§ 50. Mr. PARKINSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of arrears of taxation for the years 1933, 1934, and 1935 at the end of each financial year?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt is only in respect of Income Tax and Surtax that estimates can be furnished of the kind asked for by the hon. Member. In the case of both taxes the amount in assessment at any point of time does not represent the tax that will be ultimately due and payable inasmuch as many of the assessments are provisional in character and subject to adjustment. In the case of Income Tax the only estimate that can be given of the arrear at the end of the financial year is the amount of tax in assessment which is expected to be collected during the ensuing financial year ane the figures for the end of the years 1933–34, 1934–35 and 1935–36 are £20,000,000, £17,500,000 and £16,500,000, respectively. In the case of Surtax the amount of tax in assessment at the end of the financial year which will ultimately prove to be collectible is estimated to have been £11,000,000, £9,000,000 and £7,500,000 at the end of the financial years 1933–34, 1934–35 and 1935–36.