HC Deb 21 June 1921 vol 143 cc1316-7

The provisions of Sub-section (1) and of paragraphs (a) and (c) of Sub-section (2) of Section one hundred and fifty-seven of the Income Tax Act, 1918 (which relates to the date when the payment of Income Tax shall become due and provides for the payment of Income Tax by instalments in certain cases), shall apply to the case of Super-tax charged under Part II of the Income Tax Act, 1918, as they apply to the cases mentioned in paragraph (b) of Sub-section (2) of that Section, and the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1918, applied for the purposes of the collection and recovery of Super-tax by Sub-section (6) of Section seven of that Act shall be read and construed with the necessary modifications accordingly.—[Sir B. Stanier.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Sir B. STANIER

I beg to move "That the Clause be read a Second time."

This is another Clause that I have been asked to move by the Land Owners' Association. The effect of it is that we ask that Super-tax may be divided and paid in two instalments in the same way as Income Tax is paid.

Sir R. HORNE

The proposal is one with which I have great sympathy and in ordinary times I would be very ready to meet the desire which the hon. Member has expressed. But the times are not ordinary and the effect of accepting this proposal would be that I should lose £20,000,000 in the course of the current year's revenue.

Sir B. STANIER

It would not be lost. Payment would be postponed.

Sir R. HORNE

Certainly postponed, but it is almost as bad to postpone payment at the moment as it is to lose it altogether; at any rate the obligations of the present year are such that one cannot take into account the possibility of the postponement of revenue of so large an amount. Reference has been made to the payment of Income Tax in two instalments. That was done at a time when the Income Tax was being raised, and therefore, while there was an immediate loss it was at a time when taxation was increasing and there was an increase in revenue. It was possible to do that in those circumstances. While I have every sympathy with the Motion I am afraid that my poverty and not my will prevents me accepting it on this occasion.

Question "That the Clause be read a Second time," put, and negatived.