8.—15.

1893. NEW ZEALAND.

LAND-AND INCOME-TAX DEPARTMENT (REPORT BY THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXES.)

Laid on the Table by the Hon. J. G. Ward, with leave of the House.

The Commissioner of Taxes to the Hon. the Colonial Teeasubee. Sir, — Land- and Income-tax Department, Wellington, 28th July, 1893. I have the honour to submit further information as to the results of the land- and income-tax system. These are given as at the 30th June, in order to bring the return down to the latest date possible. Contributions by persons and companies are thus summarised : —

Totals of Land- and Income-taxes. £ Persons ... ... ... 15,320 ... 242,349 Companies ... ... ... 488 ... 131,739 15,808 £374,088 Property-tax, 1889. jg Persons ... ... ... 25,841 ... 246,262 Companies ... ... ... 486 ... 107,905 26,327 £354,167 Notes.—ln the total number of payers of land- and income-tax, payers of graduated tax are not included. Some land-tax payers also pay income-tax. Church property corporations and trusts are included in companies. The additional 10 per cent, charged for late payment of tax is not included. It will be seen that tax assessed to persons under the land- and income-tax system is £3,913 less than the property-tax assessed to persons ; and the tax assessed to companies is £23,834 more than companies were assessed for under property-tax; the total result of land- and income-taxes exceeding the result of property-tax by £19,921. In consequence of the time of the staff being almost entirely occupied with the assessment of land and the collection of the land-tax, it was not found possible during 1892 to make a critical examination of the returns for income-tax, to call for additional returns, and to obtain information as to the accuracy and completeness of those already in, and the collection of the income-tax had to be proceeded with, the due date being fixed as 31st January, 1893. The tax was paid punctually. In thus collecting on the returns received, subject to certain amendments and additions that had been made, there was no final acceptance of the returns as correct; and since then very numerous inquiries have resulted in considerable additions to the revenue. The number of new and increased assessments from March 4th to the Bth July, was 247, the tax resulting there-

Land-tax—Persons Companies... 12,109 251 £ 163,226 69,355 £ Graduated land-tax—Persons ... Companies 12,360 232,581 1,414 77 44,234 23,646 1,491 67,880 Income-tax—Persons ... Companies 3,211 237 34,889 38,738 73,627 3,448 Total of land- and income-tax 374,088