FAMILIES AND TAXATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 144, 19 June 1937, Page 8

FAMILIES AND TAXATION

Several correspondents have recently written to "The Post" concerning living costs and the birthrate. One correspondent on Thursday night referred particularly to taxation. This deserves consideration, for there can be no doubt that taxes, as at present levied, help to make the way harder for the family man. When taxation is considered an estimate is often made of the amount per head of population; and the reader assumes that the taxpayer pays only that sum. He may, in fact, pay much more, for he pays not only for himself, but for all the dependent and consuming members of his family. Last year the Government collected £9,499,000 in Customs duties and £3,044,000 in sales tax, over £12,500,000 on goods imported" and sold. This works out at about £8 6s 8d per head of population, or £33 6s 8d a year for four persons. Admittedly the poor purchaser will pay less tax than the 'vealthy man, and two children and v wife will not contribute to the duty levied on, say, whisky and cigars; but making due allowance for this the taxation collected on necessary commodities is no small item. It is multiplied by the number of consumers in the taxpayer's family and increases as his family obligations increase—the exact reverse of the socially .desirable principles which the present Government professes. It may be said that the present Government did not originally impose these taxes. That is so. It protested against some of them and declared that it would take off the .sales tax. But it has not done so. The preceding Government had the excuse of an exceptional emergency; the present Government had .to such excuse, but the prospect ol a wonderful revenue increase. :