SALES TAX RECORD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23280, 24 February 1939, Page 10

SALES TAX RECORD

RETURN IN DECEMBER BRISK CHRISTMAS TRADE YEAR'S REVENUE £3,498,438 Indicative of a particularly busy Christmas shopping season sales tax revenue in December reached til© highest monthly figure sinco tho tax was instituted fiyo years ago. Tho tax collected during the month was £329,356, which was £18,309 more than that received during December, 1937, and £11,758 greater than the previous record total established in January, 1938, As certain prime necessities aro exempt frofn the tax its growth is a reflection of the freer purchase of goods outside of tho necessity class. December is normally tho best month of the j'ear, although the January total is usually high sinco it is also influenced by Christmas and holiday trading. Monthly collections for the past two years compare as follows: 10.' iS 1037 January .. .. £317,508 £204,431 ■February .. .. 230,5125 10-1,02-1 March .. 277,G00 200,637 April .. .. 202,281 205,082 May .. .. 273,087 300,700 JuilO .. .. 285,738 283,001 July .. .. 21)5,004 27&.90S August .. .. 287,510 301,002 September .. .. 200,020 300,714 October .. -. 308,570 305,700 November .. .. 301,381 307,824 December .. .. 3-29,350* 311,017 Total .. . . £3,108,438 £3,478,088 * Reco (1. The total tax collected in 1938 was £19.450 greater than that received in 1937, and £007.066 more than the amount for 1936.