2624.This Chapter sets out the partial exemptions that apply to the taxable benefits listed in Table A. It derives from sections 151, 151A and 617 of ICTA and section 139 of FA 1994.
2625.One exemption applies generally. That is the exemption for any part of a benefit that is in respect of a child. The other exemptions relate to part of the following benefits:
incapacity benefit;
income support; and
jobseeker’s allowance.
2626.This Chapter deals with the benefits that are sometimes taxable. Chapter 5 deals with the benefits that are never taxable.
2627.Section 617(2) of ICTA provides that payments within the subsection “shall not be treated as income for any purpose of the Income Tax Acts”. In order to make the exemptions simple and consistent the phrase “no liability to income tax arises” is used throughout this Act to express exemption from tax. See Note 28 in Annex 2.
2628.Long-term incapacity benefit is usually taxable. But this section exempts long-term incapacity benefit from tax in some circumstances. The section derives from section 139(2) and (5) of FA 1994.
2629.Subsection (1) exempts long-term incapacity benefit from tax if it relates to a period of incapacity for work that started before 13 April 1995. On 13 April 1995 incapacity benefit replaced sickness benefit and invalidity benefit.
2630.This provision has a limited life because no new claimants will be entitled to the exemption. But a significant number of claimants remain entitled to the exemption.
2631.Subsection (2) contains the definition of invalidity benefit. This was the expression used to describe invalidity pension and invalidity allowance. Neither sickness benefit nor invalidity benefit was taxable.
2632.This section limits the charge to tax on short-term incapacity benefit. It relies on definitions in the social security legislation. It derives from section 139(1)(a) of FA 1994.
2633.The charge on incapacity benefit in section 139 of FA 1994 excludes “benefit payable for an initial period of incapacity”. That period is defined as a period for which short-term benefit is payable other than at the “higher rate”.
2634.Subsection (1) restricts the charge to tax on short-term incapacity benefit so that it is taxable only if it is payable at the “higher rate”.
2635.Subsection (2) cross-refers to the definition of “higher rate” in the social security legislation. The phrase is construed in accordance with section 30B(5) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. That section refers to the rates of benefit set out in Schedule 4 to the Act. The benefit is payable at the “higher rate” after the first 196 days of a period of incapacity for work.
2636.As noted in paragraph 2608, incapacity benefit is charged to tax by section 139 of FA 1994. So it is logical for the benefit to be excluded from the charge in section 617 of ICTA. A free-standing charge was set up by section 139 of FA 1994 in case section 617(1) was not effective in taxing a new benefit – an explicit charge was thought to be safer.
2637.When incapacity benefit replaced sickness benefit and invalidity benefit in 1995, the references to the older benefits were not removed from section 617(1) of ICTA (some publishers have updated the text to help the reader). Instead, section 13(2) of the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 treats the references to sickness benefit and invalidity benefit in section 617(1)(a) as references to incapacity benefit. So incapacity benefit appears to be excluded from the charge in section 617 by subsection (1)(a).
2638.A consequence of exclusion from the section 617(1) charge would be that the benefit is not regarded as income for income tax purposes because of section 617(2)(c). This was overlooked when section 139 of FA 1994 set up the free-standing charge. So the benefit is apparently disregarded by section 617 of ICTA but clearly taxed by section 139 of FA 1994.
2639.This Act clarifies the law, to bring it into line with the clear, undisputed, policy objective (to tax incapacity benefit) and generally accepted practice. See Change 143 in Annex 1.