[pima.nius] COOK ISLES TO RE-INSTITUTE WITHHOLDING TAX

COOK ISLES TO RE-INSTITUTE WITHHOLDING TAX
Government needs to raise revenues for deficit budget

http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2011/July/07-11-13.htm

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, July 9, 2011 – The Cook Islands government will be reintroducing a withholding tax on interest accrued in bank accounts to cover two bills that have exceeded budget appropriations by about US$1.6 million.

The government's allocated budget for the subsidy it pays for Air New Zealand flights from Los Angeles to Rarotonga fell significantly short of the final bill.

In addition, the government has to shoulder losses of more than US$160,000 accrued by the company, Toa Petroleum.

The Finance Minister Mark Brown says a withholding tax was removed over ten years ago to encourage people to make larger bank deposits but he says the government has little choice but to restore it.

"I didn't want to jeopardize a number of ministry programmes that we have already approved and that have gone through a thorough debate and budget process. The next best thing to do was to have a look at some form of revenue generation and this one would be the easiest to apply. And basically banks will be asked to deduct the 15 percent on any interest they accrue and that amount we expect will be paid to treasury every month."

Mark Brown says he is planning to reintroduce the tax in September and is hoping it can generate more than 800 thousand US dollars within a

Radio New Zealand International: www.rnzi.com
Copyright © 2010 RNZI. All Rights Reserved

--
----------------------------------------
pacific islands media association
pima.nius@gmail.com
aotearoa, new zealand
----------------------------------------

The pima.nius googlegroup is a facility for discussion and distributing information regarding the Pacific Islands Media Association (PIMA). Content sent by this googlegroup are forwarded from various networks and media publications to keep you informed about aspects of the media industry. 

These emails are unedited and discussions made through this googlegroup are unmoderated. Announcements made through this googlegroup do not constitute endorsement for the organisations, individuals or opinions featured. Please check the integrity of organisations and individuals before exchanging personal information with them. 

--
----------------------------------------
pacific islands media association
pima.nius@gmail.com
aotearoa, new zealand
----------------------------------------
The pima.nius googlegroup is a facility for discussion and distributing information. Content sent by this googlegroup are forwarded from various networks and media publications.
 
DISCLAIMER: These emails are unedited and discussions made through this googlegroup are unmoderated. Announcements made through this googlegroup do not constitute endorsement for the organisations, individuals or opinions featured. Please check the integrity of organisations and individuals before exchanging personal information with them.
 
- - - - - - - - -
comment here:
http://groups.google.com/group/pima-nius/topics?hl=en
 
send an email comment here:
pima-nius@googlegroups.com
 
unsubscribe:
pima-nius+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
 
more options
http://groups.google.com/group/pima-nius?hl=en?hl=en
 
- - - - - - - - -