LETTER : 'Tax' on UN pay
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Sir: Mr M Riaz Hasan (letter, 29 January) states that UN salaries are tax-free. While that is technically correct, there is a monthly deduction called "staff assessment" which is roughly on a par with UK taxes.
The rationale is to provide the UN system with funds should it ever be asked by a member country to pay tax on the salaries of national staff members. I believe this has never happened, nor are these funds ever returned to staff members.
No doubt there are many ways in which the UN could save money. Taxing salaries is not one of them.
KATHERINE MOTT
Langport, Somerset
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