asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of persons whose incomes were assessable to income-tax for the year ended 5th April, 1946; the number of business firms whose profits were assessable to income-tax for the same period; and if he has any information as to whether business firms recoup themselves the amounts of income-tax they pay by increasing the prices of their goods to consumers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Income-Tax Assessments.
I regret that it is not possible to furnish the precise particulars requested in the first and second parts of the question. I may mention, however, that the number of taxpayers is estimated to be between 110,000 and 120,000.
As regards the final portion of the question, I have no information as to whether business firms recoup themselves the amounts of income-tax they pay by increasing the price of their goods to consumers.
It would be very interesting to discover how they could.