Every year, after Christmas or Easter, we are contacted by many student loan debtors who don't understand how the IRD has obtained their details after they have visited family in New Zealand. The IRD has an information sharing agreement with the Customs Department and the IRD is provided with a list of information, including:
The person's arrival card information including the:
- full name
- date of birth
- date and time and direction of travel (arrival or departure)
- New Zealand port, and
- prime overseas port (last port of call for arrivals and first port of call for departures).
- and tax file number.
Student loan debtors are legally required to keep the IRD updated on their contact details but often this is overlooked. If you are contacted by the IRD, shortly after a visit home, this is how they have probably obtained your details.