Govt deficit up as tax take dips

A lower tax take in the first four months of the financial year meant the Government's operating deficit was wider than forecast. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The New Zealand government's operating deficit was wider than forecast in the first four months of the financial year as the Crown clipped a smaller tax take on consumer spending and wages.

The operating balance before gains and losses (obegal) was a deficit of $2.87 billion in the four months ended October 31, $169 million, or 6.3 per cent, bigger than forecast in the May Budget.

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Core tax revenue was 1.6 per cent short of expectations at $17.92 billion, with goods and services tax and source deductions from weak private consumption and tepid wage growth the biggest drag on the accounts.

The tax take from GST accruals was 4.9 per cent short of forecast at $8.13 billion in the four month period, while source deductions missed expectations by 2.6 per cent at $7.16 billion. Treasury officials said they expect the weakness in both revenue streams to continue through the year.

The total corporate tax take was 1.5 per cent below forecast at $2.41 billion due to a smaller return from non-resident withholding tax.

Core Crown spending was 1.5 per cent below forecast at $22.95 billion, with delays in health expenditure and less spent on welfare for fewer beneficiaries.

The under-spends were offset by higher than forecast expenditure on earthquake expenses from land zoning decisions, and the government has lifted its Christchurch 'red zone' provision by $234 million to $1.17 billion.

Including gains from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and Accident Compensation Corp's investment portfolio, the Crown's operating deficit was $34 million in the period, a 98 per cent improvement on the forecast shortfall of $1.96 billion.

Net government debt was near expectations at $55.47 billion, or 27.1 per cent of gross domestic product.