Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1)

Part 3 U.K. Employment income: earnings and benefits etc. treated as earnings

Chapter 4 U.K. Taxable benefits: vouchers and credit-tokens

General supplementary provisions U.K.

95 Disregard for money, goods or services obtained U.K.

(1) This section applies if the cash equivalent of the benefit of a cash voucher, a non-cash voucher or a credit-token—

(a) is to be treated as earnings from an employee’s employment under this Chapter, or

(b) would be so treated but for a dispensation given under section 96.

(2) Money, goods or services obtained—

(a) by the employee or another person in exchange for the cash voucher or non-cash voucher, or

(b) by the employee or a member of the employee’s family by use of the credit-token,

are to be disregarded for the purposes of the Income Tax Acts.

(3) But the goods or services are not to be disregarded for the purposes of applying sections 362 and 363 (deductions where non-cash voucher or credit-token provided).

[F1 (3A) In the case of a childcare voucher, the reference in subsection (2)(a) to the services obtained in exchange for the voucher is to the provision of care for a child obtained by using it.]

(4) In the case of a transport voucher, the reference in subsection (2)(a) to the services obtained in exchange for the voucher is to the passenger transport services obtained by using it.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 95(3A) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 78(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), Sch. 13 para. 2(4)

96 Dispensations relating to vouchers or credit-tokens U.K.

(1) This section applies where a person (“P”) supplies [F2 an officer of Revenue and Customs] with a statement of the cases and circumstances in which—

(a) cash vouchers,

(b) non-cash vouchers, or

(c) credit-tokens,

are provided for employees whether they are the employees of P or some other person.

(2) If [F2 an officer of Revenue and Customs] [F3 is] satisfied that no additional tax is payable by virtue of this Chapter by reference to the vouchers or credit-tokens mentioned in the statement, [F4 the officer] must give P a dispensation under this section.

(3) A “dispensation” is a notice stating that [F2 an officer of Revenue and Customs] [F5 agrees] that no additional tax is payable by virtue of this Chapter by reference to the vouchers or credit-tokens mentioned in the statement supplied by P.

(4) If a dispensation is given under this section, nothing in this Chapter applies to the provision or use of the vouchers or credit-tokens covered by the dispensation.

(5) If in their opinion there is reason to do so, [F2 an officer of Revenue and Customs] may revoke a dispensation by giving a further notice to P.

(6) That notice may revoke the dispensation from—

(a) the date when the dispensation was given, or

(b) a later date specified in the notice.

(7) If the notice revokes the dispensation from the date when the dispensation was given—

(a) any liability to tax that would have arisen if the dispensation had never been given is to be treated as having arisen, and

(b) P and the employees in question must make all the returns which they would have had to make if the dispensation had never been given.

(8) If the notice revokes the dispensation from a later date—

(a) any liability to tax that would have arisen if the dispensation had ceased to have effect on that date is to be treated as having arisen, and

(b) P and the employees in question must make all the returns which they would have had to make if the dispensation had ceased to have effect on that date.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Act substituted (18.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), s. 53(1), Sch. 4 para. 102(1); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(2)(h)

F3 Word in s. 96(2) substituted (18.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), s. 53(1), Sch. 4 para. 108(a); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(2)(h)

F4 Words in s. 96(2) substituted (18.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), s. 53(1), Sch. 4 para. 103(1)(d); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(2)(h)

F5 Word in s. 96(3) substituted (18.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), s. 53(1), Sch. 4 para. 108(b); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(2)(h)

[F6 96A Power to exempt use of non-cash vouchers or credit-tokens to obtain exempt benefits U.K.

(1) The Treasury may by regulations provide for exemption from any liability that would otherwise arise by virtue of this Chapter in respect of—

(a) non-cash vouchers which are or can be used to obtain specified exempt benefits, or which evidence an employee's entitlement to specified exempt benefits;

(b) credit-tokens which are used to obtain specified exempt benefits.

(2) In this section—

• “exempt benefit” means a benefit the direct provision of which is exempted from liability to income tax by a provision of Part 4 (employment income: exemptions), and

• “specified” means specified in the regulations.

(3) Regulations under this section may operate by amending section 266 (exemption of non-cash vouchers for exempt benefits) or section 267 (exemption of credit-tokens used for exempt benefits).]

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 96A inserted (19.7.2006) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 63