This article examines the potential conflict between thin capitalization rules and the OECD Model article on non-discrimination using the New Zealand regime exempli gratia. It is discriminatory to impose a higher tax burden on an enterprise funded with foreign capital. Yet that is the basis for...

This article begins by examining the relationship between thin capitalisation rules and double tax treaties. After examining the potential for a fundamental conflict in this area it looks at the OECD's attempts to resolve the problem (in section 2). In sections 3 and 4, the article examines the...

This paper considers New Zealand's hybrid tax credit system consisting principally of a credit system combined with exemption features in respect of certain classes of income, both of which aim to provide relief to minimise the impact of foreign income being taxed in a foreign jurisdiction as...

This paper argues that there is too great a reliance placed on anti-avoidance provisions, discretions reposed in the revenue, and judicially developed doctrines as a means of countering tax avoidance. In view of the difficulties in defining and countering tax avoidance, it is suggested that...

In the late 1980s New Zealand signaled its intention to pass legislation to prevent resident shareholders from using controlled foreign companies to avoid tax. Controlled foreign companies all operate in a similar fashion. The regimes apply to non-resident companies that are owned or controlled...

In the late 1980s New Zealand undertook a process of adopting a new income tax regime for companies, and in particular for controlled foreign companies. The new rules reflected a change from a classical to an imputation system. The rules were designed to frustrate avoidance deferral that was...

Since WW II there has been a rapid expansion in the number of bilateral double tax agreements (DTAs) concluded between countries. A feature of modern DTA negotiations has been the adoption of internationally accepted models or templates from which most DTAs are negotiated from. Although such...

The trust is the most useful device that New Zealand offers to non-residents in the field of international tax planning. So long as settlors, beneficiaries, and income are all foreign the trust is unlikely to attract New Zealand tax. The residence of the trustee has no effect on the tax benefits...