War veteran wins tax battle (From Gazette & Herald)

War veteran wins tax battle

A WAR veteran deprived of thousands of pounds through the incorrect taxing of his pension has finally won his battle for the money to be returned.

Major Richard Leigh Perkins, 86, of Lastingham, who fought in Burma with The Royal Leicestershire Regiment, was discharged from the army in 1959 after he suffered a mental breakdown.

Under the 1952 Income and Corporation Taxes Act, anyone granted a pension due to medical unfitness attributable to naval, military or air force service should not be taxed on it.

But civil servants administering army pensions failed to take account of the legislation and continued to deduct tax, with the ministry of defence admitting to the mistake in January 2002.

However, while hundreds of armed forces personnel were recompensed, Major Perkins was not granted his rebate.

It was only on May 14 that Major Perkins was finally informed by Guy Maudley, assistant director of service personnel policy at the MoD, that he would be paid a gratuity in line with an entitlement back-dated from February 28, 1959.

Ryedale MP John Greenway, who has lobbied appropriate ministers about the case for three years, was yesterday delighted with the result. He said: "Of course, there are aspects to the way his case has been dealt with which deserve much closer scrutiny within the MoD and the Inland Revenue.

"Today, I am just glad that finally a serious injustice has been put right, which I hope will enable my 84-year-old constituent to enjoy a more comfortable life in the future."

Major Perkins said: "I knew this day would come because the law is absolutely clear, I am just glad it happened while I'm still alive.

"It is mostly due to John Greenway working hard for my cause. I am personally indebted to him."

Major Perkins now wants to enjoy more recreational pursuits. "I have been my own personal secretary for five-and-a-half years, letter-writing to various concerned parties. Now I want to do some writing, which I do for various journals, and go to Sutton Bank as one of my interests is gliding.

"I will go to the theatre and listen to music now that I have the time and the money to do it."

Updated: 11:52 Wednesday, May 19, 2004