Section 296: Armed forces’ leave travel facilities
1213.This section provides there is no liability to tax on armed forces’ leave travel facilities. It derives from section 197 of ICTA.
1214.Subsection (1) sets out the exemption. It covers the various travel warrants and allowances, including allowances for the use of private cars, made available to service personnel.
1215.The section substitutes “the armed forces of the Crown” for the wording, “the naval, military or air forces of the Crown”, in section 197 of ICTA. The two terms are construed as having the same meaning and include all United Kingdom service personnel, both members of a regular force and members of a reserve force. References to the “armed forces” now also include the women’s services, which was not the position in 1977 when the exemption was introduced. The same term is used in this section and in section 297 for the same body of taxpayers.
1216.Subsection (2) excludes the provision of a vehicle for leave travel. Such provision remains taxable as a benefit under Chapter 6 of Part 3 (taxable benefits: cars, vans and related benefits). “Travel facilities” are not otherwise defined or limited.
