Superannuitants offered help with tax forms

Press, 21 April 1984, Page 9

Superannuitants offered help with tax forms

Aged people having difficulty filling out their tax eturns will be offered free accounting assistance next month. The Canterbury branch of the Society of Accountants is offering the help to superannuitants whose additional annual income is not more than $5OO. Elderly people who find form-filling a daunting task could neglect to submit tax returns, missing out on rebates that they were due, said Mr D. J. Studholme, the chairman of the public practice committee and branch spokesman. The Inland Revenue Department provided a tax guide but the elderly might find its small print difficult to read. It also offered personal assistance but many older people were reluctant to queue at public booths or discuss their finances in such surroundings, he said. “These are the people who fail to furnish returns and miss out on rebates, or who find the June 7 deadline a problem and a threat.” Superannuitants in Christchurch and surrounding districts wanting their forms completed for them should make an appointment with a chartered accountant in public practice. They should take their tax returns, their national or other superannuation IRI2 certificates with details of any rate payments, life insurance policy payments and donations. Also details of loans to people buying a home

and of savings, interest or dividend payments earned in the last year. The offer is only open for May and Mr Studholme said it was hoped that superannuitants would use the service early in the month. Free tax advice will also be available to the public during the first week of May. Christchurch members of the Society of Accountants will staff “question and answer” offices at some branches of the Canterbury Savings Bank.

The accountants will be at the Canterbury Savings Banks in Riccarton and Hornby on Thursday, May 3, between 5 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. and between 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. the next day. On Friday, May 4, they will be at Northlands and Colombo Street between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and on Saturday, May 5, they will be at New Brighton between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Except for superannuitants the offer did not cover practical assistance with tax forms, Mr Studholme said.