BIM40200 - Receipts: unclaimed balances: contents

This chapter describes the treatment of issues that arise following the recognition in profit and loss accounts of sums that many traders consider to be in the nature of ‘windfalls’. Because the sums may be unexpected or unpredictable in nature, traders sometimes claim that they are not taxable, arguing that they do not arise from the trade. But an element of the unexpected or unpredictable in a receipt does not mean that it is not a trading receipt or not taxable. This is especially so where such sums are a common feature of the trade.

The guidance is arranged as follows:

BIM40201Introduction and scope of the subject
BIM40205Accounting treatment
BIM40210It is vital to establish all of the facts
BIM40215Legal background: the basics
BIM40220Legal status of an agent
BIM40225Four broad categories of case
BIM40230Receipts that become taxable by operation of law
BIM40235Receipts that become taxable by operation of law: example
BIM40240Overpayments
BIM40245Overpayments: example
BIM40250The holding of funds that belong to someone else
BIM40255Trade debts that are never paid
BIM40260Trade debts not paid: example
BIM40265Trade debts written back to profit and loss account


The following related issues are covered elsewhere:

  • voluntary payments and whether they are trade receipts, BIM41810;
  • the treatment of unclaimed balances in the accounts and computations of financial institutions, Banking Manual;
  • the treatment of corporate debt under the loan relationship regime, Corporate Finance Manual.