NATIONAL SECURITY TAX

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1940, Page 2

NATIONAL SECURITY TAX

POSITION OF SOLDIERS. HARDSHIP POINTED OUT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 30. Hardship, affecting soldiers and their wives, has arisen over the legislation enacting the national security tax, the first instalment of which is now payable. In many instances professional men, business men and farmers draw no regular salaries, and in consequence their social security tax has been paid quarterly on income earned for the complete year. This year the national security tax has to be paid for nine months on income earned in the year ended March 31 last. In the case of soldiers now serving abroad, professional. business or farming income earned last year is no longer being earned. The soldier has his military pay. but may have no other earned income. Military pay is free of income tax. but the Finance Act passed this month appears to hold the soldier or his wife responsible to pay national security tax on three-fourths of the professional or business income earned last year. Soldiers’ wives have been advised .that the law clearly places the responsibility of payment upon them, though in some cases the only source from which the tax can be met is the soldier's military pay. A professional man. speaking of cases within his knowledge, said the impost was harsh and unjust. It may have been. unintentional, he said, but it called aloud for redress.