Compute the amount of salaries tax payable (excluding provisional tax and tax reduction) by the taxpayer with the following data Assessment Year: 2018/19 Age: Mr. Lam: 44 ; Mrs. Lam: 39 Occupation: Mr. Lam: Certified Accountant; Mrs. Lam: Part-time Accounting Officer Marital status: Married Child: Aged 4 and Aged 7 Parents: Aged 68 and 59 (both parents live with the taxpayer) (Mrs. Lam’s parents passed away few years ago) Monthly salary: Mr. Lam: $72,000; Mrs. Lam: $10,500 Donation: $40,000 cash MPF contributions: 5% mandatory Home property: Current value at $6,500,000, purchased 4 years ago. Mortgage repayments: $18,550 per month. Mortgage interest: $103,256 paid during the assessment year.

If Mr. and Mrs. Lam elect joint assessments, compute the amount of salaries tax payable . What are the conditions to elect joint assessment under the salary tax framework? Should Mr. and Mrs. Lam elect joint assessment? Why?