OUTPUT CLASS 1 POLICY ADVICE OUTPUT DELIVERY TARGETS

Transcription

1 OUTPUT CLASS 1 POLICY ADVICE OUTPUT DELIVERY TARGETS Performance Delivery and Measurement Document 2012/13 Page 1 of 9

2 Output 1.1 List of Performance Measures - Policy Advice in Relation to Tax and Social Policy Performance Measures Quality Percentage of regulatory impact statements assessed as adequate - advice is complete, convincing, consulted, clear and concise. Target: 100% We will ensure that the Minister is satisfied with the quality of: Policy advice Tax legislation and Revenue forecasts. Target: Achieved Performance Delivery and Measurement Document 2012/13 Page 2 of 9

3 OUTPUT CLASS 1 - POLICY ADVICE MEASUREMENT METHODOLOGY Performance Delivery and Measurement Document 2012/13 Page 3 of 9

4 Table of Contents OUTPUT 1.1 POLICY ADVICE IN RELATION TO TAX AND SOCIAL POLICY... 5 Quality Percentage of regulatory impact statements assessed as adequate - advice is complete, convincing, consulted, clear and concise Quality We will ensure that the Minister is satisfied with the quality of: Policy Advice, Tax Legislation and Revenue forecasts Performance Delivery and Measurement Document 2012/13 Page 4 of 9

5 Output 1.1 Policy Advice in Relation to Tax and Social Policy Quality Percentage of regulatory impact statements assessed as adequate - advice is complete, convincing, consulted, clear and concise. Target: 100% Purpose The measure ensures that Inland Revenue meets central agency requirements for regulatory impact analysis. Link to Our Impacts The work of our Policy Advice division is linked to and impacts across the entire tax system. A good tax system where both policy and the administration are working well together helps to create an environment where taxpayers comply with their legal requirements voluntarily, where businesses grow and New Zealand becomes an attractive option to investors. Inland Revenue collects significant amounts of revenue to finance government spending using broad tax bases and we believe that when the tax system is mainly seen as fair, this will encourage taxpayers to register and report accurate information when required and claim their correct entitlements. Definitions assessed as adequate Overall assessment of the quality of a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS). Adequate means that a RIS fully or partially meets the RIS quality assessment criteria - this is assessed as part of the independent quality assurance assessment of a RIS. quality assurance assessments Quality assurance assessments are completed as part of the independent quality assurance process for regulatory impact statements (RIS s). A template is provided as a guide for completing the assessment. The template covers the dimensions of quality assurance that RIS s are assessed against: whether the advice is complete, convincing, consulted, clear and concise. Performance Delivery and Measurement Document 2012/13 Page 5 of 9

6 "Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS)" A document that summarises the regulatory impact analysis undertaken for an issue. It represents the agencies advice to the Minister(s) and Government on an issue. Process Regulatory impact analysis is aimed at improving the quality of regulation - see the Government's statement on regulation at The detailed guidance about undertaking regulatory impact analysis is covered in Treasury's Regulatory Impact Analysis Handbook. Detailed processes for developing tax and social policy, including the regulatory impact analysis requirements, are covered in the Policy Toolkit. Regulatory Impact Analysis Definitions: "Regulatory Impact Analysis Handbook" Handbook published by Treasury that provides guidance on the requirements and processes for undertaking regulatory impact analysis. This is available at: Regulatory impact analysis requirements These are the requirements set out in Regulatory Impact Analysis Handbook published by the Treasury. Briefly, these requirements cover: Determining whether the regulatory impact analysis requirements apply for an item of work Preparing a Preliminary Impact and Risk Assessment (PIRA) Undertaking regulatory impact analysis Preparing the regulatory impact statement (RIS) Completing the disclosure statement Training independent quality assurance Preparing the Cabinet paper Obtaining Ministerial Certification Publishing the RIS Post implementation review for all 'significant' proposals that do not meet RIA requirements. "Policy toolkit" Web-based resource for policy staff that covers the main steps and activities for the policy development process used by Policy Advice Division, Inland Revenue. This includes process maps, templates and other resources to help staff as they develop tax and social policy. This is available for Inland Revenue staff at Performance Delivery and Measurement Document 2012/13 Page 6 of 9

7 Key steps and monitoring points in the process are: 1. Completing the Preliminary Impact and Risk Assessment (PIRA): once a piece of work is allocated policy staff may be required to complete a PIRA. A register is kept of new work allocated and when the PIRA is completed. PIRAs are held in the policy files for an issue. 2. Preparing the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS): this represents the agencies advice to the Minister(s) and Government on an issue. The analysis and supporting information is created and gathered as part of the policy development process. Staff are encouraged to draft the RIS during the policy development process. The completed RIS is attached to the Cabinet paper. The RIS and supporting information are held with the policy files for an issue. The RIS covers: Agency disclosure statement Description of existing arrangements and the status quo Problem definition Objectives Regulatory impact analysis - identification of the full range of feasible options, and analysis of the costs, benefits and risks of each option Consultation Conclusions and recommendations Implementation issues, including risks Arrangements for monitoring, evaluation and review. 3. Disclosure statement for RIS is completed: the disclosure statement is part of the RIS and is signed by the Group Manager, Policy Advice Division. The disclosure statement: Highlights any key gaps, assumptions, dependencies and significant constraints, caveats or uncertainties in the analysis Indicates whether any of the policy options are likely to have effects which may not align with the commitments in the Government Statement on Regulation. 4. Independent quality assurance of the RIS is completed: this is undertaken by the Regulatory Impact Analysis Team in Treasury for items that are considered 'significant' and by the Work Programme Manager for other items. The quality assurance template is used as the basis for undertaking the independent quality assurance, with copies held by the Work Programme Manager. 5. Cabinet paper: most policy changes require the preparation of a Cabinet paper. This represents the Minister(s) advice to Cabinet on the proposed changes. It includes an opinion on the quality of analysis and certification by the Minister(s) on whether the proposals are consistent with the expectations set out in the Government Statement on Regulation. 6. Publishing of the RIS: RISs are published where required on the agency and Treasury websites. Performance Delivery and Measurement Document 2012/13 Page 7 of 9

8 Processes for regulatory impact analysis, including monitoring, are being progressively developed an updated as the regulatory impact analysis process is bedded in. Any changes to processes will be updated to the Policy Toolkit, once approved. Performance Delivery and Measurement Document 2012/13 Page 8 of 9

9 Output 1.1 Policy Advice in Relation to Tax and Social Policy Quality We will ensure that the Minister is satisfied with the quality of: Policy Advice, Tax Legislation and Revenue forecasts. Target: Achieved Purpose The ensure that the Minister of Revenue is satisfied with the quality and timing of the advice, services and support provided by Inland Revenue. Link to Our Impacts The work of our Policy Advice division is linked to and impacts across the entire tax system. A good tax system where both policy and the administration are working well together helps to create an environment where taxpayers comply with their legal requirements voluntarily, where businesses grow and New Zealand becomes an attractive option to investors. Inland Revenue collects significant amounts of revenue to finance government spending using broad tax bases and we believe that when the tax system is mainly seen as fair, this will encourage taxpayers to register when they should, provide complete and accurate information and take part in social support programmes. Definitions survey Survey of the Minister(s) conducted near the end of the year (June/July). Process Ministerial satisfaction Each year in June/July a survey is sent to the Minister to complete covering all the services provided by the Policy Advice Division for the previous 12 months. The Minister is asked to complete the survey and return it within two weeks. The results are summarised and presented to managers. Regular meetings are also held with the Minister(s), generally weekly, and are also an opportunity for the Minister to provide feedback. Performance Delivery and Measurement Document 2012/13 Page 9 of 9