Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1)

(The document as of February, 2008)

-- Back --

Page 5

Pages: P.1 | P.2 | P.3 | P.4 | P.5 | P.6 | P.7 | P.8 | P.9 | P.10 | P.11 | P.12 | P.13 | P.14 | P.15 | P.16 | P.17 | P.18 | P.19 | P.20 | P.21 | P.22 | P.23 | P.24 | P.25 | P.26 | P.27 | P.28 | P.29 | P.30 | P.31 | P.32 | P.33 | P.34 | P.35 | P.36 | P.37 | P.38 | P.39 | P.40 | P.41 | P.42 | P.43 | P.44 | P.45 | P.46 | P.47 | P.48 | P.49 | P.50 | P.51 | P.52

63 The benefits code

(1) In the employment income Parts "the benefits code" means--

this Chapter,
Chapter 3 (expenses payments),
Chapter 4 (vouchers and credit-tokens),
Chapter 5 (living accommodation),
Chapter 6 (cars, vans and related benefits),
Chapter 7 (loans),
Chapter 8 (notional loans in respect of acquisitions of shares),
Chapter 9 (disposals of shares for more than market value),
Chapter 10 (residual liability to charge), and
Chapter 11 (exclusion of lower-paid employments from parts of benefits code).

(2) If an employment is an excluded employment, the general effect of section 216(1) (provisions not applicable to lower-paid employments) is that only the following Chapters apply to the employment--

this Chapter,
Chapter 4 (vouchers and credit-tokens),
Chapter 5 (living accommodation), and
Chapter 11 (exclusion of lower-paid employments from parts of benefits code).

(3) Section 216(5) and (6) explain and restrict the effect of section 216(1).

(4) In the benefits code "excluded employment" means an employment to which the exclusion in section 216(1) applies.

64 Relationship between earnings and benefits code

(1) This section applies if, apart from this section, the same benefit would give rise to two amounts ("A" and "B")--

(a) A being an amount of earnings as defined in Chapter 1 of this Part, and

(b) B being an amount to be treated as earnings under the benefits code.

(2) In such a case--

(a) A constitutes earnings as defined in Chapter 1 of this Part, and

(b) the amount (if any) by which B exceeds A is to be treated as earnings under the benefits code.

(3) This section does not apply in connection with living accommodation to which Chapter 5 of this Part applies.

(4) In that case section 109 applies to determine the relationship between that Chapter and Chapter 1 of this Part.

(5) This section does not apply if section 193 (notional loan where acquisition of shares made for less than market value) applies.

(6) In that case sections 194 (amount of notional loan) and 196 (effects on other income tax charges) apply to determine the relationship between Chapters 1 and 8 of this Part.

65 Dispensations relating to benefits within provisions not applicable to lower-paid employment

(1) This section applies for the purposes of the listed provisions where a person ("P") supplies the Inland Revenue with a statement of the cases and circumstances in which--

(a) payments of a particular character are made to or for any employees, or

(b) benefits or facilities of a particular kind are provided for any employees,

whether they are employees of P or some other person.

(2) The "listed provisions" are the provisions listed in section 216(4) (provisions of the benefits code which do not apply to lower-paid employments).

(3) If the Inland Revenue are satisfied that no additional tax is payable by virtue of the listed provisions by reference to the payments, benefits or facilities mentioned in the statement, they must give P a dispensation under this section.

(4) A "dispensation" is a notice stating that the Inland Revenue agree that no additional tax is payable by virtue of the listed provisions by reference to the payments, benefits or facilities mentioned in the statement supplied by P.

(5) If a dispensation is given under this section, nothing in the listed provisions applies to the payments, or the provision of the benefits or facilities, covered by the dispensation or otherwise has the effect of imposing any additional liability to tax in respect of them.

(6) If in their opinion there is reason to do so, the Inland Revenue may revoke a dispensation by giving a further notice to P.

(7) That notice may revoke the dispensation from--

(a) the date when the dispensation was given, or

(b) a later date specified in the notice.

(8) If the notice revokes the dispensation from the date when the dispensation was given--

(a) any liability to tax that would have arisen if the dispensation had never been given is to be treated as having arisen, and

(b) P and the employees in question must make all the returns which they would have had to make if the dispensation had never been given.

(9) If the notice revokes the dispensation from a later date--

(a) any liability to tax that would have arisen if the dispensation had ceased to have effect on that date is to be treated as having arisen, and

(b) P and the employees in question must make all the returns which they would have had to make if the dispensation had ceased to have effect on that date.

General definitions for benefits code

66 Meaning of "employment" and related expressions

(1) In the benefits code--

(a) "employment" means a taxable employment under Part 2, and

(b) "employed", "employee" and "employer" have corresponding meanings.

(2) Where a Chapter of the benefits code applies in relation to an employee--

(a) references in that Chapter to "the employment" are to the employment of that employee, and

(b) references in that Chapter to "the employer" are to the employer in respect of that employment.

(3) For the purposes of the benefits code an employment is a "taxable employment under Part 2" in a tax year if the earnings from the employment for that year are (or would be if there were any) general earnings to which the charging provisions of Chapter 4 or 5 of Part 2 apply.

(4) In subsection (3)--

(a) the reference to an employment includes employment as a director of a company, and

(b) "earnings" means earnings as defined in Chapter 1 of this Part.

67 Meaning of "director" and "full-time working director"

(1) In the benefits code "director" means--

(a) in relation to a company whose affairs are managed by a board of directors or similar body, a member of that body,

(b) in relation to a company whose affairs are managed by a single director or similar person, that director or person, and

and includes any person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the company (as defined above) are accustomed to act.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a person is not to be regarded as a person in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors of the company are accustomed to act merely because the directors act on advice given by that person in a professional capacity.

(3) In the benefits code "full-time working director" means a director who is required to devote substantially the whole of his time to the service of the company in a managerial or technical capacity.

68 Meaning of "material interest" in a company

(1) For the purposes of the benefits code a person has a material interest in a company if condition A or B is met.

(2) Condition A is that the person (with or without one or more associates) or any associate of that person (with or without one or more such associates) is--

(a) the beneficial owner of, or

(b) able to control, directly or through the medium of other companies or by any other indirect means,

more than 5% of the ordinary share capital of the company.

(3) Condition B is that, in the case of a close company, the person (with or without one or more associates) or any associate of that person (with or without one or more such associates), possesses or is entitled to acquire, such rights as would--

(a) in the event of the winding-up of the company, or

(b) in any other circumstances,

give an entitlement to receive more than 5% of the assets which would then be available for distribution among the participators.

(4) In this section--

"associate" has the meaning given by section 417(3) of ICTA except that, for this purpose, "relative" in section 417(3) has the meaning given by subsection (5) below, and
"participator" has the meaning given by section 417(1) of ICTA.

(5) For the purposes of this section a person ("A") is a relative of another ("B") if A is--

(a) B's spouse,

(b) a parent, child or remoter relation in the direct line either of B or of B's spouse,

(d) the spouse of a person falling within paragraph (b) or (c).

69 Extended meaning of "control"

(1) The definition of "control" in section 840 of ICTA (which is applied for the purposes of this Act by section 719) is extended as follows.

(2) For the purposes of the benefits code that definition applies (with the necessary modifications) in relation to an unincorporated association as it applies in relation to a body corporate.

Chapter 3 Taxable benefits: expenses payments

70 Sums in respect of expenses

(1) This Chapter applies to a sum paid to an employee in a tax year if the sum--

(a) is paid to the employee in respect of expenses, and

(b) is so paid by reason of the employment.

(2) This Chapter applies to a sum paid away by an employee in a tax year if the sum--

(a) was put at the employee's disposal in respect of expenses,

(b) was so put by reason of the employment, and

(3) For the purposes of this Chapter it does not matter whether the employment is held at the time when the sum is paid or paid away so long as it is held at some point in the tax year in which the sum is paid or paid away.

(4) References in this Chapter to an employee accordingly include a prospective or former employee.

(5) This Chapter does not apply to the extent that the sum constitutes earnings from the employment by virtue of any other provision.

71 Meaning of paid or put at disposal by reason of the employment

(1) If an employer pays a sum in respect of expenses to an employee it is to be treated as paid by reason of the employment unless--

(a) the employer is an individual, and

(b) the payment is made in the normal course of the employer's domestic, family or personal relationships.

(2) If an employer puts a sum at an employee's disposal in respect of expenses it is to be treated as put at the employee's disposal by reason of the employment unless--

(a) the employer is an individual, and

(b) the sum is put at the employee's disposal in the normal course of the employer's domestic, family or personal relationships.

72 Sums in respect of expenses treated as earnings

(1) If this Chapter applies to a sum, the sum is to be treated as earnings from the employment for the tax year in which it is paid or paid away.

(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the making of a deduction allowed under any of the provisions listed in subsection (3).

(3) The provisions are--

section 336 (deductions for expenses: the general rule);
section 337 (travel in performance of duties);
section 338 (travel for necessary attendance);
section 340 (travel between group employments);
section 341 (travel at start or finish of overseas employment);
section 342 (travel between employments where duties performed abroad);
section 343 (deduction for professional membership fees);
section 344 (deduction for annual subscriptions);
section 346 (deduction for employee liabilities);
section 351 (expenses of ministers of religion);
section 353 (deductions from earnings charged on remittance).

Chapter 4 Taxable benefits: vouchers and credit-tokens

Cash vouchers: introduction

73 Cash vouchers to which this Chapter applies

(1) This Chapter applies to a cash voucher provided for an employee by reason of the employment which is received by the employee.

(2) A cash voucher provided for an employee by the employer is to be regarded as provided by reason of the employment unless--

(a) the employer is an individual, and

(b) the provision is made in the normal course of the employer's domestic, family or personal relationships.

(3) A cash voucher provided for an employee and appropriated to the employee--

(a) by attaching it to a card held for the employee, or

(b) in any other way,

is to be treated for the purposes of this Chapter as having been received by the employee at the time when it is appropriated.

74 Provision for, or receipt by, member of employee's family

For the purposes of this Chapter any reference to a cash voucher being provided for or received by an employee includes a reference to it being provided for or received by a member of the employee's family.

Meaning of "cash voucher"

75 Meaning of "cash voucher"

(1) In this Chapter "cash voucher" means a voucher, stamp or similar document capable of being exchanged for a sum of money which is--

(a) greater than,

(b) equal to, or

the expense incurred by the person at whose cost the voucher, stamp or similar document is provided.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) it does not matter whether the document--

(a) is also capable of being exchanged for goods or services;

(b) is capable of being exchanged singly or together with other vouchers, stamps, or documents;

(3) Subsection (1) is subject to section 76 (sickness benefits-related voucher).

76 Sickness benefits-related voucher

(1) This section applies where--

(a) the expense incurred by the person at whose cost a voucher, stamp or similar document is provided ("the provision expense") includes costs to that person of providing sickness benefits ("sickness benefits costs"),

(b) the voucher, stamp or document would be a cash voucher (apart from this section) but for the fact that the sum of money for which it is capable of being exchanged ("the exchange sum") is substantially less than the provision expense, and

(c) the whole or part of the difference between the exchange sum and the provision expense represents the sickness benefits costs.

(2) The voucher, stamp or document is a cash voucher within the meaning of this Chapter if--

E = PE - D

E is not substantially less than PE - D

where--

E is the exchange sum,
PE is the provision expense, and
D is the amount of the difference between E and PE which represents the sickness benefits costs.

(3) In this section "sickness benefits" mean benefits in connection with sickness, personal injury or death.

77 Apportionment of cost of provision of voucher

If a person incurs expense in or in connection with the provision of vouchers, stamps or similar documents for two or more employees as members of a group or class, the expense incurred in respect of one of them is to be such part of that expense as is just and reasonable.

Cash vouchers: exceptions

78 Voucher made available to public generally

This Chapter does not apply to a cash voucher if--

(a) it is of a kind made available to the public generally, and

(b) it is provided to the employee or a member of the employee's family on no more favourable terms than to the public generally.

79 Voucher issued under approved scheme

(1) This Chapter does not apply to a cash voucher received by an employee if--

(a) it is issued under a scheme, and

(b) at the time when it is received the scheme is a scheme approved by the Inland Revenue for the purposes of this section.

(2) The Inland Revenue must not approve a scheme for the purposes of this section unless they are satisfied that it is practicable for income tax in respect of all payments made in exchange for vouchers issued under the scheme to be deducted in accordance with PAYE regulations.

80 Vouchers where payment of sums exempt from tax

This Chapter does not apply to a cash voucher if it is--

(a) a document intended to enable a person to obtain payment of a sum which would not have constituted employment income if paid to the person directly, or

(b) a savings certificate where the accumulated interest payable in respect of it is exempt from tax (or would be so exempt if certain conditions were met).

Benefit of cash voucher treated as earnings

81 Benefit of cash voucher treated as earnings

(1) The cash equivalent of the benefit of a cash voucher to which this Chapter applies is to be treated as earnings from the employment for the tax year in which the voucher is received by the employee.

(2) The cash equivalent is the sum of money for which the voucher is capable of being exchanged.

Non-cash vouchers: introduction

82 Non-cash vouchers to which this Chapter applies

(1) This Chapter applies to a non-cash voucher provided for an employee by reason of the employment which is received by the employee.

(2) A non-cash voucher provided for an employee by the employer is to be regarded as provided by reason of the employment unless--

(a) the employer is an individual, and

(b) the provision is made in the normal course of the employer's domestic, family or personal relationships.

(3) A non-cash voucher provided for an employee and appropriated to the employee--

(a) by attaching it to a card held for the employee, or

(b) in any other way,

is to be treated for the purposes of this Chapter as having been received by the employee at the time when it is appropriated.

83 Provision for, or receipt by, member of employee's family

For the purposes of this Chapter any reference to a non-cash voucher being provided for or received by an employee includes a reference to it being provided for or received by a member of the employee's family.

Meaning of "non-cash voucher"

84 Meaning of "non-cash voucher"

(1) In this Chapter "non-cash voucher" means--

(a) a voucher, stamp or similar document or token which is capable of being exchanged for money, goods or services,

(b) a transport voucher, or

but does not include a cash voucher.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) it does not matter whether the document or token is capable of being exchanged--

(a) singly or together with other vouchers, stamps, documents or tokens;

(b) immediately or only after a time.

(3) In this Chapter "transport voucher" means a ticket, pass or other document or token intended to enable a person to obtain passenger transport services (whether or not in exchange for it).

(4) In this Chapter "cheque voucher" means a cheque--

(a) provided for an employee, and

(b) intended for use by the employee wholly or mainly for payment for--

(i) particular goods or services, or

(ii) goods or services of one or more particular classes;

and, in relation to a cheque voucher, references to a voucher being exchanged for goods or services are to be read accordingly.

Non-cash voucher: exceptions

85 Non-cash voucher made available to public generally

This Chapter does not apply to a non-cash voucher if--

(a) it is of a kind made available to the public generally, and

(b) it is provided to the employee or a member of the employee's family on no more favourable terms than to the public generally.

86 Transport vouchers under pre-26th March 1982 arrangements

(1) This Chapter does not apply to a transport voucher provided for an employee of a passenger transport undertaking under arrangements in operation on 25th March 1982 which meet the condition in subsection (2).

(2) The condition is that the arrangements are intended to enable the employee or a member of the employee's family to obtain passenger transport services provided by--

(a) the employer,

(b) a subsidiary of the employer,

(d) another passenger transport undertaking.

(3) In this section--

"passenger transport undertaking" means an undertaking whose business consists wholly or mainly in the carriage of passengers or a subsidiary of such an undertaking, and
"subsidiary" means a wholly-owned subsidiary within the meaning of section 736 of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6).

Benefit of non-cash voucher treated as earnings

87 Benefit of non-cash voucher treated as earnings

(1) The cash equivalent of the benefit of a non-cash voucher to which this Chapter applies is to be treated as earnings from the employment for the tax year in which the voucher is received by the employee.

(2) The cash equivalent is the difference between--

(a) the cost of provision, and

(b) any part of that cost made good by the employee to the person incurring it.

(3) In this Chapter the "cost of provision" means, in relation to a non-cash voucher, the expense incurred in or in connection with the provision of--

(a) the voucher, and

(b) the money, goods or services for which it is capable of being exchanged,

by the person at whose cost they are provided.

(4) In the case of a transport voucher, the reference in subsection (3)(b) to the services for which the voucher is capable of being exchanged is to the passenger transport services which may be obtained by using it.

(5) If a person incurs expense in or in connection with the provision of non-cash vouchers for two or more employees as members of a group or class, the expense incurred in respect of one of them is to be such part of that expense as is just and reasonable.

(6) This section is subject to section 89 (reduction for meal vouchers).

88 Year in which earnings treated as received

(1) In the case of a non-cash voucher other than a cheque voucher, the amount treated as earnings under section 87 is to be treated as received--

(a) in the tax year in which the cost of provision is incurred, or

(b) if later, in the tax year in which the voucher is received by the employee.

(2) In the case of a cheque voucher, the amount treated as earnings under section 87 is to be treated as received in the tax year in which the voucher is handed over in exchange for money, goods or services.

(3) Where a cheque voucher is posted it is to be treated as handed over at the time of posting.

89 Reduction for meal vouchers

(1) This section applies where--

(a) the non-cash voucher is a meal voucher,

(b) it is provided for an employee for use on a working day, and

(c) meal vouchers are made available to all employees (if any) employed by the same employer in lower-paid employment within the meaning of Chapter 11 of this Part (see section 217).

(2) The total of the cash equivalents of the benefit of any meal vouchers so provided is to be reduced by 15p for each working day for which the vouchers are provided.

(3) In this section--

"meal voucher" means a non-cash voucher which--
(a)
can only be used to obtain meals,
(b)
is not transferable, and
(c)
is not of the kind in respect of which no liability to income tax arises under section 266(3)(e) (subsidised meals), and
"working day" means a day on which the employee is at work.

(4) Section 83 (references to provision for an employee include provision for a member of the employee's family) does not apply to subsection (1)(b).

Credit-tokens: introduction

90 Credit-tokens to which this Chapter applies

(1) This Chapter applies to a credit-token provided for an employee by reason of the employment which is used by the employee to obtain money, goods or services.

(2) A credit-token provided for an employee by the employer is to be regarded as provided by reason of the employment unless--

(a) the employer is an individual, and

(b) the provision is made in the normal course of the employer's domestic, family or personal relationships.

91 Provision for, or use by, member of employee's family

-- Back --

Stat