Income Tax Refunds

Press, Issue 32333, 26 June 1970, Page 12

Income Tax Refunds

Sir, —Supporting your correspondent, “C.A.G.,” 1 should like to add that I, too, forwarded my 1.R.3 return to the department promptly in the hope that the courtesy of an early return would bring the consideration of an early refund. I have always ren d e tje d my returns promptly; but have also always received my refunds late, even in the days when it was an 1.R.5 return. The 'department’s explanation may [satisfy the department, but it lis far from satisfactory to the (taxpayer. Last year 1 had a (considerable refund due. but (was put to the inconvenience of withdrawing from the Post Office to pay other gov-

ernment departments while the Inland Revenue hung on to money that should have been earning me interest for several months This sort of deal will not help the department’s public image. It should be possible to deal with the early returns before the thousands roll in. It seems the only way to mitigate the position slightly is to leave returns and tax payments until the last possible moment.—Yours, etc., DISENCHANTED WITH THE SYSTEM. June 23, 1970.