Section 8: Person liable
56.This section states who is liable for any tax charged. It is based on section 59(1) of ICTA.
57.This Act does not rewrite section 59(2) of ICTA. Section 59(2) of ICTA provides that income tax charged “in respect of any of the concerns mentioned in section 55 [of ICTA] shall be assessed and charged on the person carrying on the concern, or on the agents or other officers who have the direction or management of the concern or receive the profits thereof”.
58.Section 55 of ICTA provides that the profits arising from certain concerns such as mines and quarries shall be taxed under Schedule D Case I. Section 55 of ICTA is rewritten as section 12 of this Act.
59.The origins of section 59(1) and (2) of ICTA can be traced back to the Income Tax Act 1842. There is no longer any reason to maintain the distinction between the two subsections.
60.Section 59(2) of ICTA identifies two classes of person on whom the profits of a section 55 concern should be taxed. These are:
the person carrying on the concern; and
the agents or other officers who have the direction or management of the concern, or receive the profits.
61.Both these classes of person are likely to be covered by the section 59(1) test that they are “receiving or entitled to the profits”. But if they are not, there is no reason why a wider category of persons should be liable in respect of section 55 concerns than are liable in respect of any other trades.
62.Also, applying the “person receiving or entitled” test to the profits of a section 55 concern would not include persons who would not be chargeable through the application of section 59(2) of ICTA.
