But if vehicle and machinery owners don’t have office staff, the time and complexity of the Transport Agency’s claim process is daunting.
“In the six years that I have been in business the NZTA system has got more complicated, not less,” Humphries said.
“The forms have changed twice and the requirements have increased and they don’t take estimates any more, for example.”
The new on-line claim system for the Auckland regional tax is not very user-friendly and requires details for all assets (agricultural vehicles, commercial vessels, commercial equipment) every three months, whether used in that time or not.
Agencies get data downloads from fuel vendors with farm deliveries and go on-line to the NZTA to make claims.
The standard commission for successful claims is 15% and nothing is charged if the claim is not successful.
The Auckland region has many potentially very big users of off-road vehicles and machines like generators, sawmills, pumps and light towers.
Eligible landowners have contacted Fuel Rebates since the imposition of the regional tax to begin the claim processes for the first time, to get back some of their rising fuel costs.
“Some say it is too complex for them, personally, and others are sick of getting rejected because of faulty details,” Humphries said.
Leanne Hardgrave, a director of Off Road Rebates, said her big clients in Auckland with significant diesel fleets and numbers of machines will be claiming back the 10c.
In that respect her business has just expanded sideways.
“But at that price point the system for claiming needs to be simple and even medium-sized businesses would find it a challenge and a lot wouldn’t bother.”
She agreed changes have made the process of claiming more difficult but she has always found agency staff very good to deal with.
An agency spokesman said it is responding to complaints about complexity but changes are not yet planned.
Catalyst Fuel Refunds chief executive Jarod Maloney said the agency is consulting rebate firms on areas to improve the claim systems.
Unless Auckland-based clients use a massive volume of off-road diesel and petrol the effort and costs of claiming back the tax might not be worthwhile, he said.
The agency’s list of eligible vehicles includes tractors, ATVs, front-end loaders and telehandlers, tracked vehicles, harvesters and forklifts.
