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IR/MSD Debtors Tracing Programme
Annual Report
Purpose: To provide contact details of debtors with whom MSD has lost contact to enable MSD to recover benefit overpayments.
Year commenced: 1994
Features: Data is transferred every two months by USB stick.
MSD disclosure to IR: MSD provides IR with the full name, date of birth, MSD client number and IRD number of debtors MSD wants to locate.
IR disclosure to MSD: IR provides MSD with the person's address, or employer's name, address and telephone number.
2010/11 activity:
| Match runs | 6 |
| Records sent for matching | 196,362 |
| Matches potentially useable | 39,214 |
| Notices of adverse action | 1,689 |
| Debt pursued | $6,242,599 |
| Repayments received by 30 June of reporting year | $153,607 |
| Total variable costs incurred | $48,000 |
Commentary: MSD has decided to cease running this match. In response to an OPC assessment of the match in accordance with s106 of the Privacy Act, and an internal review by MSD, MSD recognised that this match was no longer effective and that it could obtain the information from other sources. The last match was run on 2 May 2011.
Compliance: Compliant.
| Information matching provision | Tax Administration Act 1994, s.85 |
| Year authorised/commenced | 1993/1994 |
| Programme type | Locating people |
| Unique identifiers | Social Welfare number, Tax file number |
System description
MSD sends a file, on an encrypted memory stick, of their otherwise untraceable debtors to IR, requesting contact details.
IR matches the file against the tax records and returns contact details (address or employer's name, address and telephone number). Valid matches are established either using the Tax File number plus date of birth or surname and initial (if those combinations match IR records), or surname plus first name plus date of birth. Upon receipt of the returned file, MSD uses the Social Welfare Number to associate the returned information with the original record sent for matching.
It is one part of MSD's process for collecting debts established by the other MSD information matching programmes, as well as from other MSD operations.
Historical activity
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | |
| Match runs | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Records sent for matching | 237,994 | 189,566 | 192,153 | 191,787 | 183,812 |
| Matches found usable[1] | 49,132 | 40,582 | 42,576 | 65,876 | 59,198 |
| Notices of adverse action sent out | 2,008 | 2,542 | 3,153 | 3,255 | 2,369 |
| Percentage of letters sent for usable matches | 4% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 5% |
| Debt pursued (letters presumed delivered) | $5,963,124 | $8,064,471 | $9,726,361 | $11,371,042 | $10,103,781 |
| Repayments received by 30 June of reporting year | $145,656 | $203,552 | $306,470 | $254,601 | $191,515 |
| Total variable costs incurred[2] | $150,230 | $126,309 | $133,063 | #103,504 | $73,535 |
[1] Usable information is information that is different to that held by MSD. It may not be as current.
[2] Variable costs are those directly related to the volume of activities undertaken as a result of each match run. Fixed costs such as programme development costs are not included.