§ 93. Mr. FELLasked what amount of Income Tax was paid into the Exchequer during the first seven days in April in each of the last five years?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe figures are as follows:—
| £ | |||||
| 1908 | … | … | … | … | 1,374,000 |
| 1909 | … | … | … | … | 1,378,000 |
| 1910 | … | … | … | … | 146,000 |
| 1911 | … | … | … | … | 2,853,000 |
| 1912 | … | … | … | … | 1,359,000 |
| 1913 | … | … | … | … | 1,923,000 |
§ A true comparison cannot be drawn from these figures without adjustment, as in the two first years the rate of Income Tax was 1s. in the £ only; in the following two years the circumstances were abnormal owing to the rejection of the 1909–10 Budget; and in 1912 Good Friday occurred on the 5th April, and resulted in the payment of some £550,000 of Income Tax being delayed till the following week.
§ 94. Mr. FELLasked why the Super-tax which was due during the last financial year was not collected during that year, and particularly why the collectors during 2130 the month of March made no efforts to get this tax paid?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAbout £3,600,000 was received in Super-tax in the last financial year, which is approximately £900,000 in excess of the estimated yield for a full year. All possible progress was made in overtaking the arrears consequent upon the late passing of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, by which the tax was originally imposed. There was no relaxation in the month of March in the efforts of the Special Commissioners to get the Super-tax paid.