The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-25 00:00:00

THE INCOME-TAX BILL.

We have already given a comprehensive outline of the
contents of this complicated, prolix, and mysterious Bill,
and intended to follow that up with . extracts from time
to time, embodying the general rules for estimating the
duties given under each schedule, bnt on perusing them
we became convinced that they would not be of the
slightest use to the general reader. The different clauses
are so interwoven with each other, and such endless re-
ferences are made to schedules A, B, C, and numbers
1,2, 3, and clauses 100, 150, or 180, and all the
intermediate numbersf and succeeding letters and
figures, that one schedule would be absolutely
unintelligible by itself, and not the least ray of light
could enter the mind of the unfortunate tenant or shop-
keeper, puzzling himself in vain to find out the new bur-
den laid on his shoulders. To men of common under-
standings the Bill might as well have been published in
low Dutch. We give the following at random as a spe-
cimen. It is published for, the benefit of the farmers,
and we bet 100 to 1 that not one farmer in fifty, after
reading the clause with the utmost possible care, when
he comes to the word " mentioned" at the end, could
form the slightest idea of the amount he should have to
pay to Mr. Collector :
And be it enacted, that the duties hereby granted, con;-
taMed in the schedule marked (B), shall be assessed and
charged under the following rules, which rules shall be deemed
and construed to be a part of this Act, and to refer to the said
last-mentioned duties, as if the same had been inserted under a
special enactment.
The duties last-before-mentioned shall be charged in ad-
dition to the duties to be charged under Schedule (A) on
all the properties in this Act directed to be charged to the
said duties, according to the General Rule in Number
Schedule (A) before-mentioned, on the full amount of the an-
nual value thereof, estimated as by this Act is directed (except
a dwelling-house, and the domestic, offices thereunto belong-
ing, and which dwelling-kouse and offices shall not be occu-
pied by virtue of one and the same demise with a farm of
lands, for the purpose of farming such lands, or with a farm
of tithes, for the purpose of farming the same ; and except
warehouses or other buildings occupied for the purpose of carry-
ing on a trade or profession); provided, that in all cases where
lands are subject to a rent-charge in lieu of tithes under the
Act passed for the commutation of tithes, and in all ether cases
where lands in England are not subject to tithes, or to any
modus or composition real in lieu thereof, there shall be de.
ducted out of the duties contained in this schedule, a sum not
exceeding one-eight part thereof ; and in all eases where such
lands are subject to a modus or composition real, and not sub-
ject to any tithes, there shall be deducted out of such
duties so much thereof, as, together with the like rate
on such modus or composition real, shall not exceed one-
eighth part of such duties as aforesaid; and in all cases
where such lands are subject to a modus or composition
real in lieu of certain specific tithes, and also are sub-
ject to certain other specific tithes, or where such
lands are free, of certain specific tithes, and are subject to cer-
tain other specific tithes, the annual value of such lands shall,
for the purpose of charging the duties under this schedule, be
estimated at the rack-rent at which the same would let by the
year if wholly free from tithes, and there shall be deducted there-
from the amount or value of one-eighth of the said duties
chargeable on the said estimate as in case, of tithe-free lands.
Provided also, that any person being lessee and occupier of any
tithes or teinds taken in kind, or being the occupier of the lands
from whence such tithes or teinds shall arise, and compounding
for the same, shall be charged, in respect of the occupation, at
the rate of two-peace for every twenty shillings of the annual
value thereof, estimated as aforesaid. Provided also, that the
several properties lee-eine er described in No. VIII. shall be
assessed and charged in manner therein mentioned.
On reading the whole schedule, with all its endless
involutions and exceptions, we cannot discover any clause
which defines the amount of rent at which a tenant be-
comes liable to the duties chargeable by the Act. Are
we therefore to infer that all lands, tenements, &c.,
whatever, small as well as great, shall be charged yearly,
in respect of the occupation thereof, threepence-half-
penny,in England and twopence-halfpenny in Scotland
for every 20s. of the annual value ? The application of
the Act to incomes only of 150/. and upwards is mentioned
casually in the 125th clause, and, possibly from oversight,
the amount of rent at which the duties become charge-
able may have been omitted altogether ; but as it, was
especially mentioned by Sir Robert Peel, in his speech
on the subject, it must be inferred that the tenants pay-
ing a rent of 3001. a year and upwards, only are liable.
NV e have already had two editions of the Tariff Bill, both
lull of blunders, and a third edition is promised.
Possibly the same rule is to be followed respecting this
incomprehensible scheme fur an Income-tax. As the
public, however, must be anxious to know totnethihg
about a measure that affects so many classes, we shall
endeavour then briefly to give the snore important details
respecting landlords, tenants, annuitants, shopkeepers,
and professional men.
SCHEDULE A.

General Rule for estimating Lands, Tenements, Here-
ditaments, or Heritages.
The annual value of lanes, tenements, het editaments, or he-
ritages, shall be understood to be the rent by the year at which
the same are let at rack rent, if the amount of such rent shad
have been fixed by agreement, commencing within the period of
seven years preceding the sth of April next before the time of
waking the as,essment ; but if the same are not so let at rack
rent, then at the rack rent at which the same are worth to
be let by the year; which rule shall be construed to ex-
tend to all lands, tenements, and hereditaments, or heritages.
capable of actual occupation, of whatever nature, and for
whatever purpose occupied or enjoyed, and of whatever value,
except tithes, dues in right of the Church, manors, fines for
demise of land and tenements, quarries, mines, iron works,
gas works, salt springs, canals, docks, drains, levels, fishings,
tolls, railways and other ways, bridges, ferries, :Ind other con-
cerns of Ow like nature. 'llese are to he estimated variously
—tittles, for instance, on an average of three s ears if taken in
kind, and if compounded for on the amount of the composition
for the )ear preceding ; manors, on an averap- of the
seven preceding years; mines, on an average of five years pre-
ceding; and quarries, on the amounts of profits for the
preceding year. The occupier of any lands, tenements, &c.,
being the tenant of the same, and paying the duties, shall de-
duct so much thereof from the rent payable to the landlord; as
a rate of sevenpence in the Found would by a just proportion
amount unto. Certain exemptions are allowed as respects the
amount of tenths and first fruits, collegiate churches and chi-
pets, colleges, hospitals, &c.
SCHEDULE B.

The general rules for assessing and charging the
properties under schedule 8., applicable to tenants, is given
above, from which our agricultural readers; we fear, will not
derive much information. The following elauses for the estimate
of rents will be found more intelligible. When the amount
of rent of lands or tenements reserved in monershall depend,
on the price of grain, the estimate shall be made on the ave-
rage prices fixed in the year preceding the year appointed for
payment of the duty. The same rule applies to rents reserved
in grain, and also to rents which depend on the actual produce
of the lands. Every estimate of such property in Scotland
shall be made without reference to the cess or valued rents,
agreeably to the general rules laid down in Schedule A.
This schedule contains twenty-five long clauses, and extends to
eighteen folio pages, with rules far estimating the rent in par-
ticular cases, tbe amount of penaltie's, &c.
SCHEDULE C.

Rules for assessing and charging duties on annui-
tants. These duties shall be paid by the persons and corpora-
tions respectively intrusted with the payment of the annuities,
dividends, and shares of annuities therein charged, on be-
half of the persons, corporations, companies, or societies entitled
thereto, their executors, administrators, successors, or assigns,
and shall be assessed by the Commissioners to be appointed for
those purposes ; and shall extend to all public annuities whatever
payable in Great Britain out of any public revenue in Great
Britain or elsewhere, and to all dividends and shares thereof
which shall become payable after fifth day of April one thou-
sand eight hundred and forty-two.
The following Stocks are exempted :—First, the stocks or
dividends of any Friendly Society, established under an Act
passed in the 10th of Geo. IV., relating to Friendly Societies,
provided the sums assured by such society to any individual, or
to any person nominated by or to claim under him shall not
exceed the sum of two hundred pounds, or the amount of any
annuity or annuities granted or to be granted by such society
to any individual, or to any person nominated by or to claim
under him, shall not exceed the sum of twenty pounds per
annum.

Second—The stock or dividends of any corporation, frater-
nity or society of persons, or of any trust, established for cha-
ritable purposes only ; or the stock or dividends in the names
of any trustees applicable to the repairs of any cathedral, col-
lege, church, or chapel, and to no other purpose.
Third—The stock or dividends transferred to the accounts
in the books of the Bank of England, in the name or under the
description of the Lord High Treasurer of England, or of the
Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, or the Comm is-
sioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, in pursuance
of any Aet or Acts of Parliament.
Fourth—The stock or dividends belonging to her Majesty,
in whatever name the same may stand in the books of the Bang
of England, and also the stocks or dividends of any accredited
Minister of any foreign State resident in Great Britain.
SCHEDULE D.

Duties to be charged in respect to' trades, profes-
sions, &c.
As this is the most important schedule, and also the
most intelligible, we give it with little abridgement.
First Case—Duties to be charged in respect of any trade,
mantif.ieture, adventure, or concerts in the nature of trade, not
contained in any other schedule of this Act.
First.—The duty to be charged in respect thereof shall
be computed on a sum not less than the lull amount of the
balance of the profits or gains of such trade, manufacture,
adventure, or concern, upon a fair and just average of three
years, ending on such day of the year immediately preceding
the year of assessment on which the accounts of the sail
trade, manufacture, adventure, or concern shall have been
usually made up, or on the sth day of April preceding the
year of assessment, and shall be assessed, charged, And paid
without other deduction than is hereinafter allowed. Pro-
vided always, that in cases where the trade, manufacture,
adventure, or concern, shall have been set up and commenced
within the said period of three years, the computation shall
be made for one year on the average of the balance of the
profits and gains from the period of first setting up the same.
Second.—The said duty shall extend to every person, body
politic or corporate, fraternity, fellowship, company, or society,
and to every. art, mystery, adventure, or concern carried on by
them respectively in Great Britain, or elsewhere as aforesaid ;
except always such adventures or concerns on or about lands,
tenements, hereditaments or heritages, as are mentioned in the

first schedule.
Third.—ln estimating the balance of profit and gains
chargeable, no suns shall be set against or deducted from, or
allowed to be set against or deducted fr, in such profits or
gains, on account of any sum expended for repairs of
premises occupied for the purpose of such trade, manufacture,
adventure or concern, nor for any sum expended for the supply
or repairs or alterations of any implements, utensils, or articles
employed for the purpose of such trade, mannfacture, adventure,
or concern, beyond the sum usually expended tor.such pun-
p .sea according to an average of three years preceding the year
in which such assessment shall be made ; nor on account of

loss sent connected with or arising out of such trade, manu-
facture, aduentuie, or concern ; nor on account of any capital
ssithdrawn therefrom; nor for any sum employed or intended
to be employed as capital in such Wide, manufacture, adven-:
tore, or c6neerie ; nor for any capital employed, in improve-
it. era of premise* occupied fed• the purposes of such trade, ma-;,
nufacture, adventure, or concern ; nor on account or under
any pretence of interest which might have been made on such
sums if laid out at interest; nor for any debts except such
debts, or such parts thereof, as shall be proved to the satisfac-
tion of the Commissioners respectively to be irrecoverable and
desperate ;. nor for any average loss beyond the actual amount
of loss after adjustment; no for any sum recoveralle under
an insurance or contract of indemnity.
Fourth.—No deduction for annual interest.
Second Case.—The duty to be charged in respect of profes.,
sions, employments, or vocations, not contained in any other
schedule of this Act.