Tax collectors’ bill sparks review

Press, 21 April 1986, Page 14

Tax collectors’ bill sparks review

PA Wellington The Inland Revenue Department is reviewing internal controls after a group of tax collectors ran up a $9OOO bill in a plush Invercargill hotel when they were learning about the goods and service tax. Eight of the 15 staff who attended the training seminar lived in Invercargill, said the Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, in reply to a Parliamentary question.

The National member of Parliament for Wal-

lace, Mr Derek Angus, had asked the total cost of the seminar, how many staff lived in the city and why it was held at the Ascot Park Hotel instead of the usual workplace. In reply, Mr Douglas said Inland Revenue Department offices generally did not have the facilities to undertake such training courses. The decision'to hold the course at the hotel and to accommodate < local staff was made by a relatively new and junior officer without, referring to his controlling officer.

“This incident has i prompted the Inland ; Revenue ‘ Department to -■ review its internal con- i trols and budgetary proce- j dures to ensure expend!- i ture on courses is both ; proper and reasonable,” i he said. ' Staff had also been re- i minded of the depart- • meat’s policy that local ; participants were to live- * in at courses only in ex- j ceptional circumstances. < A public contact pro- ; gramme was how running i to train 580 staff which ’ would involve 56 courses ’ at a cost of $143,072. ; i r