Rural areas get help with double taxation
Taxpayers working in rural areas are to receive a Guidance Note from the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, to reduce the double taxation of certain services.
Double taxation arises when a service is provided by a parish, rather than by a principal authority, but tax payers are still charged by the latter even though the services are provided elsewhere.Rural affairs minister, Alun Michael, told local government representatives in London, yesterday:’We will reduce ‘double taxation’ and ensure that local people get a fair deal and decent local services.’The Guidance Note includes case studies of local authorities that have successfully tackled the problem of double taxation, and is part of a drive to ‘modernise the financial regime for parishes’.