A courier driver who blamed a non-existent tax agent for mishandling his affairs has been ordered to pay $180,000 to Inland Revenue.

If the house always wins, then the taxman isn't far behind - at least not during the last year - when IRD won almost 85 per cent of the litigation it was involved in.

Bankrupt former property developer and reality TV star Terry Serepisos didn't have approval to be out of New Zealand for as long as he was away, his lawyer says.

A High Court judge will look at Terry Serepisos' financial affairs to decide when the former reality TV star and football club owner is to be released from bankruptcy.

A Wellsford man who lied about having five children to receive $120,000 in tax credits has been jailed.

One of the former owners of internet company Orcon who has debts of $3.57m has avoided bankruptcy and will attempt to appease creditors with a $343,000 deal.

A 79-year-old accountant who owes Inland Revenue more than $400 million has successfully stalled it from trying to bankrupt him.

A rise in casual and contract work is stifling the number of people applying for paid parental leave because they don't fit the criteria.

Allied Farmers, which is rebuilding from a disastrous takeover of the Hanover and United Finance loan books has returned to profit.

Vector is in a High Court dispute with Inland Revenue about whether a $53m payment the electricity company received is taxable.

A 79-year-old accountant being chased for a $367 million tax debt has asked the High Court for orders to prevent Inland Revenue bankrupting him.

A woman who adopted a child has won the right to paid parental leave, after being told by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment that she wasn't eligible.

Inland Revenue is warning of telephone scammers who are targeting people for money and threatening deportation and prison if it is not paid.

Claims on packets of Whiskas cat biscuits are misleading and create "a smoke and mirrors effect", the lawyer for a competing pet food maker has told the High Court.

Internet giants Apple, Google and Facebook will likely be targeted under plans for a crackdown on tax avoidance by big multinationals which Labour is set to announce today.

Donghua Liu is rapidly starting to rival Kim Dotcom in the wrecking ball stakes, so many heads are in danger from his dealings with politicians, writes Claire Trevett.

Inland Revenue should accept a payment deal rather than bankrupt a 79-year-old accountant being chased over a $367 million debt, says an Auckland tax adviser.

A 79-year-old accountant being chased for a $367 million tax debt is now going to court in a bid to stall the IRD from bringing bankruptcy proceedings against him.

A former Forsyth Barr investment adviser who poured $460,000 into a now-collapsed internet provider failed to impose discipline on the company.

Inland Revenue has gone to the High Court seeking a judgment against John George Russell for a $367 million alleged tax debt.

The Government has rubbished claims it is more interested in cracking down on benefit fraudsters than tax dodgers - trumpeting a return of up to $8 for every dollar invested in chasing tax cheats.

Taxpayers are flocking to websites that promise a tax refund — even if some take up to a quarter of a payout as commission.

The start of the new financial year on 1 April 2014 also means the start of new simpler, financial reporting regime for small to medium companies - though it's not likely to slash compliance costs for most businesses.

Alesco settling its tax-avoidance stoush is likely to lead to companies in similar disputes cutting deals with the IRD, say tax specialists.

Overseas scammers using a fake website nearly identical to the Inland Revenue Department's are preying on Kiwis in one of the most sophisticated attacks NZ officials have seen.