Treaty settlements yet to hit Govt accounts

Relevant offers

Business

China agrees to release NZ meat Shill bidding had over 100 victims Xero annual loss in line with forecast Coromandel agent fined over forgery Govt approves West Coast mining land access Voluntary cheese slice product recall HP turnaround plan shows signs of success Fronde taps sweet spot to double profit Ford confirms Australian plant closures Business leaders share export success secrets

Delays in finalising Treaty settlements saw the Government accounts post a smaller than expected deficit in the second half of 2012.

According to The Treasury, New Zealand's operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) was $158 million lower than expected when the Government released its half year forecasts on December 18, at $3.2 billion.

The difference was primarily due to lower Crown expenditure, although tax paid by companies was also below forecast.

The Treasury figures showed core Crown expenses  $273m below forecasts ''largely owing to Treaty settlement expenses being $186m below forecast due to complex negotiation issues not being finalised as planned during December'' the agency said in a statement.

The Crown's core tax revenue was $27.3 billion was $31m lower than expected.

Source deductions and other individuals tax were both higher than expected in December, by $111m and $122m respectively, while corporate tax was under forecast by $151 million.

A surge in investment gains from ACC and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, on the back of rising markets, gave an operating surplus of $1.7b, compared to forecasts of a deficit of $541m.

- © Fairfax NZ News