24.—(1) For the purposes of paragraph 11 (average weekly earnings of self-employed earners) the earnings of an applicant to be taken into account must be—
(a)in the case of a self-employed earner who is engaged in employment on that person’s own account, the net profit derived from that employment;
(b)in the case of a self-employed earner who is a pensioner whose employment is carried on in partnership, that person’s share of the net profit derived from that employment, less—
(i)an amount in respect of income tax and of social security contributions payable under the SSCBA calculated in accordance with paragraph 25 (calculation of deduction of tax and contributions of self-employed earners); and
(ii)one-half of the amount calculated in accordance with sub-paragraph (11) in respect of any qualifying premium;
(c)in the case of a self-employed earner who is not a pensioner whose employment is carried on in partnership or is that of a share fisherman within the meaning of the Social Security (Mariners’ Benefits) Regulations 1975(1), that person’s share of the net profit derived from that employment, less—
(i)an amount in respect of income tax and of social security contributions payable under the SSCBA calculated in accordance with paragraph 25 (calculation of deduction of tax and contributions for self-employed earners); and
(ii)one-half of the amount calculated in accordance with sub-paragraph (11) in respect of any qualifying premium.
(2) There must be disregarded from the net profit of an applicant who is not a pensioner, any sum, where applicable, specified in paragraphs 1 to 16 of Schedule 8 (sums disregarded in the calculation of earnings).
(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(a) the net profit of the employment must, except where sub-paragraph (9) applies, be calculated by taking into account the earnings of the employment over the assessment period less—
(a)subject to sub-paragraphs (5) to (8), any expenses wholly and exclusively incurred in that period for the purposes of that employment;
(b)an amount in respect of—
(i)income tax; and
(ii)social security contributions payable under the SSCBA,
calculated in accordance with paragraph 25 (calculation of deduction of tax and contributions for self-employed earners); and
(c)one-half of the amount calculated in accordance with sub-paragraph (11) in respect of any qualifying premium.
(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) the net profit of the employment is to be calculated by taking into account the earnings of the employment over the assessment period less, subject to sub-paragraphs (5) to (8), any expenses wholly and exclusively incurred in that period for the purposes of the employment.
(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), no deduction is to be made under paragraph (3)(a) or (4), in respect of—
(a)any capital expenditure;
(b)the depreciation of any capital asset;
(c)any sum employed or intended to be employed in the setting up or expansion of the employment;
(d)any loss incurred before the beginning of the assessment period;
(e)the repayment of capital on any loan taken out for the purposes of the employment;
(f)any expenses incurred in providing business entertainment; and
(g)in the case of an applicant who is not a pensioner, any debts, except bad debts proved to be such, but this paragraph does not apply to any expenses incurred in the recovery of a debt.
(6) A deduction is to be made under sub-paragraph (3)(a) or (4) in respect of the repayment of capital on any loan used for—
(a)the replacement in the course of business of equipment or machinery; or
(b)the repair of an existing business asset except to the extent that any sum is payable under an insurance policy for its repair.
(7) The authority must refuse to make a deduction in respect of any expenses under sub-paragraph (3)(a) or (4) where it is not satisfied given the nature and the amount of the expense that it has been reasonably incurred.
(8) For the avoidance of doubt—
(a)a deduction must not be made under sub-paragraph (3)(a) or (4) in respect of any sum unless it has been expended for the purposes of the business;
(b)a deduction must be made thereunder in respect of—
(i)the excess of any value added tax paid over value added tax received in the assessment period;
(ii)any income expended in the repair of an existing business asset except to the extent that any sum is payable under an insurance policy for its repair;
(iii)any payment of interest on a loan taken out for the purposes of the employment.
(9) Where an applicant is engaged in employment as a child minder the net profit of the employment is to be one-third of the earnings of that employment, less—
(a)an amount in respect of—
(i)income tax; and
(ii)social security contributions payable under the SSCBA,
calculated in accordance with paragraph 25 (calculation of deduction of tax and contributions for self-employed earners); and
(b)one-half of the amount calculated in accordance with sub-paragraph (11) in respect of any qualifying premium.
(10) For the avoidance of doubt where an applicant is engaged in employment as a self-employed earner and the applicant is also engaged in one or more other employments as a self-employed or employed earner any loss incurred in any one of the applicant’s employments must not be offset against the applicant’s earnings in any other of the applicant’s employments.
(11) The amount in respect of any qualifying premium is to be calculated by multiplying the daily amount of the qualifying premium by the number equal to the number of days in the assessment period; and for the purposes of this paragraph the daily amount of the qualifying premium must be determined—
(a)where the qualifying premium is payable monthly, by multiplying the amount of the qualifying premium by 12 and dividing the product by 365;
(b)in any other case, by dividing the amount of the qualifying premium by the number equal to the number of days in the period to which the qualifying premium relates.
(12) In this paragraph, “qualifying premium” (“premiwm cymwys”) means any premium which is payable periodically in respect of a personal pension scheme and is so payable on or after the date of application.