The IRD is set to be cracking down harder on those who don't pay their taxes properly, and they've unveiled new measures for people who ignore correspondence.

The department will start taking money out of people's bank accounts if they owe over a certain amount - and they've recovered at least $17 million so far.

The IRD's Tony Morris says they aim to phone people at least twice before they start directly taking money out of accounts.

"Other times, we might just contact people once or twice and then take money out of their accounts so they don't squander it." 

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