IRD was right

Stuff reports:

An attempt by Inland Revenue to make Halloween a chance to teach children about tax by taking away a third of their treats has been criticised as mean-spirited.

The tax department’s Tweet was deleted and Inland Revenue apologised.

“Gearing up for Halloween?” the post began.

“Fun Fact: Parenting trends like a lollies tax teach kids responsibility by taking some of their lollies and taxing their trick-or-treat haul.

“The tax can be as much as one-third of the lollies ‘earned’ on Halloween. Will you be celebrating?”

This was in fact a brilliant idea.

If you want to have a generation of New Zealanders grow up hating taxation, then yes parents should tell all their kids they are confiscating a third of their candy as tax. The Taxpayers’ Union would have to set up a new membership category for pre-schoolers and students.