Tax policy affects everyone: our money, our economy, our business decisions, our relations with other countries, our lives as members of the community.

The last 15 years have seen major reforms and modernisation of tax in New Zealand. The focus now is on improving the efficiency of the tax system and clarifying and simplifying it. We have been a key part of that process.

The role of the Policy Advice Division is to advise the government on all aspects of tax policy. To do this we develop policy, recommend courses of action to the government and see our projects through the law-making process. All this requires research, rigorous analysis, extensive consultation, clear communication and committed team-work.

This scope - and responsibility - makes tax policy a very exciting and demanding area in which to work.

We're a small, multi-disciplinary team of professionals made up of lawyers, accountants, economists, statisticians and others with practical experience in tax and business. We work closely together, often under pressure from tight deadlines. We also consult with many others - the Treasury, other parts of Inland Revenue, other government departments, practitioners, professional bodies, legal and parliamentary experts.

We talk about practical difficulties and work them out together. People who join our team take part in that vital process - in an intellectually challenging and collegial environment.

We're proud of our reputation for policy that works and for managing all aspects of the policy process.