Tax Facts - Tax Payer Penalties

Taxpayers who do not meet their tax obligations may face penalty or interest charges. To avoid such charges, you should pay the full amount of tax you owe by the due date.

The main kinds of charges for failing to meet tax obligations are:

• A shortfall penalty where the correct amount of tax is higher than the amount you paid (eg, because of an understatement of tax, or where the amount of a refund or loss is reduced).
• A late payment penalty if you post or deliver a payment to us after the date it was due.
• A late filing penalty if you do not file a return by the due date.
• Interest on the amount of tax you owe if you have underpaid your tax. The interest rates charged are based on market rates.
• EMS non payment penalties where you file an employer monthly schedule but do not pay the full amount payable on that schedule.  These penalties are in addition to any of the other penalites that may also then be payable.

For more information give us a call or refer to the IRD's Obligations, Interest & Penalties Guide