The IRD is deliberately targeting student loan debtors compared to other tax debtors. It has a large team of 64 people chasing student loan debtors. It has no team dedicated to chasing unpaid tax on property deals even though it was expected that this could yield the IRD $50 million a year.
So single minded is the IRD's pursuit of student loan debtors, that it is collecting 170 times more from Australian resident student loan debtors than from Australian resident income tax debtors. It appears that student loan debtors are treated far more aggressively because they are seen as low hanging fruit and easy targets. Terry Baucher, Accountant, states that the IRD:
So single minded is the IRD's pursuit of student loan debtors, that it is collecting 170 times more from Australian resident student loan debtors than from Australian resident income tax debtors. It appears that student loan debtors are treated far more aggressively because they are seen as low hanging fruit and easy targets. Terry Baucher, Accountant, states that the IRD:
targeted people who were likely to pay without fuss. Where the IRD fears it will get push-back it might not try it on, but they're happy to try it on with others, as is the case with student loans.
We know that many of you had hoped for a more compassionate attitude, and a greater variety of resolution options, following the change in government. It appears that this will not be the case.