Plans To Instruct Public On Operation OF P.A.Y.E.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28481, 10 January 1958, Page 12

Plans To Instruct Public On Operation OF P.A.Y.E.

lAiew Zeaiana Prest Association)

WELLINGTON, January 9. When pay-as-you-eam taxation comes into operation in New Zealand on April 1, there will be little excuse for anyone not having a basic knowledge of how the system works. Apart from its personal efforts to educate the public, the Inland Revenue Department plans to use press advertising and panel discussions on the radio.

A spokesman for the department said today that there would shortly be a detailed press announcement of a “question and answer” service which the department would organise to educate taxpayers in the intricacies of P.A.Y.E. Specially-trained staff would answer queries on the operation of P.A.Y.E. at each branch office.

Specially-trained . departmental officers are at present travelling the country to ensure that branch offices are fully briefed. In addition, weekly sessions will be held on radio stations in each tax district on which two taxation officials and a compere will discuss listeners’ questions on the new system. New Zealand has been zoned for lecture purposes, and officers have recently given talks on request to accountants’ societies, chambers of commerce. Federated Farmers, Rotary clubs, workers’ educational associations, and other interested organisations.

Next month employers throughout New Zealand will receive from the department a comprehensive booklet containing tax tables and instructions on the operation of P.A.YR. About 250,000 copies of the booklet are being printed. The Post Office will send to all farmers a brochure explaining the system as it affects them. Other self-employed persons will be able to obtain information at any post office.

Salary and wage-earners who are interested in the operation of

the new system will be provided with notes on application to the department. The most important and most familiar document to the public will be the code declaration-tax deduction certificate which each taxpayer • will be required to fill in at the beginning of each fiscal year or when commencing new emplolyment. The form combines the now-obsolete declaration form an employee formerly made, and also the certificate, which an employer gave to the department and to the employee, showing the amount of earnings for a year. The form also serves as the taxpayer’s return to the department.