Explanatory Notes

Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005

2005 CHAPTER 5

24 March 2005

Commentary on Sections

Part 2: Trading income

Chapter 7: Trade profits: gifts to charities etc.
Section 107: Professions and vocations

436.This section makes it unnecessary to specify repeatedly that the rules in this Chapter apply to a profession or vocation as well as a trade. It is new.

Section 108: Gifts of trading stock to charities etc.

437.This section sets out the main rule for gifts of trading stock. It is based on sections 83A and 84 of ICTA, which give relief for gifts to charities and educational establishments respectively.

438.When a trader disposes of trading stock other than in the course of a trade the general rule is that the market value of the stock is taken into account in calculating the profits of the trade. That general rule is not explicit in the source legislation but it is explained in Sharkey v Wernher (1955), 36 TC 275 HL. This section sets out the exception to the general rule and applies if the trader disposes of trading stock by way of gift to a charity etc.

439.There is a test for gifts to educational establishments in section 84(2) of ICTA concerning the use to which the gift is put in the business of the educational establishment. There is no equivalent test in the rules for the relief for gifts to charities, in section 83A of ICTA. This section does not reproduce the condition in section 84(2) of ICTA. See Change 29 in Annex 1.

440.The ICTA reliefs originally applied not only to gifts of trading stock but also to gifts of machinery and plant. That element of the reliefs is now in section 63 of CAA.

441.Subsection (1) combines the ICTA reliefs for gifts to charities and gifts to educational establishments. It includes the extension of the relief to registered clubs in Part 3 of Schedule 18 to FA 2002. The relief covers gifts “for the purposes of” charities etc. See Change 30 in Annex 1.

442.Subsection (2) sets out the relief available under the section. It does not require a claim by the trader. In this respect, the section is different from section 84(3) of ICTA (but not from section 83A). See Change 31 in Annex 1.

443.Subsection (4) lists the bodies (other than charities, registered clubs and educational establishments) to which a trader may make gifts that qualify for relief.

Section 109: Receipt by donor or connected person of benefit attributable to certain gifts

444.This section sets out what happens if a trader receives a benefit in connection with a gift of trading stock or plant and machinery. It is based on sections 83A and 84 of ICTA.

445.Subsection (1) applies the section if a benefit is received by the trader or a connected person. Section 82 of this Act (contributions to local enterprise organisations or urban regeneration companies) uses the same approach. The benefit must be in connection with a gift for which relief has been given under section 108 or under the corresponding capital allowances rule.

446.If the donor is still carrying on the trade when the benefit is received the value of the benefit is treated as a trading receipt. The ICTA rules impose a charge (under Schedule D Case I or II, but not explicitly as a trade receipt) for a chargeable period, which for an income tax payer is the tax year.

447.But the profits of a trade are calculated by reference to periods of account. (The basis period rules then determine the profits of the tax year.) Subsection (2) charges the benefit by reference to the period of account in which it is received. See Change 21 in Annex 1.

448.If the donor has ceased to carry on the trade when the benefit is received the value of the benefit is treated as a post-cessation receipt. This treatment replaces the general charge under Schedule D Case VI. See Change 22 in Annex 1.

Section 110: Meaning of “designated educational establishment”

449.This section defines “designated educational establishment” for the purpose of section 108. It is based on section 84(5) to (8) of ICTA.

450.The National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (SI 1999/672) devolves the functions of the Secretary of State under section 84 of ICTA to the National Assembly for Wales. So this section refers to the Assembly.

451.The section reflects the effect of the devolution settlements. See Change 19 in Annex 1. The section also uses the new name of the Northern Ireland department.