MILLIONAIRE’S SUPER-TAX

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 288, 25 February 1928, Page 26

MILLIONAIRE’S SUPER-TAX

SUED FOR £77.866 DEFAULTING TAX-PAYERS Taxpayers from almost every walk of life were sued by the Crown recently in the King’s Bench Division, London, for unpaid taxes, varying in amount from £lto £77,866, and in two hours the Law Officers of the Crown secured judgments aggregating £117,000. Some of the defaulting taxpayers appeared in person and others were represented by counsel. For all Mr. Justice Rowlatt had one reply. “I am simply here to give judgment if the assessments are proved/’ he 'said. Mr. Justice Rowlatt also gave the taxpayer some advice. “If people are assessed -o duties,” be added. “I advise them to pay or to appeal. If they appeal they should prosecute the appeal. It is no good letting things slide and having thesexpensive proceedings launched against them.” Business firms assessed for Corporation Profits Duty and Excess Profits Duty were included in the list, and wit i regard to their position Sir Douglas Hogg, K.C., the Attorney-General, said: “One of the troubles we get in these cases is that people vull not give any information about the profits and delay us for years. We have to make an estimated assessment, and then they instruct counsel to come here and say we have been harsh.” Solicitor’s £1 Solicitors were among those who had not paid. One had received a legacy £lO as an executor, and according 1 o Mr. Stamp, for the Crown, had tak|n no notice of the applications for tre payment of £ 1 legacy du*y. A millionaire’s name was or the of defaulters. It was that of Mr. HatT) Payne Whitney, the American, wro was introduced to Mr. Justice Rowla by Sir Douglas Hogg as one who haa fought the Crown right up to the House of Lords. . “After assuring us that he was * ~ course, good for the amount claimed, said Sir Douglas, “we are now informei that he has no assets in this countr: He has removed them in the meantim*:I am not discussing the morality of tna proceeding. I am merely asking * judgment against for super-ta amounting to £77,866.” , Within ten minutes the order as*, for was made. Miss Jose Collins Judgment was given against Lor Robert Innes-Ker for £4,374 .os » Mr. R. P. Hills, for the Crown, explaining that the assessment was respect of income tax arising ou employment in the years 1923 ». ' was assessed in respect of the inco his wife (Miss Jose Collins). . Mr. Justice Rowlatt: She must ha - had a very good employment. Mr. Hills: I think it was—then. is a public entertainer.