Tax Law Rewrite

Tax Law Rewrite Project

The aim of the Tax Law Rewrite Project is to rewrite the UK’s primary direct tax legislation to make it clearer and easier to use, without changing the law.

The project’s work is overseen by two outside Committees - a Consultative Committee and a Steering Committee. More information on the Committees is available in the project’s Tax Law Rewrite: Report and Plans, 2008-09 document.

To date the project has delivered the following:

  • The Capital Allowances Act 2001 (effective from April 2001)
  • The Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (effective from April 2003)
  • The Income Tax (Pay as You Earn) Regulations 2003 (effective from April 2004)
  • The Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (effective from April 2005)
  • The Income Tax Act 2007 (effective from April 2007)

All the project’s publications, including the minutes of the Committee meetings, are available on the Tax Law Rewrite pages.

Contents

Bill 7 (International and other provisions)

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 24 (PDF 32k) on transfer pricing and advance pricing agreements. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 19 September 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation a draft clause and schedule under Paper CC/SC (08) 12 (PDF 38K) on UK representatives of non-UK residents. Comments on the draft clause and schedule are invited by 11 July 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clause and schedule, and the explanatory notes.

Bill 6 (Corporation tax)

We have published, for public consultation, draft supplementary clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 33 (PDF 34K) on Loss relief. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 28 November 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 28 (PDF 25K) on companies in liquidation or administration. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 14 November 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published a response document (PDF 49K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (08) 06. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 35 (PDF 21K) on Oil Tax. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 31 October 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published a response document (PDF 43K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (08) 01. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a response document (PDF 59K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (08) 03. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a response document (PDF 36K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (08) 02. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 23 (PDF 37K) on Distributions. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 19 September 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 22 (PDF 32K) on changes in company ownership and recovery of corporation tax. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 19 September 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published a response document (PDF 50K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (08) 04. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a response document (PDF 110K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 43. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a response document (PDF 72K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 38. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a response document (PDF 52K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 37. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 20 (PDF 30K) on manufactured payments and repos. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 29 August 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 19 (PDF 26K) on the use of different accounting practices within a group of companies. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 29 August 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 18 (PDF 26K) on Surrender of tax refunds within groups. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 29 August 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 15 (PDF 35K) on UK REITS. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 23 July 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 14 (PDF 27K) on Charges on Income. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 18 July 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published a response document (PDF 42K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 42. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a response document (PDF 63K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 40 on company reconstructions. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 10 (PDF 34K) on Permanent establishments and UK representatives. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 27 June 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 11 (PDF 33K) on Distributions. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 27 June 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published a response document (PDF 74K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 27. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a response document (PDF 37K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 29. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a response document (PDF 33K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 30. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a response document (PDF 38K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 28. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 06 on Community amateur sports clubs (PDF 28K) . Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 9 May 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 04 on Relief against income for losses on the disposal of shares (PDF 39K) Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 18 April 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 03 on Small Companies’ Relief (PDF 40K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 18 April 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 02 on Partnership Losses (PDF 26K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 28 March 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 01 on Tax Arbitrage (PDF 35K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 31 March 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

Change note on change 619 (PDF 22K)
The Tax Law Rewrite project published draft clauses and explanatory notes on charitable companies on 7 November for public consultation (paper SC/CC (07) 43). The change note on change 619 was not available for publication at that time. The draft change note published today covers only the impact of change 619 on the charitable companies legislation. We expect that this change will affect other clauses in the Bill. The change note will therefore be developed further as clauses are released for consultation.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 43 (PDF 40K) on charitable companies. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 8 February 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

One change note (Change 619), relevant to paper SC/CC (07) 43, is still being developed and will be available shortly.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 42 (PDF 42K) on community investment tax relief. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 8 February 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 40 (PDF 29KB) on company reconstructions without change of ownership. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 8 February 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 38 on Loss relief. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 8 February 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 37 (PDF ) on Miscellaneous rules. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 8 February 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 30 (PDF 28K) on Corporate Beneficiaries under Trusts. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 14 December 2007. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 29 (PDF 38K) on Transactions in Land. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 14 December 2007. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 28 (PDF 38K) on Transactions in Securities. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 14 December 2007. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 27 on Group Relief (PDF 32K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 14 December 2007. Please select the relevant link for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

Bill 5 (Corporation tax)

We have published a response document (PDF 265K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft Bill. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 27 (PDF 46K) on Loan relationships, derivative contracts and intangible fixed assets: provisions affected by the European Mergers directive. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 19 September 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 26 (PDF 30K) on Intellectual property: know-how and patents. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 19 September 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (08) 25 (PDF 29K) on Relationships treated as loan relationships: OEICs, unit trusts and offshore funds. Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 19 September 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

The Tax Law Rewrite project has published the first draft Corporation Tax Bill (Bill 5) for a final round of public consultation. The consultation period ended on 23 May 2008.

We have published a response document (PDF 138K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (07) 21. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published a Response Document (PDF 168K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Papers CC/SC (07) 15, 16, 17 and 18. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 33 on Film production and sound recordings (PDF 24K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited in time for publication of the draft Bill in February 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses under Paper CC/SC (07) 32 on Intangible Fixed Assets (PDF 26K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited in time for publication of the draft Bill in February 2008. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published a Response Document (PDF 207K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Papers CC/SC (07) 02, 03, 04, 05,06 and 07. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses on Paper CC/SC (07) 21 on Derivative contracts (PDF 81K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 19 October 2007. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses on Paper CC/SC (07) 15 on Currency (PDF 26K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 3 August 2007. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses on Paper CC/SC (07) 16 on relief for employee share acquisitions (PDF 30K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 3 August 2007. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses on Paper CC/SC (07) 17 on unauthorised unit trusts (PDF 27K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 3 August 2007. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published, for public consultation draft clauses on Paper CC/SC (07) 18 on loan relationships (PDF 29K). Comments on the draft clauses are invited by 3 August 2007. Please select the relevant link below for the draft clauses and the explanatory notes.

We have published a Response Document (PDF 132K) which contains a summary of the comments received on the draft clauses published with Paper CC/SC (06) 06 and Paper CC/SC (06) 07. The document also shows how we have dealt with the comments received.

Income Tax Act 2007 (ITA)

The Income Tax Act 2007, also known as ITA, received Royal Assent on 20 March 2007 and takes effect from 6 April 2007.

ITA covers:

  • basic provisions about the charge to income tax, income tax rates, the calculation of income tax liability, and personal reliefs;
  • various specific reliefs, including relief for losses, the enterprise investment scheme, venture capital trusts, community investment tax relief, interest paid, gift aid and gifts of assets to charities;
  • specific rules about trusts, deduction of tax at source, manufactured payments and repos, the accrued income scheme and tax avoidance; and
  • general income tax definitions.

The Act, the Explanatory notes and the Table of Origins and Destinations have been published on the OPSI website. You can also access these by selecting the relevant links in the Rewritten Legislation page.

Correction of errors identified in ITA 2007

Statutory Instrument (SI 2007/940), correcting a few errors in ITA 2007, was made on 21 March and laid before the House of Commons on the same date. The Order will come into force from the 6 April. Please see the Statutory Instrument (PDF 26K) and the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 27K).

Recent additions

Some of these links may take you to documents in PDF format. To view a PDF document you must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer.

Rewritten legislation

Rewritten legislation produced by the Project to date are:

Other information

Comments or questions to

Jackie Bartlett