Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977

6.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4), the amount determined in accordance with this paragraph for the year ending on 31st March 2004 shall be an amount equal to 27.5 per cent. of the relevant balance of the undertaking for— N.I.

(a) an accounting period of 12 months ending during the year ending with 31st March 2001, or, if there is none;

(b) if there is an accounting period of any other length which ends in that year, the period of twelve months which ends with the last day of the last such accounting period, or, if there is none;

(c) the twelve months ending on 31st March 2001.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) to (5), the amount determined in accordance with this paragraph for any subsequent year shall be an amount equal to 27.5 per cent. of the adjusted balance of the undertaking for—

(a) an accounting period of twelve months ending during the relevant preceding year, or, if there is none;

(b) if there is an accounting period of any other length which ends in the relevant preceding year, the period of twelve months which ends with the last day of the last such accounting period, or, if there is none;

(c) the relevant preceding year.

(3) Where, in relation to a year and an undertaking, the amount equal to 27.5 per cent. of X is greater than 13 per cent. of Z, sub-paragraph (1) or, as the case may be, sub-paragraph (2) shall not apply and the amount determined in accordance with this paragraph for that year shall, subject to sub-paragraph (5), be equal to 13 per cent. of Z.

(4) Where, in relation to a year and an undertaking, the amount equal to 27.5 per cent. of X is less than 5 per cent. of Z, sub-paragraph (1) or, as the case may be, sub-paragraph (2) shall not apply and the amount determined in accordance with this paragraph for that year shall, subject to sub-paragraph (5), be equal to 5 per cent. of Z.

(5) Where, in relation to a year ending on or after 31st March 2005 and an undertaking, the amount determined under sub-paragraph (2), or, as the case may be, sub-paragraph (3) or (4), would differ from the amount determined in accordance with this paragraph for the relevant preceding year by no more than 20 per cent. of that amount, the sub-paragraph in question shall not apply and the amount determined in accordance with this paragraph for that year shall be the same as the amount determined for the relevant preceding year.

(6) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (3) and (4)—

(a) X for the year ending on 31st March 2004 is the relevant balance and for subsequent years is the adjusted balance;

(b) Z for the year ending on 31st March 2004 is the relevant income and for subsequent years is the adjusted income;

(c) X and Z shall be computed for the year ending on 31st March 2004 for the period described in sub-paragraph (1)(a) or, if there is no such period, for the period described in sub-paragraph (1)(b) or, if there is no such period, for the period described in sub-paragraph (1)(c);

(d) X and Z shall be computed for subsequent years for the period described in sub-paragraph (2)(a) or, if there is no such period, for the period described in sub-paragraph (2)(b) or, if there is no such period, for the period described in sub-paragraph (2)(c).