Latest from Personal Finance

Forget Panama, the US is a big tax haven
Americans don't need to go to Panama - they have a thriving offshore industry at home.

Mexican tycoon hid money in NZ
A businessman with close links to the Mexican President set up a series of shell companies in New Zealand.

Hunt for Kiwis linked to Panama scandal
Inland Revenue is trying to get information on New Zealanders who have dealt with Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Panama Papers: Kiwi frontman for shell companies
A New Zealander has been named as a director for thousands of shell companies revealed in the Panama Papers as being used to avoid tax by wealthy clients.

Liam Dann: Govt has big questions to answer
COMMENT: The fact that New Zealand's trust regime is caught up in the midst of it all will be a surprise to many Kiwis.

Brent Sheather: Unbalanced funds
COMMENT: Two weeks ago we considered the low interest rate environment, concluded that it was here to stay, writes Brent Sheather.

It's yours for free - the biggest leak ever
The Panama Papers leak has revealed how the rich and powerful have hidden their billions.

Barry Soper: NZ like the Cayman Islands of the Pacific
COMMENT: John Key on trusts sounds a bit like a cracked record.

Panama Papers: The famous and powerful
From soccer stars to Saudi kings, some of the wealthiest people in the world have been exposed by massive leak of tax papers.

How rich, powerful hide their money
Huge leak of 11.5 million documents from a Panama law firm shows associates of Russian President have moved as much as US$2 billion through offshore accounts.

A rental house is still a first property
If you have been a KiwiSaver member for at least three years you may be eligible to withdraw your savings to put towards a first home.

OIO beefs up decision system
The Overseas Investment Office is taking a harder line in rejecting applications that need more work.

IRD's data grab from Trade Me nets $3m
Inland Revenue's grab at Trade Me members' personal data netted it just $3 million in fresh taxes.

Diana Clement: A few dollars stretches a long way for some
COMMENT: Low-interest or no-interest loans from community groups give poor people a helping hand out of debt, or to start a business.

Hilton hotel in $80m mortgage deal
Mortgage interests over Queenstown's luxury Hilton Hotel have been sold in an $80.5 million deal involving Chinese businesses.

Are executive incentives too generous?
Executive incentive schemes aim to boost company performance. But is it too easy for top bosses to get a reward?

Alarm raised on basic income
Taxpayers' Union says Labour Party plans for "universal basic income" will come with hefty price tag.

Insurance complaints spike
A push by insurers to settle claims from the Christchurch earthquakes is partly behind a spike in complaints to the insurance ombudsman.

Christopher Niesche: Lifting lid on tax step in the right direction
COMMENT: Australia's people have been given unprecedented access into the tax affairs of the nation's largest private companies.

KiwiSaver: Contributions after tax or gross?
The minimum you and your employer can contribute is 3 per cent, but both are allowed to contribute more.

Mary Holm: Tax rules unfair to term depositors
COMMENT: Playing field for tax calculations is far from level - subsidising some but penalising others, writes Mary Holm.

Internet giants shifting millions overseas
Facebook and Google were included in a list of 20 companies assessed by the Herald as being the most aggressive in legally shifting profits out of NZ.

Diana Clement: Cracking those smooth-talking freebie-chasers
COMMENT: Most financial advisers have your interests at heart, but a few bad eggs have ulterior motives.

Is your super scheme at risk?
Stand-alone and employer-sponsored superannuation schemes are shutting up shop.

Apartment builds to outstrip houses by 2017
By next year more than half of all new homes built in Auckland will be part of apartment blocks or terraced homes.

Global Tax - time to look for a cure
The debate over corporate tax is moving on - and fast. Matt Nippert reports.

Tax share agreements to extend to spies
New Zealand's intelligence agencies would be able to access individuals' tax information if parliament backs the recent review carried out by Michael Cullen and Patsy Reddy.