/ 23 June 1995

Ways to cut your tax bill

Reg Rumney

For many small businessmen tax planning boils down to=20 declaring half of what you actually earn; employees in=20 the lower ranks of big companies don’t even have that=20 illegal option.

Both would benefit from employing a good accountant so=20 that they can participate in the upper-class sport of=20 avoiding — not evading, which is illegal — tax.=20 Another option is to buy a book like Pay Less Tax,=20 written by a tax expert.

The 1995 edition guides readers through filling out=20 their tax returns, step by step. The book cannot=20 replace the instinct of a tax advisor uses in dealing=20 with the Receiver, but, even if you have an accountant,=20 it is better to be armed with your own knowledge.

Such books can help an individual prepare to reduce or=20 defer income tax. They can, at least, help one to=20 avoid costly tax traps.

Pay Less Tax by Des Kruger, Deloitte & Touche tax=20 specialist, published by Fernwood Press in assocation=20 with Deloitte & Touche