Winter has settled over most of the country, so we hope you and your families are staying warm and dry. We are more than halfway through winter, with not too much left to endure.

IRD has made changes and proposed changes in how it handles certain areas of tax collection, and we look at these below. We also share an update on what is happening in the lives of former BW Miller Dean directors.

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Inland Revenue (IRD) Crypto Assets

IRD historically had visibility of only local New Zealand stock exchange information. As of 1 April 2026, New Zealand switched on the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF). Forty-seven countries now share trading data automatically. If you have used an overseas exchange to trade crypto-assets, that information can now make its way back to New Zealand and IRD. The first batch of reciprocal reports is due by 30 June 2027.

IRD says it holds data on around 355,000 New Zealand crypto users and roughly 57 million transactions. This information will be automatically run through the tax system to identify gaps.

Need to check your position?

If you have any undeclared crypto-assets or transactions, please get in touch with your BW Miller Dean client manager. IRD treats those who come forward differently from those it catches, so let’s make sure you stay compliant.

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Inland Revenue (IRD) Debt Management

IRD has significantly ramped up debt collection activities, prioritising overdue GST, PAYE and individual income tax. Supported by a recent government funding boost, IRD has shifted from pandemic-era leniency to a more assertive enforcement approach.

Key enforcement activities include:

Direct bank deductions – IRD has increased its use of direct bank deductions, completing thousands of recoveries directly from taxpayers’ accounts.

Section 157 notices – There has been a jump in Section 157 deduction notices issued to third parties such as banks or employers. A Section 157 notice forces a third party, such as your bank or employer, to make compulsory deductions from your funds to IRD to pay off overdue debt.

• Insolvency actions – The number of liquidations and statutory demands initiated by IRD against businesses has risen sharply.
• Sector-specific campaigns – Targeted compliance sweeps are hitting high-risk sectors, including construction and property.
• Advanced analytics – The Decision Support Collections Tool, implemented by IRD in August 2025, allows swifter automated action on newer debts.

Ignoring overdue tax debt may invite a harsher response from IRD.

If you have arrears owing to IRD, please get in touch with your BW Miller Dean client manager. We can proactively assist you to engage with IRD or work with tax financing companies to assist you with managing the debt.

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Xero Pricing Increases

Xero will increase its pricing from 1 October 2026. The new monthly fees are:

Plan	Current price	New price
Ignite	$35 per month	$37 per month
Grow	$83 per month	$89 per month
Comprehensive	$110 per month	$117 per month
Ultimate	$125 per month	$135 per month

Please chat with your BW Miller Dean client manager to assess whether you are on the correct subscription level.

For those of you who subscribe through us, we will include these new charges from 1 October. If you pay your Xero subscription fees to us via an Automatic Payment, please update this. Please contact Nicole if any issues.

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Life after BW Miller Dean

Many of you dealt with Peta Walker and John Little for many years and often ask after them so we managed to get them away from their busy retirements long enough to give you an update.

Read on to catch up with what is happening with Peta and John.

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What I’m up to in retirement – Peta Walker

Since Peta Walker retired from her directorship at BW Miller Dean on 31 March 2024, she has enjoyed tramping around New Zealand, travelling and spending time with her grandchildren.

We recently came across a Stuff article about Peta Walker. Read the article here.

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What I’m up to in retirement – John Little

I must admit that leading up to retirement was a little daunting – what would I do? Working only four days a week for the two years before retirement helped with the transition.

Retirement has given me the opportunity not so much to slow down, but to refocus on what I would like to do. I cannot believe that I am now in my sixth year of retirement.
These days, I enjoy staying active and have re-engaged with a hobby I enjoyed back in the 1980s: pottery. I have joined the Otaki Pottery Club. A typical week includes heading up to the Kapiti Coast for a pottery lesson on the wheel. Julie, my wife, also has an interest in hand-building.

We both assist with our church’s Mainly Music programme on Friday mornings, a preschool activity. I have also gained my barista’s ticket – not officially – to run the coffee machine. We look after our granddaughter for the day too; a two-and-a-half-year-old certainly keeps you young.

Dog walking and looking after the properties keep the body moving. People talk about balancing relaxation with retirement – I think Julie would say this is still a work in progress. I do enjoy a quiet sit-down with a coffee, though.

In between all these activities, we still manage to fit in a few holidays. Later this year, a niece’s wedding in France and a visit to the UK are on the agenda.

I recently attended a very interesting presentation by the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute in Wellington, which carries out cancer research. This was of particular interest because my son works in a related area at a company in Oxford, UK. I am still using my accounting skills as treasurer for a couple of not-for-profit organisations. Helping at club events and working bees at the church are just some of the activities that keep me busy.

For those with a passion for pottery, I have included some photos of my work and of helping at the club’s Matariki Festival, giving children and adults the opportunity to have a go on the wheel. We are also planning our 2027 Festival of Pots, with a planning meeting scheduled in two weeks. The festival will be held over Wellington Anniversary Weekend, when thousands of people attend.