§ MR. G. B. HUDSON (Herts Hitchin)I beg to ask the Chancellor of 968 the Exchequer (1) what was the amount of the Income Tax charged for the year ending 5th April, 1894, in England and Wales under Schedule B; (2) what was,he amount actually collected, and what amount was remitted; and (3) if the total: amount received was very small, would he make an alteration so that the Assessment shall in future be made under Schedule D only, and thus save the collectors much trouble in making out the demand notes?
§ MR. R. L. EVERETT (Suffolk, Woodbridge)asked whether, if that suggestion were adopted, farmers would not lose to some extent the benefits conferred upon them by the changes made in the Budget of last year in respect of Schedule B.
§ *SIR W. HARCOURTThe charge to Duty, under Schedule B of the Income Tax Acts in England and Wales, for the year ended March 31, 1894, was £242,700. The second part of the question cannot be answered, as the accounts for the year are not yet completely closed. Farmers have for some time lad the option of being assessed to Income Tax, according to the Rules of Schedule D, but only a very small number have adopted that course, no doubt for the reason alluded to by my hon. Friend behind me—because, in fact, they found that they would be at a disadvantage if they came under Schedule D. I very much doubt whether the compulsory application of Schedule D to farmers would be at all acceptable to the agricultural community. I may remind the hon. Member that English farmers having no other source of income than their farming profits are now completely exempt, when their rent does not exceed, £487 10s.