Options for Taxing the Digital Economy Discussion Document

Business Central and Wellington Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber) writes to express our support for BusinessNZ’s submission on Inland Revenue Department’s discussion document entitled “Options for Taxing the Digital Economy”.

The Chamber has been the voice of business in the Wellington region for 162 years, since 1856, and advocates policies that reflect the interests of the business community in both the city and region, and the development of the region’s economy as a whole. The Chamber advocates the views of its members and obtains that view through regularly surveying members.

We are a business membership association, representing 3,625 members and their interests throughout the Wellington region, as well as being one of the four regional organisations comprising New Zealand’s peak business advocacy group, BusinessNZ. In Wellington, our organisation operates the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, accredited to the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce network. Our organisation also delivers ExportNZ to Wellington, the Hawke’s Bay and the Central region.

Our organisation supports the three recommendations suggested by BusinessNZ:

1. Officials seek the best outcome for New Zealand from the proposed OECD tax changes.
2. A Digital Services Tax does not proceed.
3. A third de minimis threshold be introduced to take into account a business’s digital intensity (should a DST be implemented).

We believe there are harmful international implications and retaliation should a DST be implemented in New Zealand and this risk should be compared to the relatively low revenue amount expected to be collected.

The Chamber supports BusinessNZ’s submission to Inland Revenue and wholly endorses their comments on the discussion document. When considering their submission, we would appreciate you adding our voice and the voice of our 3,625 members to their submission.

Yours sincerely,

Business Central and Wellington Chamber of Commerce