RETURNS OF LAND DUE 18TH. APRIL

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11401, 21 March 1930, Page 5

RETURNS OF LAND DUE 18TH. APRIL

PENALTY FOR NEGLECT

Furnishing a return of land is an annual duty imposed by law upon ail landowners who at noon on tlie 31st March hold land of an unimproved value according to the Government valuat on in excess of £SOO. The unimproved value is the value of tlie land exclusive of buildmgs, fencing and other improvements. The form of return has been made as simple as it is possible to make it. Forms are now obtainable at all post-offices.

Details ol the land held at the •list March, 1930, should be entered i ll Part 3 of the form. Under 1 art 1 particulars of registered mortgages and unpaid piTrcliasemoiiey should he shown each year irrespective of whether any change 1 1 ,f s . taken place or not. fne return should he completed a), d , returned to the Commissioner of Paxes, Wellington, on or before the Bth April. Any person neglecting to furnish a return is Pable to a penalty not exceeding £IOO. Neglect to furnish returns at the prescribed time not only lenders taxpayers liable to prosecution but also m many cases for considerably more tax than would otherwise be payable. Pile Act provides for an exeinpt on in respect of registered mortgages or balances of purchasemoney in certain circumstances, but to obtain tlie exemption it is essentia! that a return showing particulars of mortgages owing should be hi mi shed. The Department cannot assume that mortgages are owing, and in the absence of a return the assessment is made as though the land "ere unencumbered. The tax assessed in those cases may lie in excess of the amount which would he payable if the return had been furnished. All persons liable to furnish returns are therefore advised m their own interests to forward their returns on or before the above date.