HC Deb 07 April 1925 vol 182 cc2064-6W
Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can arrange that in the next Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue the table formerly published, showing the estimated number of Income Tax payers in various income groups, shall be again inserted?

Mr. GUINNESS

I regret that, following the change in the system of graduation of the Income Tax, introduced by the Finance Act, 1920, the statistical information required for classifying the total number of taxpayers according to the amount of their total incomes could only be obtained at a considerable cost, which I should not be justified in authorising.

Mr. GILLETT

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of the 2,400,000 persons actually paying Income Tax in 1923–24 were paying on incomes of under £500 and on incomes of between £500 and £1,000?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I regret that, following the change in the system of graduation of the Income Tax, introduced by the Finance Act, 1920, there is no statistical information available for classifying the total number of taxpayers according to the amount of their total incomes. The necessary material could only be procured at a considerable expenditure of time and labour, which I am not prepared to authorise.

Sir R. HUTCHISON

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of arrears of Income Tax and Super-tax outstanding 31st March, 1925?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Sufficient time has not yet elapsed since the close of the financial year to enable me to furnish precise estimates of the arrears of Income Tax and Super-tax outstanding at the 31st March.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated number of persons liable to Super-tax during the financial year ended 31st March, 1924; what was the estimated total income of those persons for Super-tax purposes; and their estimated average individual income?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave on this subject on 2nd April to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Lees-Smith).