Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1963
1963 CHAPTER 22
An Act to amend the law relating to estate duty, stamp duties and certain excise duties and excise licences; and to make further provision in connection with finance.
[9th July 1963]

Part I (ss.1‐3)—Estate Duty

PART II STAMP DUTIES

Reduction of duties

4 Reduced duty on conveyance or transfer on sale.
(1) Subject to sub-sections (1A) to (3) and to the following provisions of this Part the stamp duty chargeable under the heading “Conveyance or Transfer on sale” in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891 shall be charged by reference to the amount or value of the consideration for the sale at the following rates, that is to say—
(a) where the amount or value of the consideration is £60,000 or under and the instrument is certified, as described in section 7(4) of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1958, at £60,000, nil;
1984 c. 43
1993 c. 34
1997 c. 58
(b) where paragraph (a) above does not apply and—
(i) the amount or value of the consideration does not exceed £500, and
(ii) the instrument is certified as described in section 7(4) of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1958 at £250,000,
the rate of 50p for every £50 or part of £50 of the consideration;
(c) where paragraph (a) above does not apply and—
(i) the amount or value of the consideration exceeds £500 but does not exceed £250,000, and
(ii) the instrument is certified as described in section 7(4) of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1958 at £250,000,
the rate of £1 for every £100 or part of £100 of the consideration.
(d) where paragraphs (a) to (c) above do not apply and—
(i) the amount or value of the consideration does not exceed £500,000, and
(ii) the instrument is certified as described in section 7(4) of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1958 at £500,000,
the rate of £2.50 for every £100 or part of £100 of the consideration; and
1999 c. 16
(e) in any other case the rate of £3.50 for every £100 or part of £100 of the consideration;
and any duty chargeable by reference to that heading shall be charged accordingly.
1986 c. 41
1891 c. 39
(1A) In relation to duty chargeable under or by reference to the heading mentioned in subsection (1) above as it applies to a conveyance or transfer of stock or marketable securities, that subsection shall have effect as if for the words from “following rates” to the end of paragraph (e) there were substituted the words “ rate of 50p for every £100 or part of £100 of the consideration ”.
Rep. prosp. by 1990 c. 29
(2) In relation to duty chargeable by reference to the heading mentioned in subsection (1) above by virtue of the heading “Lease or Tack” in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891 in a case where part of the consideration consists of rent and that rent exceeds £600 a year, sub-section (1) shall have effect as if
(a) paragraph (a) and, in paragraphs (b) and (c), the words “paragraph (a) above does not apply and” were omitted and
(b) in paragraph (d) for the words “pargraphs (a) to (c)” there were substituted the words “ paragraphs (b) and (c) ”.
(3) Nothing in this section shall affect any enactment imposing an upper limit on the amount of duty chargeable ad valorem.
(4) If as respects any instrument this section operates to provide that stamp duty chargeable under the heading “Conveyance or Transfer on sale” in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891 shall be charged at a nil rate, that instrument shall not be chargeable with stamp duty under the headings “Deed of any kind whatsoever, not described in this schedule” … in the said Schedule 1.
1891 c.39
1970 c.21 (NI)
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16

5 Reduced duty on leases.
Subs.(1) rep. by 1972 NI 11; 1974 c.30; subs.(2) rep. by 1974 c.30
(3) For the purposes of the said heading a lease granted for a fixed term and thereafter until determined shall be treated as a lease for a definite term equal to the fixed term together with such further period as must elapse before the earliest date at which the lease can be determined; and section 75 of the said Act of 1891 (agreements for leases) shall be construed accordingly.
Subs.(4) repeals ss.76, 77(3), 78 of 1891 c.39
1891 (c.39)
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16

6 Miscellaneous reductions.
(1) The rates of stamp duty chargeable under or by reference to the following headings, or parts of headings, in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891, that is to say—
Bond, Covenant or Instrument of any kind whatsoever;
…
Mortgage, Bond, Debenture, Covenant, and Warrant of Attorney;
…
…
shall be those at which the duty would be chargeable if section 6 of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1947 (which doubled the rates) had not been enacted.
Subs.(2) rep. by 1970 c.21 (NI)
1973 NI 18
1970 c.21 (NI); 1974 c.30
1947 c.15
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16
S. 7 rep. by 1973 NI 18
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16

Bearer Instruments

8 Stamp duty on bearer instruments.
Subs.(1) amends sch.1 to 1891 c.39 and repeals ss.4, 5(1), 6 of 1899 c.9
(2) For the purposes of the heading set out in sub-section (1)—
(a) “inland bearer instrument” means any of the following instruments issued by or on behalf of any company or body of persons corporate or unincorporate formed or established in the United Kingdom, that is to say—
(i) any marketable security transferable by delivery;
(ii) any share warrant or stock certificate to bearer and any instrument to bearer (by whatever name called) having the like effect as such a warrant or certificate;
(iii) any deposit certificate to bearer;
(iv) any other instrument to bearer by means of which any stock can be transferred;
(b) “overseas bearer instrument” means an instrument issued otherwise than by or on behalf of any such company or body of persons as is mentioned in paragraph ( a), being an instrument described in sub-paragraphs (i) to (iv) of that paragraph or a bearer instrument by usage;
(c) “deposit certificate” means an instrument acknowledging the deposit of stock and entitling the bearer to rights (whether expressed as units or otherwise) in or in relation to the stock deposited or equivalent stock; and “deposit certificate for overseas stock” means a deposit certificate in respect of stock of any one company or body of persons not being such a company or body as is mentioned in paragraph ( a);
(d) “bearer instrument by usage” means an instrument not described in the said sub-paragraphs (i) to (iv) which is used for the purpose of transferring the right to any stock, being an instrument delivery of which is treated by usage as sufficient for the purpose of a sale on the market, whether that delivery constitutes a legal transfer or not;
….
1891 (c.39)
1973 NI 18
(3) For the purposes of the said heading “the transfer duty” means the duty which would be chargeable under the heading “Conveyance or Transfer on sale” in the said Schedule 1 in respect of an instrument in writing transferring the stock constituted by, or transferable by means of, the inland or overseas bearer instrument in question for a consideration equal to the market value of that stock; and the instrument so postulated shall be taken to transfer the stock on the day of issue or transfer (depending on whether paragraph (a) or (b) of section 9(1) applies) and to be executed in pursuance of a contract made on that day..
1986 c. 41
(4) For the purposes of this section and sections 9 and 10, “stock” includes securities, and references to stock include references to any interest in, or in any fraction of, stock or in any dividends or other rights arising out of stock; “transfer” includes negotiation; and a bearer instrument by usage used for the purpose of transferring the right to any stock shall be treated as transferring that stock on delivery of the instrument, and as issued by the person by whom or on whose behalf it was first issued, whether or not it was then capable of being used for transferring the right to the stock without execution by the holder.
Subs.(5) repeals s.4 of 1944 c.22 (NI)
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16
Rep. prosp. by 1990 c. 29

9 Payment of duty
(1) Duty under the heading set out in section 8(1) shall be chargeable—
(a) in the case of an instrument issued in Northern Ireland, or issued outside Northern Ireland by or on behalf of any company or body of persons corporate or unincorporate formed or established in Northern Ireland, on issue;
(b) in the case of any other instrument, on transfer in Northern Ireland of the stock constituted by or transferable by means of the instrument:
Provided that the duty chargeable by virtue of paragraph ( b) on the transfer of stock shall be chargeable only where duty would be chargeable under or by reference to the heading “Conveyance or Transfer on sale” in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891 , if the transfer were effected by an instrument not being a bearer instrument.
1891 c.39
(2) Any instrument which is chargeable under the said heading on issue shall, before being issued, be produced to the Ministry of Finance (in this Part referred to as “the Ministry”), together with such particulars in writing of the instrument as the Ministry may require, and shall be deemed to be duly stamped if, and only if, it is stamped with a particular stamp denoting that it has been produced to the Ministry; and within six weeks of the date on which any such instrument is issued, or such longer time as the Ministry may allow, a statement in writing containing the date of issue and such further particulars as the Ministry may require in respect of that instrument shall be delivered to the Ministry, and the duty chargeable in respect of that instrument shall be paid to the Ministry on delivery of that statement or within such longer time as the Ministry may allow.
Functions transf. SI 1973/2163
(3) If default is made in complying with sub-section (2) in respect of any instrument, the person by whom or on whose behalf the instrument is issued, and any person who acts as the agent of that person for the purposes of the issue, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding the aggregate of fifty pounds and an amount equal to the stamp duty chargeable in respect of that instrument, and shall also be liable to pay to [ Her Majesty] the duty chargeable in respect of that instrument and interest on the duty at the rate of five per cent. per annum from the date of the default.
SI 1973/2163
(4) Where any instrument which is chargeable under the said heading on transfer of the stock constituted by, or transferable by means of, the instrument is presented to the Ministry for stamping, the person presenting it, and the owner of the instrument, shall furnish to the Ministry such particulars in writing as it may require for determining the amount of duty chargeable on that instrument.
(5) Any person who in Northern Ireland transfers, or is concerned as broker or agent in transferring, any stock by or by means of any such instrument as is mentioned in sub-section (4) shall, if the instrument is not duly stamped, be liable to a fine not exceeding the aggregate of fifty pounds and an amount equal to the stamp duty chargeable in respect of that instrument, and shall also be liable to pay to [ Her Majesty] the duty chargeable in respect of that instrument and interest on the duty at the rate of five per cent. per annum from the date of the transfer in question.
(6) If any person, in furnishing particulars under this section in respect of any instrument, wilfully or negligently furnishes any particulars which are false in any material respect, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding the aggregate of fifty pounds and an amount equal to twice the amount by which the stamp duty which ought to be charged in respect of that instrument exceeds the stamp duty paid in respect thereof.
(7) Where any such instrument as is mentioned in sub-section (4) has been stamped ad valorem or with a stamp indicating that it is chargeable under paragraph (4) of the said heading and with the duty specified in that paragraph, that instrument shall be deemed for all purposes other than sub-section (6) to have been duly stamped.
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16
Rep. prosp. by 1990 c. 29

10 Ascertainment of market value.
(1) In relation to an instrument which is chargeable on issue, the market value of the stock constituted by, or transferable by means of, that instrument shall be taken for the purposes of section 8 to be—
(a) where the stock was offered for public subscription (whether in registered or in bearer form) within twelve months before the issue of the instrument, the amount subscribed for the stock;
(b) in any other case, the value of the stock on the first day within one month after the issue of the instrument on which stock of that description is dealt in on a stock exchange in the United Kindom or, if stock of that description is not so dealt in, the value of the stock immediately after the issue of the instrument.
(2) In relation to an instrument which is chargeable on transfer of the stock constituted by, or transferable by means of, that instrument, the market value of that stock shall be taken for the purposes of section 8 to be the value of that stock—
(a) in the case of a transfer pursuant to a contract of sale, on the date when the contract is made;
(b) in any other case, on the day preceding that on which the instrument is presented to the Ministry for stamping or, if it is not so presented, on the date of the transfer.
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16

Miscellaneous

11 Commonwealth stock.
(1) In Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891 , the heading “Conveyance or Transfer whether on sale or otherwise” (which relates to Canadian and colonial stock) shall be omitted, and any transfer of stock to which that heading applied shall be chargeable with stamp duty under the heading appropriate to a like transfer of other stock.
Subs. (2) rep. by 1986 c. 41; subs. (3) amends s.83 of 1891 c.39; subs.(4) rep. by SLR 1973; subs. (5) rep. by 1986 c. 41
1891 c. 39
Rep. prosp. by 1990 c. 29
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16

12 Securities for annual and other payments.
In determining whether an instrument is—
(a) the only, principal or primary security for any annuity or for any sum or sums of money within the meaning of paragraph (1) of the heading “Bond, Covenant or Instrument of any kind whatsoever” in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891 ; or
1891 c.39
(b) the only, principal or primary security for the payment or repayment of money within the meaning of paragraph (1) of the heading “Mortgage, Bond, Debenture, Covenant and Warrant of Attorney” in that Schedule;
no account shall be taken of any other instrument which is a security for the same annuity, sum or sums, or for the same payment or repayment, as the case may be, or for any part thereof, unless that other instrument is chargeable with stamp duty under either of the said paragraphs and is duly stamped.
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16
S. 13 rep. by 1985 c. 54

14 Miscellaneous exemptions.
(1) Any instrument which is exempt from duty under the heading set out in section 8(1) by virtue of exemption 3 in that heading, or would be so exempt if it were otherwise chargeable under that heading, shall be exempt from stamp duty under or by reference to the heading “Conveyance or Transfer on sale” in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891.
Subs. (2) rep. by 1999 c. 16
Rep. with saving, 1999 c. 16
Rep. prosp. by 1990 c. 29
S.15 rep. by 1967 c.20 (NI); 1973 NI 18

16 Prohibition of circulation of blank transfers.
(1) Where a transfer in blank relating to registered stock of any description has been delivered, pursuant to a sale of that stock, to or to the order of the purchaser or any person acting on his behalf, any person who in Northern Ireland parts with possession of that transfer, or who removes it or causes or permits it to be removed from Northern Ireland, before it has been duly completed shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding the aggregate of £300 and an amount equal to twice the stamp duty chargeable in respect of that transfer.
1999 c. 16
(2) For the purposes of this section “transfer in blank” means a transfer in which the name of the transferee has not been inserted, and a transfer shall be treated as duly completed if, and only if, the name of the transferee is inserted therein, being the name of—
(a) the purchaser of the stock under the sale;
(b) a person entitled to a charge upon the stock for money lent to that purchaser;
(c) a nominee holding as a bare trustee for that purchaser or for any such person as is mentioned in paragraph ( b); or
(d) a person acting as the agent of that purchaser for the purposes of the sale.
Subs. (3) rep. by 1985 c. 54
(4) In this section references to stock shall be construed in accordance with sub-section (4) of section 8, and “transfer” includes any instrument used for transferring stock; but nothing in this section applies—
(a) to any instrument which is chargeable with duty under paragraph (3) of the heading “Bearer Instrument” set out in sub-section (1) of that section and is duly stamped; or
(b) to any instrument which is exempt from duty by virtue of exemption 3 in that heading, or would be so exempt if it were otherwise chargeable under that heading.
(5) References in this section to the purchaser... of any stock include references to any person to whom the rights of the purchaser... are transmitted by operation of law; and in relation to a transfer chargeable with duty in accordance with section 58(4) or (5) of the Stamp Act 1891 (transfers to sub-purchasers), references in this section to the purchaser and a sale shall be construed as references to the sub-purchaser and a sub-sale.
Subs.(6) rep. by SLR 1973
1985 c. 54
1891 c.39
Rep. prosp. by 1990 c. 29

Part III (s.17) rep. by 1972 c.10 (NI)

Part IV (ss.18-20) rep. by SLR 1976; 1979 c.4

PART V GENERAL
S. 21, with Schedule 3, effects repeals

22 Short title and construction.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1963.
Subs.(2) rep. by SLR 1973; subs.(3)—Estate Duty
(4) Part II shall be construed as one with the Stamp Act 1891 .
Subs.(5) rep. by 1972 c.10 (NI); subs.(6) rep. by SLR 1976; 1979 c.4
1891 c.39

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 STAMP DUTY TABLES
Sections 4, 5.

Part I rep. by 1967 c. 20 (NI); 1970 c.21 (NI); 1974 c. 30; 1984 c. 43

Part II amends the rates on Leases or Tacks— see those headings in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891 (c.39) for the rates applicable at 22.3.1982
1982 c. 39
Schedule 2 rep. by 1979 c.4
Schedule 3 - Repeals