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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14

Pitt's Income and Property Tax

Pitt's Income and Property Tax.

In 1797-8, extreme pressure upon the Exchequer drove Pitt to desperate expedients to raise money. He had virtually abolished what was left of the Land Tax by perpetuating it at the valuation of 1692, and offering to sell it at 18 or 23 years' purchase for cash.

At the same time he told Parliament that the measure would not preclude that or any other Parliament from imposing another Land Tax, or from augmenting or re-assessing the existing one.

Moreover, in lieu of such re-adjustment, he there and then imposed a Property and Income Tax to realise £6,500,000 in the following proportions of assessment:—
On Land Rental £20,000,000
Tithes 4,000,000
Mines and Canals 3,000,000
House Rental 5,000,000
Scotch Rentals 5,000,000
Public Annuities 12,000,000.
£49,000,000
On Occupiers of Farms at rent £6,000,000
Profession 2,000,000
Incomes from abroad 5,000,000
Profits from Foreign Trade 12,000,000
Profits from Homo Trade and Employment 28,000,000
£53,000,000
All the £49,000,000 was upon items of the old realty schedule of the land tax, and the £53,000,000 was upon items in the old personalty and salaries schedules. The character and extent of that attempt may be seen from the figures that follow, and it should be remembered that this tax (like the Land Tax which it supplanted) did not apply to Ireland :—
Realised.
1798 10 per cent, on Incomes of £200 and upwards, and various rates between £60 and £200 £1,855,996
1799 10 per cent, on Incomes of £200 and upwards, and various rates between £60 and £200 6,046,624
1800 10 per cent, on Incomes of £200 and upwards, and various rates between £60 and £200 6,244,438
1801 10 per cent, on Incomes of £200 and upwards, and various rates between £60 and £200 5,628,903
1802 No Statement
1803 1s., in the £ on £150 and upwards, and various rates from 3d. to 11d. between £60 and £150 5,341,907
1804 1s., in the £ on £150 and upwards, and various rates from 3d. to 11d. between £60 and £150 4,111,924
1805 Addition of one-fourth to these rates 6,429,599
1806 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 12,822,056
1807 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 11,905,858
1808 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 13,482,294
1809 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 13,631,922
1810 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 14,453,320
1811 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 14,462,776
1812 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 15,488,546
1813 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 15,795,691
1814 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 14,188,037
1815 10 per cent, on Incomes of £150 and upwards. Incomes between £50 and £150 derived from Trades and Professions entitled to abatement 15,642,338

In the year last mentioned, this tax (which had always been regarded as a war tax) was repealed, and, in 1842, re-imposed by Sir Robert Peel, not as a war tax, but for the purpose of meeting an increased expenditure. Subsequently it was retained as a substitute for the abolished duties upon commerce and manufactures, and has been, in this respect, truly a grand "lever" for the enfranchisement of labour and industry, especially during the chancellor-ships of Mr. Gladstone, who, in 1854, extended the operation of the Income Tax to Ireland. [For Statistics of Income Tax see following pages.]

page 175
Years ending April 5 SCHEDULE A. SCHEDULE B.* SCHEDULE C. Years ending Aprii 5 Annuities and Dividends from Public Revenue. Lands. Tenements, Tithes not commuted, Manors, Fines. &c. Occupation of Land. Tenements, and Hereditaments. England and Wales. United Kingdom. England and Wales. United Kingdom. United Kingdom. Scotland. Ireland. Scotland. Ireland.

Income and Property Tax Assessments.