Proposed Extension of Bright-Line Test for New Zealand Residential Land Withholding Tax Introduced in Parliament

On 20 February 2018, a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017-18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Bill was introduced to the New Zealand Parliament. The SOP provides for an extension of the bright-line test for the Residential Land Withholding Tax (RLWT) from two years to five years. If approved, this would mean that residential property sales by offshore individuals and companies within five years of acquisition would be subject to RLW…