Govt tax take better than expected in first 10 months

Finance Minister Bill English said while this month's tax take is high, revenue is still about $900 million below forecasts. Photo / NZH

Treasury has announced the Government took in $772 million more tax than expected in the first 10 months of the fiscal year.

The Crown took in $45.09 billion in tax in the 10 months ended April 30, against a forecast of $44.32 billion based on the May 24 budget assumptions.

Core spending was 0.6 per cent below forecast at $56.13 billion. That led to a smaller operating deficit before gains and losses of $5.94 billion, against an expected shortfall of $7.36 billion.

"While this month's tax take has been boosted by better than expected GST and corporate results, revenue is still about $900 million below forecasts in the Treasury's pre-election update last October," Finance Minister Bill English said in a statement.

"These fluctuations in revenue reinforce the need for the Government to keep a firm control on its costs, so it can stay on track to surplus in 2014/15."

Last month, the Treasury said it expected corporate tax to grow by some $400 million in the final quarter of the year after stronger corporate earnings.

The Crown is forecast to run an annual operating deficit of $8.44 billion, with a further two years in the red before returning to a wafer-thin surplus of $197 million in the 2015 financial year.

That assumes New Zealand's net migration turns positive in the 2014 year as the country's economy outperforms Australia and the Christchurch rebuild attracts workers from overseas. It also predicts productivity growth of about 1.4 per cent a year over the next four years, rising interest rates from next year, and a falling exchange rate.

Yesterday, the Treasury stuck by its budget forecasts in its monthly economic indicator, saying its base-case scenario "remains valid" despite the deterioration in Europe's financial stability.

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority spent $52 million less than expected due to delays in demolition work and smaller costs incurred from the acquisition of red-zone properties in Christchurch. The Government's provision for its Canterbury Red Zone support package was 0.4 per cent more than forecast at $473 million.

Net debt was $595 million less than expected at $52.03 billion, or 25.9 percent of gross domestic product, due to a smaller cash deficit as at April 30.