The tax cuts delivered by the Government on April 1 are likely to be the last for a while.
Finance Minister Bill English told the Otago Daily Times yesterday that a decision on the second and third round of cuts, scheduled for April 1 next year and April 1, 2011, would be revealed in next month's budget.
Reminded that National had campaigned strongly on tax cuts during last year's election campaign, Mr English said the Government had a "strong focus" on keeping its promises but, like everyone else, it was facing issues of affordability.
The Government had decided to make a priority of keeping existing entitlements for people who relied on government income for their livelihoods.
That included superannuitants and beneficiaries.
Mr English remained a supporter of tax cuts because they put more cash in the pockets of workers and helped them get ahead.
However, they had to be affordable.
WHK Taylors tax partner Scott Mason said he and most of his fellow tax practitioners accepted there would be no more tax cuts.
"We've written them off. There are still some things we would like them to do with the tax reforms before Parliament. But we have given the tax cuts away."
