UK Offence Report

The Ports (Levy on Disposals of Land, etc.) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Northern Ireland Statutory Rule 1997 No. 12 — creates 1 criminal offence.

1offences created
0recorded in force
0revoked
Made
17 January 1997
In force from
1 March 1997
Extent
Not stated
Subject
Tax, customs and excise
Made under
Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order.) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The Ports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (“the 1994 Order”) provides for the transfer of the undertakings of certain port authorities to companies formed under the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, and for the disposal of the securities of such successor companies. This Order, which is made under Article 19 of the 1994 Order, makes provision concerning the charging of levy under that Article on gains accruing to chargeable companies on chargeable disposals of relevant land and relevant estates in land taking place within the levy period (namely the period of ten years beginning when the company ceases to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the port authority to which it is the successor company). Article 3 supplements the meaning of relevant estate in land given in Article 19(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the 1994 Order. Articles 4 and 5 provide for when and by whom a disposal is to be regarded as being made. Subject to certain exceptions, all disposals are to be chargeable disposals (Article 6), and a gain accruing to any member of a chargeable company’s group is to be regarded as a gain accruing to the company (Article 7). Article 8 provides for the computation of gains, which is principally by reference to the law relating to the corporation tax on chargeable gains. Certain disposals give rise to no gain: these are, broadly, up to 20 disposals per company per year for not more than £4,000; and any disposal which, together with “associated disposals”, is for not more than £200,000. Further, no gains are regarded as accruing where the aggregate of all disposals does not exceed £500,000. Article 9 introduces Schedule 2, which makes various modifications to the corporation tax law as applied for levy purposes. Article 10 provides for disputes about valuation. Article 11 modifies for levy purposes the corporation tax law regarding the appropriation of land and estates in land to trading stock. Article 12 applies with modifications the corporation tax law regarding claims and elections. Articles 13 to 17 make provisions about the payment of levy and of interest on unpaid levy, and for repayment of overpaid levy or interest. Articles 18 to 26 make provision in respect of leases at rents, including for determining the consideration for such a lease (Article 18) and for the computation of the gain on any subsequent disposal of the reversion (Article 19). The consideration (market value) is to be redetermined if the lease is terminated early or renewed or extended (Article 20) or if the tenant remains otherwise in occupation after expiry of the lease (Article 21), with consequential adjustment of the levy (Article 22). Levy, so far as referable to rent, may be paid by instalments (Articles 23 and 24). A lease of operational land (as defined) for operational purposes gives rise to no gain (Article 25). Article 26 makes supplementary provision in respect of leases. Articles 27 to 32 make provision in respect of gains on the granting of options. The amount of the gain is to be as on exercise of the option (Article 27); but levy referable to the consideration payable on exercise is deferred (Article 28). If the option is exercised in the levy period, the amount of the gain may be recomputed (Article 29). There are provisions for repayment of levy if an option lapses or becomes incapable of being exercised (Articles 30 to 32). Articles 33 to 35 make provision in respect of transactions within the chargeable company’s group, in particular as to disposals within a wholly-owned group (Article 33), as to a company’s ceasing to be a member of a group following a previous intra-group disposal to that company (Article 34), and as to a decrease in the group’s equity holding in a group member owning relevant land or a relevant estate in land (Article 35). Articles 36 to 41 provide for administration and other matters. A chargeable company must furnish yearly a disposal statement (Article 36), and in certain circumstances the Department may make assessment of levy to the best of its judgment (Article 37). Certain disputes may be referred to a referee (Article 38). Article 39 makes supplementary requirements, e.g., as to the supplying of information and the keeping of records. Article 40 provides for the service of documents, and Article 41 for the penalties for contravention of certain requirements of the Order. Schedule 1 defines associated disposals (relevant to Article 8(2) and (3) on small disposals). Schedule 2 modifies the law on corporation tax in its application for levy purposes. Schedule 3 specifies the information to be included in a disposal statement. Copies of the Statements of Asset Valuation Practice and Guidance Notes, referred to in Article 36(8), may be obtained from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, 12 Great George Street, London, SW1P 3AD and Red Book Subscription Services, RICS Books, Surveyor Court, Westwood Way, Coventry, CV4 8JE.

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