Inland Revenue overdue tax debt collection

The story so far

Inland Revenue began phoning individuals and businesses with overdue tax in October 2025.^{13 Oct 2025} The calls target debts over $1,000, including unpaid GST and employer tax, as the department seeks to recover an estimated $10 billion in outstanding tax.^{13 Oct 2025} One woman disputed an attempt by Inland Revenue to recover $1,000 a week from her account, calling the amount unfeasible.^{16 Oct 2025} The department is reportedly taking a tougher approach to recovering debts, and has used prosecutions and arrest warrants.^{16, 20 Oct 2025}

Latest

Inland Revenue reported that it had recovered nearly $12 for every dollar spent on debt collection over the last year.^{20 Oct 2025}

Key moments

1. 13 Oct 2025Department begins phone calls to people and businesses with overdue tax.
2. 16 Oct 2025Woman disputes attempt to take $1,000 weekly from her account.
3. 20 Oct 2025Department reports recovering nearly $12 per dollar spent on collection.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.