INCOME TAX. (Hansard, 17 March 1931)

§ 55. Sir W. BRASS
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that collectors of taxes in the City of London and elsewhere have received instructions, when applying for the payment of Income Tax under Schedule A, to inform the public that any moneys received after 20th March next cannot reach the Treasury in time to be included in the present national expenditure year; and whether only moneys received before that date can be included in the financial year?

§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE
The Income Tax, Schedule A, is payable on the 1st of January and it is the duty of collectors of taxes to obtain payment as early as possible after that date. The instructions issued to collectors of taxes, whether by the local Commissioners of Taxes or by the Board of Inland Revenue, in regard to cases where payment of tax is in arrear are confidential and it would be contrary to established practice to disclose their contents. The latest date of payment for inclusion in the Exchequer receipt of the year is not a uniform date but necessarily depends upon the place of payment and upon the arrangements under which the banks remit the public revenue paid in through their branches.

§ Sir W. BRASS
Will the Financial Secretary answer the last part of my question? I want to know whether any moneys received between the 20th and the 31st of March in the City of London cannot be included in the financial year?

§ Mr. PETHICK - LAWRENCE
The answer which I have given includes a reference to the City of London, and I dealt generally with the last part of the question. With regard to that, I cannot at the moment answer the particular point which the hon. Member now asks, but it depends on the place and the particular arrangements made.

§ Sir W. BRASS
Can the Financial Secretary not say whether any moneys received between the 20th and the 31st of March in the City of London, could or could not be included in the financial year?

§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE
I am afraid I cannot answer that question without notice.

§ Sir W. BRASS
That is the question I have asked.