Dear Inland Revenue Department,

In regards to the matching criteria used for the Customs/IR Student Loan Alerts Programme (full name, date of birth and IRD number) could you please provide answers for the following questions:

1) How is an individuals IRD number matched and linked to their passport?

2) When applying for a passport there is no requirement for an individuals to provide their IRD number so where do customs obtain this information?

3) When an overseas passport holder with the same name and date of birth as someone that is on the watch list creates a false match how is this scenario handled and how is it determined whether this is the correct individual?

4) It states in clause 162B of the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 3) that on an application in writing by the Commissioner a district court judge or registrar may issue a warrant for the arrest of a person (the liable person) ie a student loan defaulter and that one of the conditions that must be met is that the authorities must be satisfied that the individual is about to leave or attempt to leave New Zealand. How is this condition satisfied, eg - the details on their arrival card including departure date?

5) It states in clause 162B of the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 3) that on an application in writing by the Commissioner a district court judge or registrar may issue a warrant for the arrest of a person (the liable person) if the Judge or Registrar (as the case may be) is satisfied that the person has committed the offence in section 162A: (having been notified by the Commissioner that he or she is in default, knowingly fails, or refuses, by the due date specified in the notification to make reasonable efforts to pay the amount in default or to make arrangements with the Inland Revenue Department to pay the amount in default). How is this condition satisfied in regards to the defaulter knowingly failing or refusing to make reasonable efforts to pay the amount in default? How can commissioner be certain that the defaulter has been contacted and been notified of the status of their student loan? Does a letter posted to an assumed address constitute satisfaction that the person has knowingly committed the offence?

6) If an individual student loan defaulter enters the country and triggers a match under the Customs/IR Student Loan Alerts Programme but indicates on their arrival card that they are returning permanently to New Zealand can the condition in clause 162B of the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill (No 3) be met in regards to the authorities being satisfied that the individual is about to leave or attempt to leave New Zealand?

Yours faithfully,

Michael Rescue

Dear Josh Driscoll,

I would like some further clarification on some of the answers provided, Do I outline the required clarification here or with a new request?

Yours sincerely,

Michael Rescue