RETURN OF INCOMES DUE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 104, 4 May 1934, Page 10

RETURN OF INCOMES DUE

PENALTY FOR NEGLECT. Furnishing a return of income is ar annual duty imposed by law on al companies and persons in business whether for the whole or part of thij income year and irrespective of whethei a profit or a loss was made; also by all persons in receipt of income from sal ary, wages, bonus, allowances, interest rent, annuity or other annual payment where such income in conjunction with income from free-of-tax Government se euritics, company debentures issued free of tax, and from dividends or other profits from shares in companies trading in New Zealand exceeds £2OO per annum. Returns are required annually from such persons notwithstanding that by reason of the special exemptions allowable by law they may not be liable for tax. Form No. 3, which is now obtainable at all post-offices, is the form to be utilised by al individual taxpayers, partnerships, estates, and commercial, industrial, or investment companies. The return should bo completed and forwarded to the Commissioner of I axes, Wellington, C. 1, on or before June 1. If for any reason the return cannot be furnished by the prescribed date application should be made for an extension of time. Where returns are

accepted compiled to a date subsequent to March. 31, they should be furnished within two months of that date. Any person required by law to furnish a return and neglecting to do so is liable on conviction to a penalty not exceed£loo. Neglect to furnish returns at the prescribed time not only renders taxpayers liable to prosecution, but also results in many cases in an assessment of considerably more tax than would otherwise be payable. In the absence of a return the Department has power to make an assessment of an amount on which it is considered tax ought to be levied. The acceptance of the estimated assessment does not, however, absolve the taxpayer from the duty of furnishing a return. If the tax payable under the estimated assessment, is more than the amount payable on the taxpayer’s actual assessable income, the taxpayer may render himself liable for the higher amount in addition to prosecution for failure to furnish the return at the prescribed time. If the, tax payable under the estimated assessment is

less than the amount of tax payable on the taxpayer’s assessable income, the taxpayer may render himself liable tc a penalty of treble the amount of such deficient tax in addition to prosecution for failure to furnish the return at the prescribed time. Reports of prosecutions for failure to make returns in the past should be taken as a warning, and all persons liable to furnish returns are therefore advised in their own interests to forward such returns on or before J uiio I.