NEW ZEALAND STAMP DUTIES.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 176, 22 February 1868, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND STAMP DUTIES.

The Schedule of the Stamp Act are four in number. The first conlains the duties on deeds and other instruments relating to between living persons; tie second, the duties on probates of wills and letters of administration; the third, the duties on legacies and successions to personal estate under any testamentary disposition or upon intestacy; the fourth, duties on successions to real or personal estate.

The following is a summary of the duties imposed. (Several exemptions -are omitted owing to their length) . ScrrEnvLE I. Agreement or any minute or memorandum of an agreement under hand only where the matter thereof shall be of the value of 207 or up"wards together -with every schedule receipt or other matter put or endorsed thereon or annexed thereto 0 10

Provided always that where divers letters shall he offered in evidence to prove an agreement between the parties who shall have written such letters it shall he sufficient if any such letters shall be stamped, with a duty of two shillings and sixpence. Biles of Excuaxge.—lnland Bill of Exchange Draft or Order not exceeding 507 . . .010

Ditto, not exceeding 1007 0 2 0

And where the same shall not exceed 1007 then for every 507 and also for any fractional part of 507 0 10

Foreign Bill of Exchange.—The same duty as on an Inland Bill of 1 lie same amount and tenor . 0 0 6

Where the sum payable shall not exceed 50/ . . . . 0 X) 6

507 and not exceeding 100/ 0 10

And the same shall exceed 100/ then for every 50/ and also for any fractional part of 50/ . . 0 0" G If drawn in sets of throe or more for every Bill of each set where the sum payable thereby shall not exceed 50/ . . . .00 4

50/ and not exceeding 100/ 0 0 8 And where the same shall exceed 100/ then for every 50/ and also for any fractional part of 50/ .004 All drafts or orders for the payment of any sum of money to the bearer on demand drawn upon any Banker person or company are exempt from the foregoing duties but are subject to the duty of Id charged upon drafts or orders.

Bill of Exchange drawn out of the Colony—The same duty as on an Inland Bill of the same amount and tenor.

Promissory Note not exceeding 251 . . . .006 Exceeding 25/ not exceeding 50? 0 10

Promissory Note for the payment either to the bearer on demand of any sum of money exceeding 507 and not exceeding 1.00/ .020 Where the sum shall exceed 100/ then for every 50/ and fractional part of 50/ . . . .010 All Bills Drafts or Orders or Promissory Notes for the payment by any Bank or Banking Company of any sum of money though not made payable to the bearer or to order and whether delivered to the payee or not and all writings or documents entitling any person to the payment by any Bank or Banking Company of any sum of money whether the person to whom payment is to be made shall be named or desigrated therein or not or whether the same shall be delivered to him or not shall respectively be deemed to be Bills, Drafts or Orders for the payment of money chargeable with Stamp Duty as if the same had been made payable to bearer or to order.

Bill of Lading or Receipt or copy thereof . . .010

Conveyance—Of any kind or description whatsoever (except transfers ■expressly provided for by this Act) — Where the purchase of consideration money therein or thereupon expressed shall not exceed 50/ 0 5 0 Exceeding 50/ and not exceeding 100/ 0 10 0 Where it shall exceed 100/ then for every 50/ and any fractional part of 50/ . . . .05' The purchase money or consideration shall be truly expressed and set forth n words at length in or upon every such principal or only deed or instrument of conveyance Exemptions from Duties on Conveyances—

Any grant from the Crown under the hand of the G-overnor for the time being of the Colony of New Zealand to any purchaser of Crown Lands in New Zealand. ..Any certificate of title granted under the hand of the .Registrar-General pursuant to "The Land-Registry Act. ISCO."

DEED or instrument of any kind wlntevir not otherwise charged in this Schedule . . 010 0

Dtiaft or Older including cheques or orders on Bankers for the payment of any Bum of money to a payee named or to boaror or to order giber on demand or otherwise not otherwise charged . . . .00-1

LEASE or agreement for a lease any written document for the tenancy or occupancy ol any lands tenements or hereditaments without any consideration by way of premium the following duties in respect of the yearly rent—"Where the yearly rent shall not exceed 507 . . . .020

Exceeding 507 and not exceeding 1007 0 5 0 Above 1007 for every fractional part of 507 . . .026

Lease or agreement for a leae of any lands tenements or hereditaments granted in consideration of a sum of money by way of premium without rent or with an annual rent. [The amounts payable upon above instruments are—The ad valorem duties payable upon a conveyance calculated on the consideration by way of premium expressed therein.] Lease of any lands tenements or heriditaments granted in consideration of a sum of money by way of premium and also of a yearly rent amounting to 207 and upwards. [Amounts payable upon the above instrument "are —Both the ad valorem duties payable upon a conveyance according to the consideration therein expressed and lor a lease in consideration of a rent of the same amount.] Memorandum of Transfer under

The Land Registry Act, 1860." [The same duty as for a conveyance for the sale of lands for-a Idee sum th consideration of such transfer.]

Policy of Insurance or other instrument of ships or cargo for any period not exceeding 3 months 0 2 0 All other marine policies—for every sum of 100/, and every fractional part of 100/ . .010

Promissory Notes payable to bearer on demand issued by any bank or banking company at the rate of for every 100/ of the average annual amount in circulation as certified under "The Bankers Beturns Act 1858" . . . .200

Receipt or discharge given for or on payment of any sum of money of the amount of 5/ or upwards 0 0 1 Exemptions—Receipts for moneys paid to or for Her Majesty; receipts endorsed upon any duty stamped instrument under this Act acknowledging receipt of the consideration money therein expressed; acknowledgment given for money deposited in any banks to be accounted for ; receipt for moneys paid into Laud Building and Provident Societies.

Transfer except by way of mortgage of any run or station held under lease or license or promise of lease or license from the Crown or of any interest therein or the value thereof assessed as in this Act provided shall not exceed 100/ . . . 0 10 0

Where such value chall exceed 10OZ then for every 100/ and any fractional part of 100/ 0 10 0 Transfer of any share in the stock and funds of any corporation company or society whatever in New Zealand upon sale th reof—Where the purchase or consideration therein expressed shall not exceed 20/ 0 10 Exceeding 20/ and not exceeding 50 . . .020 Exceeding 50/ and not exceeding 100/ . . .050 For every additional 50/ or fractional part of 50/ .026

_ The following among other alterations of the Stamp Act became law on the Ist November. The stamp on an agreement must be cancelled by two of the parties executing such agreement, by their writing their initials or names, and the date of the day and year of writing same. 10? penalty is imposed for signing unstamped receipts. Unstamped receipts are not to be taken in evidence until the duty and penalty are paid. Persons acting as distributors of stamps without being licensed are liable to a penalty not exceeding 202. 20/ penalty is imposed for fraudulent removal or second use of impressed or affixed stamps. A fine of 10s to be paid to the Commissioners when any deed or instrument is presented to them for their opinion as to the amount of duly chargeable thereon. ■ ■lrregularities prior to June 30 to be remedied in various ways specified. Receipts for money deposited "at interest in any bank, or in the hands of any banker, now need a stamp. The transfer of miners' property (by which we perceive mining shares are meant) is chargeable at Is for 20/, 2s Gd for 507, and 2s 6d for every additional 50/ or less amount of value".