Inland Revenue aka IRD accepts 0800 toll free calls from mobile phone

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Forums › Finance and wealth management › Inland Revenue aka IRD accepts 0800 toll free calls from mobile phone

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PaulBags

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#1661803 1-Nov-2016 00:02

Government should be as freely and easily accessible as possible, the more government 0800 numbers the merrier.

If you don't like the idea of paying your ~1 cent a year towards the IRD 0800 number phone budget for democracies sake then by all means overthrow this government and bring about anarchy. It's the only way to be sure you'll never pay tax again.

If however you like some of the services and protections that having a government provides I suggest that you carefully remove cranium from sphincter.

mattwnz

20157 posts

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#1661804 1-Nov-2016 00:05

They are already saving a lot of money with not mailing stuff out these days, and things having to be done online only. Also it would be an incentive not to have long hold times, by allowing mobiles. I have mixed feelings about allowing mobile calling, due to the costs involved, which the taxpayer ends up paying anyway. But as many people no longer have landlines, and mobile prices have dropped, it does make sense. I has however always been possible (as far as I am aware) to call them on an 0800 number and get through, you just needed to know which number to use, as their regular one did block the call. I think their automated one allowed you to eventually get through to to a real person.

Hammerer

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#1661828 1-Nov-2016 07:11

I'm impressed that someone took the time the time to provide useful information about services provided by the state and how to reduce actual costs. One person is at least thinking about practical ways to contribute to lower taxes. The OP's intention looks creditable to me so I don't understand the nitpicking.

I understand that efforts like this have a tortured path to lowering the cost to each of us - taxes are unlikely to decrease if we all do what the OP recommends. But it does mean that money saved could end up contributing to something more significant than paying for toll free calls.

MikeB4

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#1661832 1-Nov-2016 07:52

The cost of the IRD 0800 services annually per tax payer would be very small, probably in the range of $1 at most.

networkn

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#1661872 1-Nov-2016 09:33

MikeB4: The cost of the IRD 0800 services annually per tax payer would be very small, probably in the range of $1 at most.

Could be offset by a .001% increase in efficiency in either healthcare or Education.

iamthefirst

24 posts

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#1661895 1-Nov-2016 10:10

I think you guys are focusing on proportion rather than actual amount too much that you've lost plot.

Of course compared to the total government expenditure the proportion of money saving from 0800 calls will be small, probably less than 0.01%. I am not denying that fact. However, Even 0.01% of 10 billion or 100billion is a huge amount.

Of course your individual 10 min call to the IRD is minute but multiply that by millions of people it can quickly add up.

Even saving a million or two from 0800 toll free services can have a lot of impact on your local communities. With many people's logic here, Government shouldn't worry about your local community because it's only a tiny proportion compared to the population of New Zealand.

Beside, I didn't even say they should stop providing toll free services from mobile calls. I suggested that those with unlimited calling plans can be more diligent and use IRD's landline numbers instead as this won't cost you or the IRD, it's a win-win situation.

It's that Government vs people mentality that is clouding your judgement. Every single cent that Government saves is your money saved which can be diverted for a better use somewhere else. Many government agencies have had to cancel important (but cost effective) projects (DOC, Kiwirail etc) because they couldn't secure $1million or so of budget.

You still have to catch a rapist (Proportionally minor 0800 cost) even there are hundreds of murders (More large scale wastage of total expenditure) happening every year.

Geektastic

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#1661898 1-Nov-2016 10:18

How many people ever actually ring the IRD? Most people are on PAYE and would have little cause to go direct, surely?

There are entire government departments you could close with little significant effect on the world and that would save much more.

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MikeB4

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#1661909 1-Nov-2016 10:33

iamthefirst:

I think you guys are focusing on proportion rather than actual amount too much that you've lost plot.

Of course compared to the total government expenditure the proportion of money saving from 0800 calls will be small, probably less than 0.01%. I am not denying that fact. However, Even 0.01% of 10 billion or 100billion is a huge amount.

Of course your individual 10 min call to the IRD is minute but multiply that by millions of people it can quickly add up.

Even saving a million or two from 0800 toll free services can have a lot of impact on your local communities. With many people's logic here, Government shouldn't worry about your local community because it's only a tiny proportion compared to the population of New Zealand.

Beside, I didn't even say they should stop providing toll free services from mobile calls. I suggested that those with unlimited calling plans can be more diligent and use IRD's landline numbers instead as this won't cost you or the IRD, it's a win-win situation.

It's that Government vs people mentality that is clouding your judgement. Every single cent that Government saves is your money saved which can be diverted for a better use somewhere else. Many government agencies have had to cancel important (but cost effective) projects (DOC, Kiwirail etc) because they couldn't secure $1million or so of budget.

You still have to catch a rapist (Proportionally minor 0800 cost) even there are hundreds of murders (More large scale wastage of total expenditure) happening every year.

Ever thought that by having 0800 services increases compliance and at the bottom line increases the tax take. The (for sake of argument) $2Milllion spent on 0800 services may result in an addition $10 Million, $20Million .... extra tax revenue.

Stu1

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#1662188 1-Nov-2016 18:35

typical IRD employee attitude should be easy for customers to contact IR more contacts = more compliance less debt. You should focus more on how much tax payers money you are wasting on contractors and design partners in your BT programe.IR will never be customer centric with comments like that. I was amazed at how many IR staff thought of customers as taxpayers not customers

mattwnz

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#1662197 1-Nov-2016 19:02

Geektastic:

How many people ever actually ring the IRD? Most people are on PAYE and would have little cause to go direct, surely?

There are entire government departments you could close with little significant effect on the world and that would save much more.

Many people own small businesses. Also many have additional earnings over the PAYE. Also if you are applying for your own tax refund, rather than using one of these many middlemen companies out there, you may need to phone to get certain forms etc.

Stu1

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#1662219 1-Nov-2016 20:05

the top call types for the last 5 years are pretty much the same year after year and are really basic , what's my ird #, where's my refund, what's my tax code ect

Geektastic

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#1662336 1-Nov-2016 22:01

No need to worry. Try being late with your taxes and see how fast they ring you...!

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