WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1984
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WHEN AN EMPLOYEE HAD WORKED FOR OVER 26 WEEKS IN THE PAYMENT PERIOD BUT HIS CONTRACT WAS TERMINATED WITHOUT CAUSE AT ANY TIME BEFORE EXPIRY OF THE PAYMENT PERIOD, THE PRO RATA PAYMENT DUE TO HIM UNDER THESE PROVISIONS MUST BE PAID NOT LATER THAN SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE TERMINATION OF CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
MOVE TO END TAX HOLD-OVER ABUSE
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THERE WAS A GROWING TENDENCY FOR TAXPAYERS TO ABUSE THE GENEROUS HOLD OVER PROVISION ACCORDED TO TAX UNDER OBJECTION OR APPEAL, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DOUGLAS BLYE, SAID TODAY.
MR BLYE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE TAX HELD OVER HAD INCREASED FROM $891 MILLION AT THE END OF MARCH 1981 TO $2 984 MILLION AT THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR.
+THIS UNSATISFACTORY SITUATION SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE,+ HE SAID.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1984, HE SAID IT SEEKS TO PERMIT THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE TO REQUIRE IN THE FUTURE AN APPELLANT TAXPAYER TO PURCHASE TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES EQUAL TO THE TAX TO BE HELD OVER.
IF AN OBJECTION OR APPEAL IS SUCCESSFUL, INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON THE CERTIFICATE.
BUT WHERE THE OBJECTION OR APPEAL IS UNSUCCESSFUL, THE CERTIFICATE WILL BE ACCEPTED IN SETTLEMENT OF THE TAX DUE AND NO INTEREST WILL BE PAYABLE.
· MR BLYE SAID THE COMMISSIONER WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE POWER TO ALLOW PAYMENT OF TAX TO BE HELD OVER WITHOUT REQUIRING THE TAXPAYER TO PURCHASE A TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATE WHERE HE CONSIDERS THE CIRCUMSTANCES SO WARRANT, OR TO REQUIRE PAYMENT OF TAX IN FULL, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY NOTICE OF OBJECTION OR APPEAL.
+THE ADDITIONAL POWERS GIVEN TO THE COMMISSIONER UNDER THE BILL, IF APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL, WILL DISCOURAGE FRACTIOUS APPEALS AND WILL ENSURE THAT THE AMOUNT OF TAX HELD OVER IS SUBSTANTIALLY COVERED BY SUPPORTING TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES IN FUTURE.
+ IT WILL PROTECT GENERAL REVENUE, AND THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL STAFFING OR RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS, + MR BLYE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
+
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