provide for student allowance and social housing will increase that amount again. The magnitude of these opposing forces and the resulting impact is not known. The aim of sharing of information for social housing purposes is to assist the proper allocation of social housing and to assist in calculating the correct rate of income-related rent the household may be required to pay for the property. This may result in a fiscal benefit or revenue savings. OBJECTIVES The main objective is to deliver better outcomes for customers by enabling a more accurate and timely provision of benefits and subsidies. All the options are assessed against the status quo in relation to the main objective and the following criteria: Efficiency of compliance and administration gain efficiencies through a more – collaborative, cross-agency work in regards to common customers and the joint administration of social policy, and provide better services to customers, reducing their compliance costs and delivering a better customer experience; Fairness and integrity maintain the integrity of the tax and benefit systems, and – ensure sufficient protection of people’s privacy and a proper level of security and transparency; Sustainability of the public sector provide a framework that is flexible enough to – respond to Government’s priorities, and facilitate changes going forward. Criterion (a) can potentially conflict with (b) if information is shared too widely or if robust security systems and processes are not established to protect people’s privacy. A balance must be reached between providing better public services and ensuring people’s information is adequately protected, so all objectives can be achieved without conflicting. REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS Four options have been considered in this RIS: Option 1: Retain the status quo Option 2: Create an Approved Information Sharing Agreement (AISA) under Part 9A of the Privacy Act to amalgamate existing agreements and extend the information shared to social housing and verification of students and their parent’s income for student allowance purposes. (preferred option) Option 3: Use the information sharing framework in section 81BA of the Tax Administration Act to share information for housing assistance and verification of students and their parent’s income for student allowance purposes. Option 4: Retain the current information sharing provisions and create a specific legislative amendment in the Tax Administration Act to allow information
provide for student allowance and social housing will increase that amount again. The magnitude of these opposing forces and the resulting impact is not known. The aim of sharing of information for social housing purposes is to assist the proper allocation of social housing and to assist in calculating the correct rate of income-related rent the household may be required to pay for the property. This may result in a fiscal benefit or revenue savings. OBJECTIVES The main objective is to deliver better outcomes for customers by enabling a more accurate and timely provision of benefits and subsidies. All the options are assessed against the status quo in relation to the main objective and the following criteria: Efficiency of compliance and administration – gain efficiencies through a more collaborative, cross-agency work in regards to common customers and the joint administration of social policy, and provide better services to customers, reducing their compliance costs and delivering a better customer experience; Fairness and integrity – maintain the integrity of the tax and benefit systems, and ensure sufficient protection of people’s privacy and a proper level of security and transparency; Sustainability of the public sector – provide a framework that is flexible enough to respond to Government’s priorities, and facilitate changes going forward. Criterion (a) can potentially conflict with (b) if information is shared too widely or if robust security systems and processes are not established to protect people’s privacy. A balance must be reached between providing better public services and ensuring people’s information is adequately protected, so all objectives can be achieved without conflicting. REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS Four options have been considered in this RIS: Option 1: Retain the status quo Option 2: Create an Approved Information Sharing Agreement (AISA) under Part 9A of the Privacy Act to amalgamate existing agreements and extend the information shared to social housing and verification of students and their parent’s income for student allowance purposes. (preferred option) Option 3: Use the information sharing framework in section 81BA of the Tax Administration Act to share information for housing assistance and verification of students and their parent’s income for student allowance purposes. Option 4: Retain the current information sharing provisions and create a specific legislative amendment in the Tax Administration Act to allow information
2017-ris-information-sharing-ird-msd.docx