AUTHORS’ TAXES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 406, 13 April 1937, Page 2

AUTHORS’ TAXES

UNCLE SAM’S CLAIMS Extraordinary Demands. Th© besT.-selli.ig author, Rafael Sabatini, is fighting United .States attempts to charge leading British writers for income .tax —plus interest ind penalties.—on earnings that date back to the 1920’.%, says 'an overseas correspondent. "They teem to be conducting a general drive on the few British anthors who have been doing well over there,” Mr Babaitini said. ‘*l am fighting back. I am employing attorneys, ‘and I shall not pay until I am satisfied that 'the demands are legal. "They are asking me for £7OOO on claims going back to 1921. The amount is almost doubled by penalties and interest. "Taxation on myi book royalties is deducted at the source. That has been regularly paid by the agents and Butl in 1929 the United States.' Treasury suddenly made up their minds to assess me on everything 1 ever had in the United States. “The assessment was so reckless that it actually included my Canadian royalties. It might just as well have included my British royalties, too. “The claims now made are in respect of receipts apart from royalties —serial rights and film rights. "I want to see the statute that says a person living outside the United States is liable to pay tax on receipts apart from royalties. I have not been shown that yet. I don’t believe it exists. “I have been told that unless I can satisfy the authorities their claim is unjust they will attach my royalties in future until it is met.” Other authors' said to have been served with big claims from the United States include P. G. Wodehouse, Noel Coward and Ivor Novello. “And I gather Mr Priestley is having trouble, too,” said Mr Sabatini.