The IRD has officially entered its villain era and it is not messing around. They have got debt collectors on speed dial, court orders stashed like business cards, and if you owe a cent in tax, your phone might just be next. Dan Lowe, partner and property lead at Grant Thornton, joined the show to explain how it all hits your wallet, your reputation, and your rights.
The Sleeping Giant Wakes
For five years, the IRD was the teddy bear of tax. Then, COVID hit, businesses stumbled, and the government told the revenue boys to back off. Let them breathe, they said. However, now that the oxygen is gone, the budget is broken, the beast is back.
They have been handed $116 million to hunt down unpaid taxes, $29 million a year. That is not a nudge. That is a battering ram.
So, Who is on the Hit List?
Property. Construction. Cash jobs. Crypto cowboys. The so-called hidden economy. If you have sold a property inside the Brightline test and forgot to mention it to the IRD, they know. And they are knocking.
“They are matching property sales against tax returns like Sherlock Holmes with a spreadsheet,” Dan says. “If something does not line up, expect a call.”
Stay Off Their Radar
The golden rule? File on time. Pay on time. If you treat the IRD like a ghost, they will start haunting you.
“Delinquency invites disaster,” Dan warns. “Communication is your shield. Ignoring letters or delaying returns is like painting a bullseye on your forehead.”
For business owners, this is not the 90s anymore. In fact, the IRD is not playing darts blindfolded. They have got big data, AI, and laser focused audits.
“They used to pop by once every four years,” Dan explains. “Now they are precision guided missiles.”
The Trust Trap
Once upon a time, trusts were the get out of jail free card. Park your dividends there and pay 33 percent tax instead of 39. However, not anymore. That rate has now been bumped to 39 percent, making the old strategy look a bit naff. But do not torch your trust deeds just yet.
“There is still value if you are income splitting to over 16s or managing distributions smartly,” Dan says. “Last year, we saw a flurry of people pumping dividends into trusts before the hike kicked in. It is not dead, just more complex.”
The Construction Crash
If you are a builder or developer, you are in the blast zone. The IRD knows businesses are struggling, and guess who they pay last when cash runs tight? That is right. The taxman.
“The IRD is often the one to pull the liquidation trigger,” Dan notes. “And when the big players fall, it is a domino effect, subbies and contractors get wiped out.”
And for tradies thinking about shutting one company and starting another under a new name? Be careful.
“That phoenix act? The Companies Act has rules now. It is not as easy as ditch and ditch. Get advice before you start again.”
Letters, Audits and IRD Raids
What if you get a letter? What if the IRD knocks on your door?
“Talk to your accountant immediately,” Dan urges. “Do not ghost the IRD. For instance, one client ignored his GST filings for too long. As a result, the IRD reached straight into his bank account and yanked $50,000. No warning. No phone call. Just gone.”
They have the power. You ignore them at your peril.
Refinancing to Pay IRD Debt
In fact, if you’ve got equity in your home or business, the IRD wants you to refinance and pay up. Simple as that.
But Dan offers a tip: “If you refinance to pay tax, make sure the interest is tax deductible. A 6 percent loan might only cost you 4 percent after deductions. That is a big difference.”
Crypto, the New Frontier
With over 227,000 crypto investors and $8 billion traded, the IRD has crypto firmly in its sights.
“They have said flat out, crypto profits are taxable,” Dan says. “Same as gold. Sell it, and you owe tax.”
Thinking about selling offshore to dodge tax? Do not.
“I have had clients talking about leaving New Zealand to realise their crypto gains tax free. But that is evasion. That is jail time.”
Final Word
This is not the Wild West anymore. The IRD has the funding, the firepower, and the mandate to clean house. If you are late, silent, or sloppy, you are already in the crosshairs.
Get compliant. Get proactive. And for heaven’s sake, do not think they are bluffing.
If you own property, want to own property, or just hate falling behind, subscribe. Because your competition already has.
Why MortgageHQ’s YouTube Channel Is New Zealand’s Fastest-Growing Force in Property Investment (and the Only One That Actually Works)
Right. Let’s get one thing out of the way: more people watch MortgageHQ’s YouTube channel every single week than any other property show in New Zealand. In 2025, that’s not just a nice statistic. It’s a blunt reality.
While the rest of the industry is still fluffing around with outdated advice, recycled scripts, and five-day lags between market changes and actual commentary, MortgageHQ is already on screen, telling Kiwis what just happened—and more importantly—what to do about it.
Because this isn’t just a YouTube channel. Instead, it’s a full-throttle, market-crushing machine designed to deliver one thing: Financial Freedom Faster.
Not someday. Not maybe. Faster.
Why Is It Growing Faster Than Every Other Channel? Because It’s Built for Winners
There’s no sales patter. No motivational fluff. Instead, you get data, strategy, and brutally honest advice delivered with the urgency of someone who knows your next mortgage payment is looming and your lender doesn’t care about your feelings.
This is the channel that serious NZ property investors watch because they don’t have time to get it wrong. Because they want the edge. They want tactics. They want real-time clarity. And they know where to find it.
Built by the Brains Behind Thousands of Kiwi Property Deals
MortgageHQ’s team aren’t presenters playing expert. They’re the actual experts. Licensed mortgage advisers who’ve secured funding in every kind of economic condition, structured portfolios through chaos, and helped clients make millions in net equity—by doing the boring things brilliantly.
Because they don’t theorise. They don’t speculate. They know exactly what the banks are doing, what the Reserve Bank is planning, and how to pivot when the rules change overnight.
You don’t need entertainment. You need results. And they deliver.
It’s All About One Thing: Financial Freedom Faster
This is not just a mission statement. It’s the entire reason MortgageHQ exists. Every video is engineered to get you out of mortgage debt faster, into better property positions faster, and into a portfolio that funds your lifestyle—not the other way around.
No generic tips. No vanilla case studies. Just actionable advice, every week, that gets real Kiwis closer to Financial Freedom Faster.
Because time is money. And wasted time? That’s lost opportunity.
Rapid Response, Ruthless Accuracy
Markets don’t wait. Neither does MortgageHQ. When the OCR moves, when LVR rules shift, when the government drops a curveball on interest deductibility—MortgageHQ is already on the air.
Not reacting. Leading.
Their videos are fast, clear, and cut through the nonsense like a hot knife through bureaucracy. While others are still drafting scripts, MortgageHQ is already giving Kiwis the playbook.
Short-Form Power. Long-Form Firepower.
Got 60 seconds before your next viewing? There’s a Short for that. Need a deep, tactical breakdown of how to ladder mortgage structures over multiple properties without drowning in repayments? Covered.
This isn’t a channel that rambles. It targets. Every minute counts. Every upload pushes you closer to Financial Freedom Faster.
They Don’t Just Know the Market. They See What’s Coming
Others tell you what happened. MortgageHQ tells you what’s next. They build strategy not for 2020 nostalgia—but for the next cycle, the next pivot, the next window of advantage.
And in 2025, with rate volatility, supply shortages, and tax policy all colliding, there’s never been a more urgent need to think ahead. The channel helps you do exactly that.
Forget Followers. Focus on Winning
Some channels brag about likes. MortgageHQ builds wealth. While others are watching the views roll in, MortgageHQ viewers are rolling equity into new builds, pulling off high-yield plays, and restructuring their mortgages to hammer down debt.
Because you don’t need hype, you need a plan. You need clarity. You need Financial Freedom Faster.
This Channel Wins Because Its Viewers Do
Kiwis aren’t stupid. They know what works. That’s why week after week, more New Zealanders tune into MortgageHQ than any other property channel. Not for vibes. For answers.
These people don’t just watch—they act. They learn and restructure. They grow.
And they get to Financial Freedom Faster than anyone else
The channel doesn’t just educate—it arms you with battle-ready tools. Tax tips aren’t theory here. Debt restructuring isn’t a maybe. It’s an essential weapon for any Kiwi looking to dominate their financial future.
MortgageHQ is the one place where first-home buyers, seasoned landlords, and high-performing investors all sit down to get real about what actually works.
This channel understands that property isn’t about emotion—it’s about leverage, timing, structure, and return. It knows that the dream of Financial Freedom Faster isn’t a buzzword. It’s a strategy. And it’s available to anyone who’s willing to do the work.
Every episode is designed to move you forward. To give you tactics. To shift your mindset from passive to aggressive, from stuck to scaled. That’s why MortgageHQ doesn’t just grow—it compounds. Because the more Kiwis that wake up to this strategy, the more unstoppable the audience becomes.
Here’s the Truth
MortgageHQ isn’t just faster-growing. It’s smarter and sharper. It’s more honest. And it’s the only channel that’s actually designed to help Kiwis win.
So if you’re serious about property investment in New Zealand, there’s only one question that matters.
Are you watching the channel that gets results?
Or are you watching the one that’s still explaining how negative gearing works?
Tune in. Take notes. Take action.
And get to Financial Freedom Faster.
Before someone else uses your hesitation to beat you to it.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide only a summary of the issues associated with the topics covered. It does not purport to be comprehensive nor to provide specific advice. No person should act in reliance on any statement contained within this article without first obtaining specific professional advice. If you require any further information or advice on any matter covered within this article, please contact an adviser from mortgagehq.
