INCOME TAX RATES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3174, 27 August 1917, Page 6

INCOME TAX RATES

Sir. —In reference to tho tablo of rates nf income tax emanating from tho Inefficiency Board and published by you some few days ago, I t'tiink it advisable to point out that the. figures as given are entirely incorrect and misleading. Whether tlie table has been purposely misstated it is not for me (o say, but it certainly suggests some ulterior purpose in it? misstatement, probably not unconnected willi future votes.

Taking the first item: Tho rate on a taxable income of .£IOO is given as 6d. in the .£. This is absolutely wrong. The rate is one shilling ami threepence in the ,S, made tip as follows—fid. in the X income tax, plus Gel. in the .£ war tax, plus 50 per cent, additional, 3d.; total Is. 3d. Taking the lasl item in the table ,of u .EfilOO income, the rate is given as 3s. in the X. Tho correct rate is vs. 6d. in the ,£, made up of 3s. in '.ho .C incomo tax. plus 3s. in the .£ war'tax, and phis .1(1 per cent, additional. Is. Gd.; total 7s. fid. * Call tho additions what you will, contribution to Treasurer's Surplus, or Renewal and liepairs of Effete and Inept M.IVs Ti'unrl, the fact remain; that the whole is income tax, and the public should not bo misled by tables showing a rate Ices than the actual amount payable. , ■ With the table of rates, statements showing comparisons of actual assessments for income and land tax at present and proposed rates are also issued by tho Inefficiency Board, but in the abfence of any rate.? being given, the whole thing is absurd and would give the head: ache to any Fellow of Scientific "Research who attempted a solution of any of- tho alleged "'examples," but op an example of waste of time, energy, and' paper th'e tables would be hard to beat. The Income Tax Department, especially under its present administration, is looked upon as the brainy branch of tho Inefficiency Board's many departments, and if Commissioners could blush I am sure Mr. Clark's features must have assumed a rubicund hue on feasting his eve 3 on the mastevly tables referred to. Kow not to do a thins :s demonstrated here in its most effective form—l am, et °" INC UMTAX. August 21, 1917.