§ 28. Mr. FELLasked if persons who are shareholders in railways and limited companies and whose dividends are paid with a deduction of 1s. 2d. in the £ in all cases, but who do not claim a return of Income Tax, although entitled to do so, come in any way into the calculation of the Income Tax Commissioners or into the estimates of the number of persons who pay the tax at the full rate; and if any estimate is made of the amount overpaid by such persons?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIn estimating at 150,000 the number of persons who pay Income Tax at the full rate, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue took into account the fact that there are a certain number of taxpayers who, from the extent or nature of their incomes, are entitled to relief, but who fail to claim it. The figure does not include persons who through such failure suffer tax at the full rate on a portion only of their total incomes. There are no means of ascertaining the amount of tax overpaid by such persons.
§ Mr. FELLIs not the 150,000 a pure estimate of the number who pay Income Tax at the full rate, and might it not be 200,000 or any other number?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIt is an estimate—I hope it is pure. It is the best estimate the Inland Revenue have been able to give, quite apart from what the figures might be used for upon either side, of what they think the number to be.