UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 17, 20 July 1931, Page 10

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY

THE NEW-CHAEGE

DUE ON IST AUGUST

The first instalment of tho unemployment levy imposed by the amended Unemployment Act will become due on Saturday, Ist August. Tho levy is 20s per annum,, and is payable at any money-order office in four quarterly instalments or in one sum of "Os in advance to cover a year's payments. The conditions with respect to the unemployed during the past six months have been so serious because of the lack of funds to provide them all with adequate relief that those who are liable for the-levy should make a special effort to pay.it promptly, and so help to assure a certain amount of work for all who need it . Responsibility still rests, upon employers to see that their employees do not default in payment of the levy, and this duty is facilitated by the'provision of a new clause in-the amending Act giving an employer authority to deduct, from the wages of an employee the amount of any instalment of the levy that is overdue for more -than ono month. - . . Many people have paid the September instalment of levy imposed by the principal Act, and as the date for payment of the.now levy has been fixed for Ist August, an adjustment will be necessary as between the new rate of 5s per quarter and the old rate of 7s (3d. Tho Post Office authorities advise that people who have paid the levy for September should call at the Post Offices in November next. REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT. Under tho principal Unemployment Act those people liablo for the levy had to register at post offices within a month after the commencement of the Act and the coupon books were issued at a later date. i The amending Act makes registration and tho issue of coupon books simultaneous actions. Those liable would be wise to make early payment in order to avoid the congestion that is probable in tho larger centres from Ist August. , onwards. / The penalty for default in paymont for more than one month is £5, and for every month or part of a month after the first month that the levy remains unpaid provision is made for an additional fine of sixpence. WOMEN'S LIABILITY. Under the Unemployment Amendment Act tho women of the Dominion have become liable for taxation for the relief of unemployment, and they appear to have accepted -the responsibility in a very cheerful spirit. The only women exempt from the tax are those employed in private domestic service. Women will not pay the unemployment levy, their share in the taxation being provided by tho Emergency Unomployment charge, which is a tax on salary and wages, and on income other than salary or wages. ; Tho Act provides that women whose income other than from salary or wages during the year onded 31st March, 1931, was not less than £.250. shall be liable for a tax of ono penny for each 6s Bd, or part of 6s Bd, of two-thirds of that income. The tax on t«e part that consists of salary or wages will, of course, be deducted when, the salary or wages is paid. Those women whose income during tho year ending 31st March, 1932, is not less than £230 will be liaable for a similar tax on one-third of such income. The tax on salaries and. wages will bo deducted- on the first pay day in August, and the charge on income other than salary or wages will be payablo on Ist November, 1931. Employers of women have the same responsibility with regard to payment of the charge as they have regarding men, and deductions from pay are to be made in the same way and indicated by relief stamps which will bo obtainable at all Post Offices.