our helpdesk is frequently asked about Ace Payroll, many of which are answered with easy to follow screen shots.

Monday 14th July
The release last week of the OSH guidelines, "Healthy Work: Managing stress and fatigue in the workplace" will see many smaller business people reaching for their stress relief pills.

Friday 11th July
In this article we look at how the taxation of holiday pay is handled in Ace Payroll

Thursday 10th July
Once ranked 8th in the world, he obtained a medical certificate that approved his excessive beer drinking. If that wasn't enough to turn any armchair athlete green with envy, it also meant that he could offset the cost of his beer against his income tax.

Wednesday 9th July
Produced specifically for businesses employing 10 people or less, this booklet explains the requirements of the legislation and suggests ways you can effectively manage safety and health in your business.

Tuesday 8th July
There is no legal obligation to pay an employee for time on jury service. However, some employers see this as part of their social or community obligations.

Monday 7th July
Smaller suburban hairdressing salons may no longer be able to afford to employ apprentices with the passing of the Minimum Wage Amendment Bill.

Friday 4th July
IRD agents answers - Issue 47 July 2003 is now available online.

Thursday 3rd July
Paid parental leave is a year old today and the weekly payment is going up from $325 to $334.75.

Wednesday 2nd July
Some employers in New Zealand may find it necessary to recruit and employ temporary worker from overseas for the purposes of filling particular or seasonal job positions that cannot be met from within New Zealand. This link describes the application procedure.

Tuesday 1st July
Ace Payroll version 3.20A was released yesterday, with changes for bereavement leave, an additional Dept of Statistics report, and enhancements to the import utilities.

Monday 30th June
Inland Revenue's annual mail out of Personal Tax Summaries is completed with 407,428 being sent to taxpayers throughout the country.

Friday 27th June
When I print the IRD approved IR348, the first page comes out with IR348 printed on it, but the second and subsequent pages say IR349. Why is this?

Thursday 26th June
Many employers are being hit with unexpected costs of providing safety clothing and equipment to casual staff under new workplace health and safety laws - even if staff get the same clothing from other employers.

Wednesday 25th June
Employers are increasingly stumping up with cash for staff literacy programmes that teach skills they argue should have been mastered at school.

Tuesday 24th June
What is the significance of figures that appear in blue in Ace Payroll?

Monday 23rd June
Anyone who has looked at the Holidays Act will understand why there has been constant demand for its reform, for at least the past 10 years.

Friday 20th June
Beauty treatments such as manicures and facials can be tax deductible for some people who make money with their bodies, tax experts have found.

Thursday 19th June
Most salary and wage earners don't need a Personal Tax Summary. So if you are not included in either of the following lists, and the IRD has not contacted you, relax - there's no need to get in touch with them.

Wednesday 18th June
A child support variation code is used if you regularly deduct child support from an employee's wages, but the amount deducted in a certain pay period is different from the usual deduction.

Tuesday 17th June
Dehiring, retrenching, disestablishing, the order of the boot... The 50 ways to leave your lover are nowadays matched by an equal number of euphemisms for getting the sack.

Monday 16th June
The Minimum Wage Amendment Bill passed by Parliament today ensures trainees receive a fair day's pay as they will soon have to be paid at least $6.80 an hour, the same as the minimum youth rate, Acting Labour Minister Trevor Mallard said on Thursday.

Friday 13th June
I use Ace Payroll to send wages to Deskbank, and rather than have one total for wages appear on the bank statement, I want a separate amount for each employee.

Thursday 12th June
While many individuals use family trusts to organise their personal affairs, the use of trading trusts for business activities is not as common.

Wednesday 11th June
The Reserve Bank last week cut the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent.

Tuesday 10th June
IRD agents answers - Issue 46 June 2003 is now available online.

Monday 9th June
This FAQ explains why the figures on your monthly IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule do not match other wage data for the month.

Friday 6th June
The IRD advise their systems were this week infected with a computer virus, and suggest they may have passed on this virus to others.

Thursday 5th June
A woman employed to rear calves at a South Island farm has been awarded more than $18,000 after being sexually harassed by her employer.

Wednesday 4th June
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is, where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.

Tuesday 3rd June
The government will close a tax loophole involving sale and leaseback transactions that allow tax deductions for what are effectively repayments of principal. The new law will not be applied retrospectively to deductions already taken, but will apply to payments made or expenses incurred after it comes into effect.

Monday 2nd June
Faced with an out-of-the-blue tax rise that threatened the survival of one of their product lines, many businessmen would have crumbled.

Friday 30th May
The deemed rate of return for foreign investment fund interests has decreased from 10.46% to 9.90% for the 2002-03 income year.

Thursday 29th May
Many, if not most, cave in before filing a statement of defence because, no matter how unjustified, vexatious or unwinnable the employee's case might be, in this country it's generally cheaper to cave in to extortion than to win a case in court.

Wednesday 28th May
The interest rate used to calculate fringe benefit tax for low-interest, job-related loans drops from 7.83% to 7.74% with effect from 1 April 2003.

Tuesday 27th May
The IRD has sent us an IR23 Special Tax Code Certificate asking to deduct student loan at 12 cents in the dollar. How do we do this?

Monday 26th May
Inland Revenue is sending out Summary of Earnings to 683,000 people who file IR 3 income tax returns this week.

Friday 23rd May
A Sydney traffic controller is suing his former employer for unfair dismissal, claiming he was sacked via text message.

Thursday 22nd May
Sometimes the IRD asks you to deduct tax at a rate which is not a whole number, plus the earner premium. An example of this is a request to deduct tax at 22.5%, as asked of one of our clients recently. When the IRD does this, they have made a mistake.

Wednesday 21st May
The Internal Revenue Service told lawmakers Tuesday it can't go after every overdue tax bill and needs help from collection professionals who specialize in making persistent phone calls.

Tuesday 20th May
A clever way of financing the purchase of residential investment property may yet prove too clever by half.

Monday 19th May
From 24th March 2003 the adult minimum wage increased to $8.50 an hour and the youth rate to $6.80

Friday 16th May
Budget 2003 was released yesterday.

Thursday 15th May
Is that expense deductible? In this article Chris Lindsay, tax director, Horwath Porter Wigglesworth Ltd, Auckland, answers questions on deductibility including expenses incurred after a business has ceased, expenditure incurred before commencement of a business, shareholders' salaries, sponsorship, legal fees, fines, relocation expenses and more.

Wednesday 14th May
New Zealand businesses need to crack down on internet misuse by employees, a new survey says.

Tuesday 13th May
IRD agents answers - Issue 45 May 2003 is now available online.

Monday 12th May
The Holidays Act 2003 is currently before parliament - it is presented here in browsable format should you wish to become familiar with it.

Friday 9th May
Employers are extremely worried by a Government proposal to limit their ability to check the validity of claims for sick leave.

Thursday 8th May
New Zealanders' wages and the number of hours they worked rose in the first data released this year, but the number of workers stayed the same.

Wednesday 7th May
Since Monday, employers have been obliged to contend with the Health and Safety in Employment Act.

Tuesday 6th May
Twenty-eight boys aged between 13 and 15 who have fathered children are being forced to pay child support - the tax department will even seize the money from their paper round.

Monday 5th May
Employers cannot rely on contractual restraint-of-trade clauses to prevent former employees using their skills for a competitor.

Friday 2nd May
The government will introduce legislation enabling employer contributions to superannuation funds on behalf of employees earning less than $38,000 a year to be taxed at a lower rate than the present 33%, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen told the Savings and Fund Management Conference in Wellington.

Thursday 1st May
Employers who do not take steps to block offensive spam from arriving in workers' inboxes may be open to sexual harassment claims from their staff.

Wednesday 30th April
Having received the advice from Coxall's doctor, however, the court concluded that the employer was under an obligation - as a matter of last resort - to dismiss Coxall.

Tuesday 29th April
I have accidentally filed a pay for an employee and it is showing on my reports. How do I delete it?

Monday 28th April
The Reserve Bank last week reduced the Official Cash Rate from 5.75 per cent to 5.50 per cent.

Friday 25th April
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.

Thursday 24th April
If you have been considering renouncing your US citizenship and taking up residence overseas to escape the long reach of the Internal Revenue Service, you may have left it too late.

Wednesday 23rd April
As unemployment drops to levels New Zealand has not seen in well over a decade, focus is shifting to the groups who continue to have difficulty finding a job.

Tuesday 22nd April
I have a number of casual employees on my payroll, but when I go to do my weekly wages, they are not there. How do I pay them?

Monday 21st April
Fraudsters dismissals were justified even though the fraud occurred prior to employment, the Employment Relations Authority has held.

Friday 18th April
Inland Revenue has become the first government department to handle inquiries from the public using secure e-mail.

Thursday 17th April
Frequently asked questions written by the Employment Relations Service designed to help with common questions about leave issues.

Wednesday 16th April
An Auckland company has been fined $14,000 after a man was strangled to death in machinery last year.

Tuesday 15th April
One thing is certain: office politics is not new. It has been about since time began.

Monday 14th April
The Maori Development Ministry, Te Puni Kokiri, has been ordered to pay more than $100,000 to a worker sacked after drugs were found in its Wellington headquarters.

Friday 11th April
The number of jobs advertised fell again last month, strengthening the view that the economy is slowing.

Thursday 10th April
What is the correct way to show ACC payments on the IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule?

Wednesday 9th April
New legislation, recently enacted, increases the amount that can be claimed as a rebate for donations to charities from $500 to $630.

Tuesday 8th April
An Employment Tribunal case illustrates the danger to employers of not making it clear to prospective employees when and how an offer of employment will be made.

Monday 7th April
Small-business activity slowed over the final quarter of last year but the sector still managed to outperform the national economy.

Friday 4th April
IRD agents answers - Issue 44 April 2003 is now available online.

Thursday 3rd April
At the start of each financial year Ace Payroll receives a number of calls from clients unsure whether the tax is correctly calculated by the program. Here is a simple checklist.

Wednesday 2nd April
Under the Employment Relations Act, all employment agreements are required to be in writing, but an oral agreement is still valid, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled.

Tuesday 1st April
Waitakere City Council managers have told a judge it would be unsafe and disruptive to rehire a parking warden who says he was fired for not issuing enough tickets.

Monday 31st March
Earnings Certificates provide your employees with a record of their earnings, tax payments and deductions for the financial year selected.

Friday 28th March
When applying for a job, Michelle Attwood was asked to disclose whether she had "any medical problems of any kind." She wrote that she had a hip condition that could affect her if she had to stand for a long time.

Thursday 27th March
Every organisation has them: the bullies, the screamers, the negative thinkers, the chronic complainers, the persistent fault-finders, the tyrants, the back-stabbers, the office politicians, the two-faced troublemakers.

Wednesday 26th March
Ace Payroll releases an upgrade each year, and we are often asked when is the best time to install the upgrade.

Tuesday 25th March
Falling asleep at work? It may be your lunch, not your job

Monday 24th March
The Holidays Act 2003 is currently before parliament - it is presented here in browsable format should you wish to become familiar with it.

Friday 21st March
From Monday 24th March 2003 the adult minimum wage is $8.50 an hour and the youth rate $6.80.

Thursday 20th March
The Holidays Bill tabled in Parliament last month alters the way holiday pay entitlements are calculated and adds to employers' direct costs.

Wednesday 19th March
Under the Wages Protection Act an employee can insist on being paid their wages in cash.

Tuesday 18th March
IRD Corporates Contact - March 2003 is now available online.

Monday 17th March
A supervisor and team leader sacked after "throwing a sickie" has been reinstated - even though the Employment Relations Authority conceded that the decision to dismiss him was one a fair and reasonable employer could take.

Friday 14th March
Employees will be able to choose when to take lieu days under the Holidays Bill, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association northern branch.

Thursday 13th March
Inland Revenue's 12-year battle to recoup $81 million from an Auckland tax adviser involved in an alleged tax avoidance scheme should be the subject of an inquiry, a judge says.

Wednesday 12th March
Questions about holiday pay?. You may like to review our holiday pay entitlement tutorial and related links.

Tuesday 11th March
As soon as you start employing people you must register with Inland Revenue. If you know in advance that you will be having someone start work for you, you can register before they actually begin working.

Monday 10th March
Turn your clocks back one hour on Sunday 16th March. If staff are employed during the transition, our Daylight Saving and the Time Act 1974 section clarifies the situation.

Friday 7th March
Overall, the IRS gets a budget of 41 cents per tax return, 10 percent less than in 1997, after adjusting for inflation. Yet during that time, a plethora of new tax evasion techniques have emerged from the nation's largest accounting firms.

Thursday 6th March
IRD agents answers - Issue 43 March 2003 is now available online.

Wednesday 5th March
In the newly released version 3.19A employee notes are displayed with the most recent note shown first.

Tuesday 4th March
Although his work is often noted for championing quiet, thoughtful leaders over brash celebrity bosses, he found that the truly successful built firms in which people were "productively neurotic".

Monday 3rd March
Hopefully, sheer bloody-minded decisions by the Revenue will be abandoned along with the rest of the old regime.

Friday 28th February
This FAQ explains the handling of casual employees in Ace Payroll.

Thursday 27th February
The total interest rate for student loans is to remain at 7% for the year beginning 1 April 2003, the government announced today. The base interest rate component will decrease to 4.2% but the interest adjustment rate component will rise to 2.8%. The rates are set annually by Order in Council.

Wednesday 26th February
Employees will be able to accumulate sick leave, more easily take time off for bereavements and be paid extra for working statutory holidays under changes to the Holidays Act to be introduced to Parliament this week.

Tuesday 25th February
This month's IRD Payroll News.

Monday 24th February
All legislative and tax changes taking place on 1st April 2003 are built in to the latest Ace Payroll upgrade, which is now shipping.

Friday 21st February
How you can be sure that Ace Payroll is fully IRD compliant.

Thursday 20th February
The frequency with which we take sick leave jumps by about a third during school holidays and 20 per cent on the Fridays following payday, a new study shows.

Wednesday 19th February
Employing new staff members, if not done properly, can be fraught with potential problems. Here are a few steps that should be followed by any prospective employer.

Tuesday 18th February
Interesting facts and figures about Student Loans from Inland Revenue covering the period 1 July 2002 to 30 September 2002.

Monday 17th February
From May 5 a new law explicitly makes employers liable for hazardous stress and fatigue their staff experience at work.

Friday 14th February - Valentine's Day

Ace Payroll extend their kindest regards to all clients, suppliers and staff today. Thank you for being in our lives.

Thursday 13th February
From 24th March 2003 the adult minimum wage increases to $8.50 an hour and the youth rate to $6.80

Wednesday 12th February
Frequently asked questions written by the Employment Relations Service designed to help with common questions about leave issues.

Tuesday 11th February
Employers are being urged to recognise the risks sedentary workers face if they do not take adequate breaks.

Monday 10th February
The construction industry will finally have the teeth to get prompt payments when a new law takes effect on April 1.

Friday 7th February
IRD agents answers - Issue 42 February 2003 is now available online.

Thursday 6th February
Ace Payroll wishes all clients a peaceful and enjoyable Waitangi Day break. Try testing your general knowledge with this short Waitangi Day Quiz.

Wednesday 5th February
This FAQ documents how to change the batch number in Ace Payroll, which your bank may occasionally ask you to do.

Tuesday 4th February
From May 5 a new law explicitly makes employers liable for hazardous stress and fatigue their staff experience at work.

Monday 3rd February
An Employment Court judge recently suggested that Maori workers welcomed with powhiri ceremonies should be farewelled with similar decorum - even when sacked.

Friday 31st January
If your printed IR348 Employers Monthly Schedule as produced by Ace Payroll is returned by the IRD as unsuitable, there are only three possible causes.

Thursday 30th January
Forget your credit card being the prime suspect should you find your identity stolen. Your employer is easily as likely a source.

Wednesday 29th January
This FAQ describes the best way to direct credit all an employee's nett pay.

Tuesday 28th January
For an entrepreneur, getting the best out of your staff is one of the critical factors of success. Find out what motivates your employees to get the best out of your business.

Monday 27th January
The Employment Relations Act requires all employment agreements to be in writing, and prescribes minimum content. Employers may be severely penalised for breaching the Act. Here are some common problems

Friday 24th January
Australia will form a partnership with New Zealand to deal with Pacific tax havens such as Vanuatu, which received $295 million in transfers from Australia last year.

Thursday 23rd January
The Court of Appeal has again reduced the remedies awarded to redundant workers whose redundancies were commercially necessary, but carried out in a procedurally unfair manner.

Wednesday 22nd January
Changes to the Health and Safety in Employment Act will make employers far more interested in the personal lives of their employees.

Tuesday 21st January
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.

Monday 20th January
Meat companies and scores of other employers have been let off the hook by the Court of Appeal from millions of dollars of potential backpay claims for public holidays.

Friday 17th January
The Reserve Bank yesterday advised the public that some older 20 cent coins are temporarily causing confusion among some shoppers.

Thursday 16th January
This FAQ explains how to reserve a fixed amount of cash for an employee, prior to direct credits being paid.

Wednesday 15th January
Provided your employer accepts you have suffered a bereavement, you are entitled to bereavement leave even though cousins are not mentioned in the bereavement leave clause of your employment contract.

Tuesday 14th January
Tens of thousands of Venezuelans marched on the federal tax agency Tuesday and many ripped up their tax forms, vowing to further deprive President Hugo Chavez of revenue as part of their strike that has already dried up oil income.

Monday 13th January
An information campaign on changes to workplace health and safety laws has been launched by the Occupational Safety and Health Service (OSH).

Friday 10th January
The User Definable Employee Data Field allows you to set up and name a field, then use it to record whatever item of employee information you want.

Thursday 9th January
Evasion of capital gains tax by Australia's richest people - including those who profited from the dotcom boom - will be a key focus of a crackdown on the wealthy by the Australian Taxation Office.

Wednesday 8th January
Inland Revenue says some overseas technology firms may be charging their New Zealand subsidiaries unjustifiably high royalties, and sees the sector as "particularly at risk" of abusive transfer pricing practices.

Tuesday 7th January
An article by Fred Langa republished by Ace Payroll, explaining how to connect USB devices to computers without USB ports, and vice versa.

Monday 6th January
How to search for an employee on the Ace Payroll employee index.

Friday 3rd January
Low paid workers will receive a 6.25 per cent boost in income following changes to minimum wage rates announced by Labour Minister Margaret Wilson.

Note: All news content is archived by year and accessed using the links below. Some older content may not be available - a general rule is the older the link, the less likely it is to be there. To search for information by topic rather than date, try our Alphabetical Site Index.