Briefing on Personal Taxation

Ex. 1. Answer the questions.

1. How is personal taxation structured in your country?

2. Is the trend in the load of personal taxation upwards or downwards?

Ex. 2. Listen to the presentation about personal taxation in the UK. As you listen, complete the information in Charts 1 and 2 (referred to in the tapescript as transparencies).

Chart 1. Personal taxation.

Rates   Lower rate: up to £23,700: a. % Higher rate: above £23,700: b. % Allowances   Single person: c. £. Married person: d. £. Pensions: e. maximum % of income. Mortgage interest relief: f..

Chart 2. Collection of personal taxes.

Income tax   System: g..   National insurance   Employee’s contribution: h.. Employer’s contribution: i..

Ex. 3. Answer the following questions.

1. How are the two parts of Geoff’s presentation structured?

2. What does Geoff suggest the majority think of British tax?

3. What new legislation has recently been introduced?

4. What do you think the government uses national insurance contributions for?

Ex. 4. Look at the following extracts from the Listening passage:

“Right, I’ll hand you straight over to Geoff.”

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen …”

Now match the expressions with the functions they perform in a presentation (match them under three headings).

Functions	Expressions
Introduction
1) Introducing the subject. 2) Time limits. 3) Giving an outline. 4) Place of questions.	a) I've divided my presentation into two parts. b) I'll try to answer your questions at the end. c) What I'd like to do is talk to you about … d) I know you're short of time so I'll be brief.
Main part
1) Introducing first point.	a) I'll come to that later.
2) Closing first point.	b) In other words.
3) Referring forwards.	c) As I mentioned earlier.
4) Referring backwards.	d) That brings me on the next point.
5) Digressing.	e) So, let's start by considering.
6) Moving on to next point.	f) That covers my first point.
7) Clarifying.	g) By the way, you may be interested to know.
8) Dealing with interruptions.	h) If you don't mind, I'd prefer to leave that till later.
Conclusion
1) Summarising	a) Thank you for your attention
2) Concluding	b) I'd be delighted to answer your questions
3) Closing	c) We can draw the following conclusion
4) Inviting questions	d) So, let's just go over the main points again