Finance Act 2004

Aggregates levy

290 Transitional tax credit in Northern Ireland: changes to existing scheme

(1) In section 30A of the Finance Act 2001 (c. 9) (aggregates levy: transitional tax credit in Northern Ireland) after subsection (3) insert—

“(4) The Treasury may by order made by statutory instrument amend subsection (2) above so as to—

(a) change the period in relation to which the amount of a tax credit is to be reduced;

(b) change the amount by which a tax credit is to be reduced.

(5) An order under subsection (4) above shall not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of the House of Commons.”

(2) This section shall be deemed to have come into force on 1st April 2004.

291 Transitional tax credit in Northern Ireland: new scheme

(1) Part 2 of the Finance Act 2001 (aggregates levy) is amended as set out in subsections (2) and (3).

(2) For section 30A substitute—

“30A Transitional tax credit in Northern Ireland

(1) The Commissioners may by regulations make provision of the kind described in section 30(2) above (entitlement to tax credit) in relation to cases within subsection (2) below.

(2) The cases are those where a charge to aggregates levy has arisen on a quantity of aggregate which has been subjected to commercial exploitation in Northern Ireland during a period—

(a) starting on the prescribed date, and

(b) ending on 31st March 2011.

(3) The date prescribed for the purposes of subsection (2)(a) above may be earlier than the date on which this section comes into force.

(4) The amount of a tax credit to which a person is entitled under the regulations must not be more than 80% of any aggregates levy charged on the aggregate in question.

(5) Regulations under this section may in particular make provision—

(a) for a person operating a site to be entitled to a tax credit under the regulations in respect of a period for which he holds an aggregates levy credit certificate which has been issued in respect of the site and which has not been withdrawn;

(b) for an aggregates levy credit certificate to be issued to a person in respect of a site only if an aggregates levy credit agreement is in force in respect of the site;

(c) for the withdrawal of an aggregates levy credit certificate where the aggregates levy credit agreement in respect of which it was issued is no longer in force;

(d) for the form and content of aggregates levy credit certificates and aggregates levy credit agreements.

(6) Regulations under this section which make provision such as is mentioned in subsection (5)(d) above may be framed by reference to any provisions of a notice published by the Commissioners in pursuance of the regulations and not withdrawn by a further notice.

(7) If regulations under this section make provision such as is mentioned in subsection (5) above, the Commissioners or the Northern Ireland Department may—

(a) enter into aggregates levy credit agreements;

(b) issue and withdraw aggregates levy credit certificates;

(c) take such other steps as the Commissioners or the Northern Ireland Department consider appropriate in relation to aggregates levy credit agreements and aggregates levy credit certificates.

(8) Regulations under this section which make provision such as is mentioned in subsection (5) above must include provision requiring the Northern Ireland Department to inform the Commissioners if the Northern Ireland Department issues or withdraws an aggregates levy credit certificate.

(9) Subsections (3) to (5) of section 30 above apply to regulations under this section as they apply to regulations under that section.

(10) The Treasury may by order made by statutory instrument amend subsection (4) above by substituting for the percentage for the time being specified in that subsection a percentage lower than 80%.

(11) An order under subsection (10) above shall not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of the House of Commons.

(12) Any expenses of the Northern Ireland Department under this section shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland.

(13) In this section—

• “aggregates levy credit agreement” means an agreement entered into in respect of a site by the person operating the site and the Commissioners or the Northern Ireland Department;

• “aggregates levy credit certificate” means a certificate issued to the person operating a site by the Commissioners or the Northern Ireland Department as evidence of the fact that an aggregates levy credit agreement has been entered into in respect of the site;

• “the Northern Ireland Department” means the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland.”

(3) In section 48(1) (interpretation), in the definition of “tax credit regulations” after “section 30” insert “or 30A”.

(4) The preceding provisions of this section come into force on such day as the Treasury may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.

(5) An order under subsection (4) may—

(a) make different provision for different purposes;

(b) make incidental, consequential, supplemental or transitional provision and savings.