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This site contains the Commissioner’s interpretation of tax law, our Work Programme for the year, and where you can provide feedback on any new work underway or apply for a binding tax interpretation. Publications on this Tax Technical website are correct at the date of issue. Read more
This site contains the Commissioner’s interpretation of tax law. Read more

IS 26/07 FS 1 Income Tax – Abusive tax position shortfall penalty - fact sheet

27 Mar 2026 Fact sheets / 2026
This fact sheet accompanies interpretation statement IS 26/07: Shortfall penalty for taking an abusive tax position which explains the meaning of “abusive tax position” in relation to the abusive tax position shortfall penalty. The IS also discusses relevant case law and provides several practical examples for clarity.

IS 26/06 FS 1 Shortfall penalty for gross carelessness - fact sheet

27 Mar 2026 Fact sheets / 2026
This fact sheet accompanies interpretation statement IS 26/06: Shortfall penalty for gross carelessness which explains the meaning of “gross carelessness” and discusses the circumstances that could be relevant in determining whether someone has been grossly careless and how to distinguish gross carelessness from lower levels of negligence.  The IS also discusses relevant case law and provides several practical examples for clarity.

IS 26/07 Shortfall penalty for taking an abusive tax position

27 Mar 2026 Interpretation statements / 2026

This interpretation statement (IS) explains the meaning of “abusive tax position” in relation to the abusive tax position shortfall penalty.  The IS also discusses relevant case law and provides several practical examples for clarity.

There is separate guidance on the shortfall penalties provided in s 141A, 141B, 141C and s 141E of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the threshold requirements for a shortfall penalty (that there be a “tax position” and a “tax shortfall”) and reductions and other matters that may be relevant when a  shortfall penalty is imposed (Related Publications).

IS 26/08 FS 1 Shortfall penalty for evasion or a similar act – fact sheet

27 Mar 2026 Fact sheets / 2026
This fact sheet accompanies interpretation statement IS 26/08: Shortfall penalty for evasion or a similar act, which explains the shortfall penalty when a person evades the assessment or payment of tax, or does any of the similar acts specified in s 141E of the Tax Administration Act 1994.

IS 26/08 Shortfall penalty for evasion or a similar act

27 Mar 2026 Interpretation statements / 2026

This interpretation statement (IS) explains the shortfall penalty for evasion or a similar act in s 141E of the Tax Administration Act 1994 (TAA).  The IS explains what is required to satisfy the knowledge requirement, and other requirements, for evasion or a similar act.  The IS also discusses relevant case law and provides several practical examples for clarity.

It updates and replaces IS0062 for subsequent case law.

There is separate guidance on the shortfall penalties provided in s 141A, 141B, 141C and s 141D of the TAA, the threshold requirements for a shortfall penalty (that there be a “tax position” and a “tax shortfall”) and reductions and other matters that may be relevant when a shortfall penalty is imposed (Related Publications).

IS 26/05 FS 1 Income tax – Unacceptable tax position shortfall penalty - fact sheet

27 Mar 2026 Fact sheets / 2026

This fact sheet accompanies interpretation statement IS 26/05: Shortfall penalty for taking an unacceptable tax position, which explains meaning of “unacceptable tax position” for the shortfall penalty for taking an unacceptable tax position in s 141B of the Tax Administration Act 1994. 

IS 26/05 Shortfall penalty for taking an unacceptable tax position

27 Mar 2026 Interpretation statements / 2026

This interpretation statement explains the meaning of “unacceptable tax position” in relation to the shortfall penalty for taking an unacceptable tax position in s 141B of the Tax Administration Act 1994.

IS 26/09 FS 1 Shortfall penalties – reductions and other matters - fact sheet

27 Mar 2026 Fact sheets / 2026

This fact sheet accompanies interpretation statement IS 26/09: Shortfall penalties – reductions and other matters which discusses when a shortfall penalty is reduced (or increased), what happens when a taxpayer could be liable for more than one penalty and the assessment, payment and disputing of shortfall penalties.

The fact sheet provides a summary of the available penalty reductions, a table showing the percentage reductions for each reduction and penalty type, and a table showing the percentage reduction that applies when a combination of reduction types applies to a shortfall penalty imposed.

IS 26/09 Shortfall penalties – reductions and other matters

27 Mar 2026 Interpretation statements / 2026

This interpretation statement is relevant where the Commissioner imposes a shortfall penalty for not taking reasonable care (s 141A), an unacceptable tax position (s 141B), gross carelessness (s 141C), an abusive tax position (s 141D), or evasion or similar act (s 141E). 

It discusses when a shortfall penalty is reduced (or increased), what happens when a taxpayer could be liable for more than one penalty and the assessment, payment and disputing of shortfall penalties.

There is separate guidance on the threshold requirements for a shortfall penalty (that there be a “tax position” and a “tax shortfall”) and the shortfall penalties provided in s 141A, 141B, 141C, 141D and s 141E of the Tax Administration Act 1994.

IS 26/06 Shortfall penalty for gross carelessness

27 Mar 2026 Interpretation statements / 2026

This interpretation statement explains the meaning of gross carelessness in s 141C of the Tax Administration Act 1994.  It discusses the circumstances that could be relevant in determining whether someone has been grossly careless and how to distinguish gross carelessness from lower levels of negligence.  It also discusses relevant case law and provides several practical examples for clarity.

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