Government agencies share specified information as a means of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the services they provide.

An existing information sharing agreement implemented in 2014 between Inland Revenue and the New Zealand Police enables Inland Revenue to provide information, under certain criteria, to the New Zealand Police to detect, prevent and prosecute serious crime. In the existing agreement, serious crime is defined as an offence punishable by a term of imprisonment of four years or more. The information exchanged since the agreement’s implementation has delivered significant benefits in tackling serious crime.

This discussion document sets out proposals to extend the existing information sharing agreement to include the Serious Fraud Office and the New Zealand Customs Service, so Inland Revenue may share information with these agencies where it might be an advantage in dealing with serious crime.

There are two supporting documents:

• the draft approved information sharing agreement (AISA); and
• a summary of the proposals, including a submission form.