Cost of GST

Press, 20 December 1985, Page 16

Cost of GST

Sir,—Slowly, but surely, the day is’approaching when the goods and services tax becomes reality. As we have learned; from several letters and article in “The Press,” in order to introduce this new tax

system it will cost the Government large sums of taxpayers’ money; but as soon as it is introduced it will cost the taxpayers so much they will be sorry they never remonstrated against its conception. According to television advertising, someone earning $227 weekly will, with GST, take home $272, a gain of $45 a week. But everything the taxpayer buys will cost him 10 per cent extra, perhaps more. Most people are not aware of the implications and those who are say very little about it, let alone do something. We read notices calling it Gestapo tax, etc., but who will do something? Retailers and self-employed people could organise, discuss and act. Not everything Governments do is beneficial.—Yours, etc., JELTE H. VISSER. December 15, 1985.