Federated Farmers: Have your say on tax issues

Federated Farmers vice-president Andrew Hoggard.

Federated Farmers is asking its members to speak up about tax issues.

Responses to a new survey will inform the Federation's submission to the government's Tax Working Group, chaired by former Minister of Finance Sir Michael Cullen, which is examining whether the current tax system operates fairly in relation to taxpayers, income, assets and wealth, and whether it strikes the right balance between supporting the productive economy and the speculative economy.

It is expected to make an interim report to the government by September, and is now calling for submissions.

Federated Farmers vice-president Andrew Hoggard said the tax system was last reviewed in 2010, when farmers were outspoken in opposing the idea of a land tax. That was one of the options before the TWG, as were a capital gains tax and environmental taxes.

"Eight years have gone by since the last review, and our farmer membership has changed, as has the economic and agricultural landscape," Mr Hoggard said.

"We aim to vigorously represent our members' views in our submission to the TWG, and to the government when it considers the TWG's final report, and we're asking members to think about the issues and let us know their views."

The survey, which closes tomorrow, had been designed so members could tell the Federation their views on the shortfalls, pluses or omissions in the current tax system, and what changes, if any, were desirable from their point of view.

Almost 500 farmers had responded within 24 hours of the survey's release on Monday afternoon.