GST

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne is expecting to make further announcements on Monday regarding legislative changes to GST being introduced on October 1.

WHK tax consultant Jarod Chisholm has prepared some of the common issues that businesses will face as they prepare for the rise in GST on October 1.

Small and large businesses getting ready to change to the new rate of GST on October 1 are already raising issues with a panel of specialists appointed to consider issues and solve problems.

A 10C-a-litre rise in the price of petrol this year, plus an estimated 2% rise in electricity prices and an increase in interest rates, could leave some taxpayers struggling to find any benefit from the tax cuts announced in Thursday's Budget.

Councils across Otago seem about to increase their rates more than forecast to offset the cost of a rise in GST.

Ratepayers who get in quick could dodge a larger-than-forecast rise in Dunedin City Council rates expected to be confirmed next week.

The increase in GST to 15% from October 1 had the potential to create huge and complex problems for all taxpayers, WHK tax consultant Jarod Chisholm warned last night.

Fruit and vegetable growers fear they will be the losers if a plan to increase GST goes ahead.

New Zealand this week had its country ratings upgraded by Dun and Bradstreet. MYOB Business Monitor said the slow spread of the economic recovery has been mixed across the regions. So where does New Zealand's economy sit about a month out from the Government's much-lauded Budget? Business editor Dene Mackenzie investigates.