Munro Benge Chartered Accountants Limited

04/06/2026

Managing tax debt? There may be a better solution available.

Inland Revenue has extended the use of tax pooling to cover eligible income tax debt for the 2023 and 2024 tax years.

Through TMNZ tax pooling, businesses may be able to:
Reduce Inland Revenue interest costs
Avoid ongoing penalties
Manage cashflow more effectively
Settle tax debt without dealing directly with Inland Revenue

Tax pooling can provide flexibility and certainty for businesses needing extra time to manage tax obligations while remaining compliant.

If you have outstanding tax debt or are concerned about upcoming obligations, Munro Benge can help assess whether TMNZ tax pooling is the right solution for your situation.

Contact us to discuss your options.
📞 +64 4 472 7465
📧 [email protected]
💬 Let’s talk: buff.ly/htSrt2H

03/06/2026

Meet Alison — passionate networker, Xero specialist, and champion for small business success.

Alison loves connecting with women business owners over coffee and conversation, especially when those chats lead to the “lightbulb moment” of discovering how modern accounting tools can save valuable time and reduce stress.

Her passion lies in helping small and medium businesses use Xero to access accurate, up-to-date financial information — empowering owners to plan ahead, better understand their evolving business needs, and make confident decisions for the future.

Outside the office, Alison is most at home on two wheels. Whether she’s tackling mountain bike trails, exploring scenic gravel routes, or enjoying the open road, she’s always up for the next adventure

02/06/2026

NZ Budget 2026: What Business Owners Need to Know
Budget 2026 delivered a “lean but business-focused” approach, with targeted tax and compliance changes rather than sweeping reforms.

Here are the key updates relevant for Kiwi businesses:

FBT simplification
Changes to Fringe Benefit Tax rules aim to reduce compliance headaches, particularly around vehicles, gift cards and employee reimbursements.

Compliance simplification underway
Further changes to FIF, employee share schemes, and international tax settings are designed to modernise the system and reduce red tape for businesses and investors.

The de minimis threshold will increase to $10,000, providing greater flexibility and reducing compliance requirements for affected taxpayers.

Support for Not-for-Profit Organisations
In a positive move for the not-for-profit sector, membership subscriptions and levies will continue to be treated as non-taxable income.

To help reduce compliance costs for smaller NFP organisations, the current effective tax-free threshold will increase from $1,000 to $10,000.

What does this mean for your business?
Now is a good time to review:
•Your FBT treatment of staff benefits
• Cashflow forecasts
• Tax planning strategies
• Compliance processes and reporting obligations

If you’d like to discuss how Budget 2026 impacts your business, get in touch with our team.

📞 +64 4 472 7465
📧 [email protected]
💬 Let’s talk: https://buff.ly/OMLx43f

01/06/2026

Fringe Benefit Tax is due today!

FBT Returns for the quarter and year ended 31 March 2026 are due today — 2 June 2026.

If you’ve provided employee benefits such as:
• Company vehicles available for private use
• Entertainment or staff perks
• Low-interest loans
• Subsidised insurance or other benefits

your Fringe Benefit Tax return may now be due.

Need help working out what needs to be included or getting
your return filed on time?

Get in touch with the Munro Benge team — we’re here to
help.

📞 +64 4 472 7465
📧 [email protected]
💬 Let’s talk: https://buff.ly/htSrt2H

31/05/2026

27/05/2026

Meet Nicky — chartered accountant, problem-solver, and trusted advisor to businesses navigating the realities of day-to-day business life.

With experience as a business owner, manager, software consultant, and employee, Nicky understands the challenges businesses face from every angle. She’s passionate about helping clients stay ahead of issues before they become problems — especially for SMEs tackling the “curly questions.”

A technical accounting expert with a people-first approach, Nicky also loves mentoring both clients and team members to help them grow with confidence.

Outside the office, Nicky’s usually deciding between two wheels or four — whether that’s cycling around the Miramar Peninsula or enjoying the thrill of driving everything from a bright orange Mustang convertible – or quiet electric ones..

25/05/2026

Did you know some employee health and safety benefits are exempt from Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT)?

Under Inland Revenue’s updated FBT guidance, employers do not need to pay FBT on benefits provided to manage workplace health and safety risks under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Examples of exempt benefits include:
Flu vaccinations
PPE such as hi-vis clothing, hard hats, and protective gear
Reimbursements for employee vaccinations arranged through a GP

This is a valuable opportunity for businesses investing in employee wellbeing and workplace safety — these essential protections can often be provided without triggering additional FBT obligations.

However, not all wellbeing-related benefits qualify. Employer-paid health insurance premiums and gym memberships are still subject to normal FBT rules.

If you’re unsure whether a staff benefit is exempt, or want to review your current FBT position, the team at Munro Benge can help you navigate the rules and stay compliant.

📞 +64 4 472 7465
📧 [email protected]
💬 Let’s talk: buff.ly/htSrt2H

21/05/2026

Update on AML Verification and Privacy Requirements

As part of our obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act (AML/CFT Act), we’re required to complete identity verification checks for certain customers.

To help us do this securely and efficiently, we use 2Shakes and may also use trusted third-party providers such as Centrix to assist with identity and credit-related verification processes where applicable.

This means we may collect and share personal information for verification purposes in accordance with privacy laws and our legal obligations.

You can view Centrix’s Privacy Statement here:
https://buff.ly/b9oKpGy

If you have any questions about how your information is handled, please get in touch with our team

📞 +64 4 472 7465
📧 [email protected]
💬 Let’s talk: https://buff.ly/htSrt2H

20/05/2026

Meet Shane — director, co-owner of Munro Benge, and a trusted sounding board for businesses big and small.

With years of experience behind him, Shane knows how to balance the big-picture strategy with the day-to-day details that keep businesses moving forward. He believes there’s no such thing as a dumb question — the key is tackling challenges early and working through solutions together.

When he’s not supporting clients, you’ll find Shane out exploring the Wellington region by bike with his wife — whether that’s a relaxed ride with coffee and scones or hitting the trails on his mountain bike for an adrenaline rush.