Тема 16. Налоги (Taxes)

Text

On a certain day after the lecture on the UK taxation system the Group was to visit the Tax Department of a lawyers' firm in the centre of London. Mr. Hill and the participants went there by tube which is the fastest means of transport when one wishes to move in the centre of the city. After they got into the building of the firm they went to the secretary's office.

Mr. Hill: Good afternoon.

Secretary: Good afternoon, sir.

Mr. Hill: My name is Hill and here is the Group of Russian busi­nessmen. We have got an appointment with Mr. Brown for three.

Secretary: Mr. Brown is waiting for you in the conference room. Follow me, please.

In the conference room a few Englishmen were waiting for the Group. Mr. Brown, Head of the Department, welcomed the Group and introduced his colleagues. They were solicitors and legal assistants of different offices. Each of them spoke about his scope of business for some time. Thus the participants had some information on com­mercial taxes, international taxes. Project Finance taxes and other taxation matters.

A lot of questions were asked and answered then. The discussions were very useful and informative. Before the participants left they were offered latest Tax Guides containing current tax rates and tax saving hints.

Here is an extract from the Guide:

Corporation Tax Rates 1997

1. Standard rate 33%

2. Small companies rate (see the note) 25%

N o t e

Applicable if the company's total profits, including chargeable gains, are 300.000 pounds sterling or less. The threshold is re­duced if the company has associated companies.

Examples: Corporation Tax calculations

Example 1. Standard rate of tax Company A has accounts year ending 31 December 1996. It has taxable profits for the year GBP 2,000,000.

Company A's Corporation Tax for 1996 is GBP 2,000,000х33% = GBP 660,000

Example 2. Small companies rate of tax Company В has ac­counts year ending 31 December 1996. It has taxable profits for the year of GBP 150,000. It has no associated companies.

Company B's Corporation Tax for 1996 is GBP 150,000х25% = GBP 37,500

Words and expressions

Exercises 1. Read the following:

2. Underline the answers true to the text:

3. Match English and Russian equivalents:

Пассивный залог Passive Voice

Глаголы в пассивном залоге употребляются, когда не­важно или неизвестно, кто выполнял действие.

Образуется пассивный залог следующим образом:

The threshold is reduced.

They were offered latest tax guides.

A lot of questions were asked and answered.

4. Translate into Russian:

A lot of topics were discussed in the course of the Programme.

Many lecturers were invited.

Many materials were distributed.

Similar programmes are organised now too.

I believe similar programmes will be oiganised in future too.

5. Insert articles:

On... certain day after... lecture on... UK taxation system.... group was to visit... Tax Department of... lawyers' firm in... centre of Lon­don. Mr. Hill and... participants went there by tube which is... fastest means of transport.

6. Insert prepositions:

After they got... the building .. the firm they went. . the secretary's office. And Mr. Hill spoke... the secretary for some time. Then they moved... the conference room.... conference room a few Englishmen were waiting... the Group.

7. Complete the sentences:

Mr. Brown,..., welcomed the Group and introduced... They were solicitors... of different offices. Each of them spoke... Thus the par­ticipants had some information on... and other taxation matters. A lot of... answered then. The discussions were... Before the participants left they were offered .. hints.

8. Translate the extract of the Guide into Russian.

9. Complete and act out a similar dialogue:

—.. afternoon.

—.. , sir

— My name... group... We have got an appointment...

— Mr.... waiting... conference... Follow...

10. Read as in the examples:

25 December, 1997

1 January 1998

12 April 1996

31 March 1995

• 3-й — third

• 4-й —fourth

• 5-й - fifth

• 6-й — sixth

• 7-й — seventh

• 8-й — eighth

• 9-й — ninth

• 10-й — tenth

11. Agree or disagree:

• Small companies of Russia also pay a smaller tax rate.

• It is quite reasonable that small companies pay smaller tax iates.

• Small companies should pay smaller tax rates only during the first years of their existence.

• Tax rates should be the same for big and small companies.

• existence — существование