Bid to have tax waived ‘met brick wall’

Press, 4 June 1988, Page 3

Bid to have tax waived ‘met brick wall’

By

DEBORAH McPHERSON

Efforts by a Christchurch group to get the Government to waive Family Support overpayment taxes facing many low-income families has met a “brick wall.” The Christian Family Movement solo parents suport group was “angry and frustrated” at the outcome of talks aimed at asking the Government to waive tax bills of up to SI4OO faced by social welfare beneficiaries who receive Family Support overpayments, said a spokeswoman, Mrs Alison Weir. A meeting between the Minister of Social WelDr Cullen, and the

support group in Wellington on Thursday had got little response, in spite of a petition with more than 860 signatures from Canterbury, said Mrs Weir yesterday. '‘Dr Cullen did not agree to anything. He was non-responsive and .(said the policy had been made. “It felt like we were up against a brick wall,” said Mrs Weir. Dr Cullen said yesterday that he had instructed Inland Revenue Department staff to consider "carefully” any applications for relief but he could not agree to a “blanket waiving” of all tax. He and the Minister of Revenue, Mr de Cleene, had met several tildes to

discuss the matter. Confusion had arisen last year because people had not been told their Family Support benefit would be reduced if they earrit more than $15,000, said Mrs Weir. Since last December, the group had had many calls from confused families, whose Family Support benefit had been cut or reduced, t she said. Some had cut heating to pay the bills. The group will meet on June 10 to discuss further tactics. In the meantime, the group is • keen to hear from Canterbury families facing hardship who would be willing to have their case histories presented to the Government.