International Telematics Ltd, one of just two approved eRUC providers in the country, claims its reputation has been impugned by recent action by the Inland Revenue Department.
ITL, who supply transport industry telematics solutions here, in the US and Australia, had been in negotiations with the IRD, who had failed to inform ITL that their proposal had been rejected and that the IRD would commence actions to liquidate ITL’s assets.
Executive vice president Dean Marris told DIESELtalk he had been appalled when he found out about the IRD’s mistake.
“It’s disappointing and unfair, their processes were incredibly poor,” says Marris. “It has been damaging in regard to the way the issue has been widely misunderstood by some in the transport industry.
“All I can say is that any concerned parties are free to give me a call and get the story straightened out; with that said it’s been positive to see our customers have been supporting us and letting us know what’s being said out there.”
Marris says further damage could have been caused if the IRD had not been quick to rectify the situation. “To their credit, I have never seen a situation where the IRD has been so remorseful; they have done everything possible to put this right.
“Obviously we just want to move on, we’ve been active in approaching our customers to give them the full story and peace of mind, which is a positive.
“The speed at which the issue has progressed has meant this won’t affect our US business either, which is now very much our core dealings,” adds Marris.
John Marris, ITL director, says the mistake should never have happened, and that it goes against everything the government is pushing for New Zealand companies to do.
“They want people to develop good technology and go international. We have 33 people here in NZ, 9 in the ‘States, and we are also making headway into Australia and expanding our international contacts.
“40% of what we do is research and development, which the Labour government introduced IRD tax credits for. National has dropped the pass in this regard and I don’t feel they are doing all they can to help companies like us. The latest IRD debacle just rubs salt into the wound.”
