§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in the computation of Super-tax an allowance is made for tithe in the case of land let to a tenant by the proprietor, but in the case of land in the occupation of the owner no such allowance is made; and, if so, whether he is prepared to take steps to treat both cases in the same way?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGETithe is allowed as a deduction in both cases. In the case of land in the occupation of the owner, the basis for the Super-tax is the assessment to Income Tax, Schedule A; and in arriving at this assessment the tithe has, as a rule, already been deducted.
§ Sir HENRY KIMBERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a hardship is put upon partners in private firms as compared with partners in firms incorporated as limited companies 1063 by the working of the Income Tax Act in regard to the Super-tax, which does not appear to have been intended by him; is he aware that according to the statement 2/ST, sent out by the Commissioners as a guidance, partners in private firms have to base their return on the amount upon which the Inland Revenue Commissioners have assessed the business, and which is in all cases more than the actual profit made, and greatly in excess of the profit distributed; and could he see his way, so far as the Super-tax is concerned, to remedy this hardship by putting partners in private firms on the same footing as shareholders in limited companies, who only have to return the actual amount received in dividends and not base their income upon the amount upon which the Inland Revenue have assessed their company?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe point which the hon. Baronet has brought forward was fully considered during the Committee stage of the Finance Bill of 1909; and I do not consider that any alteration of the law is necessary.