Capital Gains Tax

HC Deb 02 April 1968 vol 762 cc162-3

26. Mr. Farr

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of collecting Capital Gains Tax in the first full year of its operation.

Mr. Harold Lever

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Farr

Why is the hon. Gentleman so loth to give the House this important information? Is it not a fact that the cost of the collection of the tax is out of all proportion to the revenue received?

Mr. Lever

The hon. Gentleman is on safe ground in drawing conclusions based on no facts which can be furnished to the House. The fact is that all tax collection and administration is integrated and that it is not possible, without incurring inordinate expense, to segregate the cost of collecting one particular tax from the general tax system.