The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-13 00:00:00

THE INCOME TAX.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE tmN.
SIR,—In general I agree with the political principles
advocated in your journal, but mu.u,t acknowledge that I
dissent entirely from the opiniora expressed by you on
the renewal of the property wad income tax. Your rea-
soning on the inequalities c:,l the tax appears to me fal-
lacious, inasmuch as you seem entirely to overlook the
arguments of the CbD.ncellor of the Exchequer in bring-
ing forward the budget, where he shows most conclu-
sively, that incomes derived from professions are not
taxed in the same degree as incomes derived from pro-
perty. It is shown very clearly that incomes derived
from professions are taxed according to the value
as stated by the parties themselves—whereas, incomes
derived from property are taxed according to the value
of the assessor.

Nothing, therefore, can be clearer than this, that in-
comes derived from professions have a very great ad-
vantage over those derived from property. It is my
opinion that not more than half the incomes derived
from professions pay income tax, of which the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer gave some startling proofs,
where parties with incomes of more than 40,0001. per
annum were put down at 9,0001. Taking the income
tax as a whole, I am surprised at the opposition which
it has received from some reformers. If we want to
establish the principle of direct taxation, the property
and income tax is the last tax we should think of dis-
turbing.
From the evidence of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, the tax cannot be established upon a more satis-
factory basis. If you attempt to undo it and construct
it afresh upon the principle contended for, it cannot be
done without creating a most expensive and a much
more vexatious machinery, requiring " schedules for al-
most every letter in the alphabet." If this would be
the case under the small proportion of the taxation of
the country derived from the present income tax, what
would it be were a much greater portion of the revenue
raised from direct taxation, which all financial reformers
are at present contending for ?
My opinion, therefore, is, that the present income tax
is the most rational and proper tax that exists ; and it
is most proper that it should be extended to incomes in
Ireland. An income of 1001. in Ireland is equal to an
income of 1501. in England. Instead, therefore, of
throwing opposition in the way of the Government, and.
preventing them proceeding with other beneficial and
important measures, you would serve the country
better by giving the Government your support, seeing
that no other Government can be formed so capable of
forwarding the business of the nation as that which at
present exists. It is a pity that reformers should put
obstacles in the way of a reform Government.—l am,
yours respectfully, ALEX. INNES.
Egremont, Cheshire, 9th May, 1853.

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