§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the £13.6 million lost to the Inland Revenue in the year ended October 1980 due to persons and companies declaring bankruptcies, he will give the most recent comparable figures and figures for the previous five years; what was the loss over the same year:, due to income tax collected by employers from their employees under the Pay-As-You-Earn and not forwarded to the Inland Revenue; and if he will take steps to ensure that tax is paid when due and before such persons or individuals declare bankruptcies.
§ Mr. RidleyThe amounts written off by the Inland Revenue on grounds of the insolvency of individuals and companies are given in the following table: 363W
Income Tax* (excluding PAYE) PAYE tax* Corporation Tax Capital Gains Tax Surtax Others Total (£ thousands) 1975 2,974 2,604 2,228 53 164 135 8,158 1976 3,290 2,728 3,934 127 46 89 10,214 1977 5,431 3,703 6,973 190 248 69 16,614 1978 7,102 6,099 10,379 740 610 52 24,982 1979 8,245 8,087 14,602 775 317 538 32,564 1980 10,038 9,358 15,677 905 2,711 824 39,513 * These amounts represent liabilities due from both individuals and companies. Every effort is made to secure payment of tax as soon as possible after it becomes due. Tax is written off only after all the possibilities of collection action have been exhausted.