Part 4U.K.Employment income: exemptions

Chapter 8U.K.Exemptions: special kinds of employees

Ministers of religionU.K.

290Accommodation benefits of ministers of religionU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax in respect of a person employed as a full-time minister arises by virtue of—

(a)the payment or reimbursement of a statutory amount payable in connection with qualifying premises, or

(b)the reimbursement of a statutory deduction made in connection with qualifying premises.

(2)No liability to income tax in respect of a person employed as a full-time minister arises by virtue of the payment or reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with providing living accommodation in qualifying premises if the employment is excluded employment.

(3)Subsection (1) does not apply if or to the extent that the amount or deduction is properly attributable to a part of the premises for which the minister receives rent.

(4)Premises are qualifying premises in relation to a person employed as a minister if—

(a)an interest in them belongs to a charity or an ecclesiastical corporation, and

(b)because of that interest and by reason of holding the employment, the minister has a residence in them from which to perform the duties of the employment.

(5)In this section—

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 290(5) omitted (coming into force for the tax year 2012-13 and subsequent tax years) by virtue of Finance Act 2010 (c. 13), Sch. 6 paras. 17(5), 34(2); S.I. 2012/736, art. 13

[F2290AAccommodation outgoings of ministers of religionU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of a person in lower-paid employment as a minister of a religious denomination by virtue of the payment or reimbursement of accommodation outgoings.

(2)Subsection (1) does not apply if the minister is paid an allowance intended to be used, wholly or in part, for paying accommodation outgoings (as to which see section 290B).

(3)In this section—

Textual Amendments

F2Ss. 290A, 290B inserted (with effect in accordance with art. 2(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Enactment of Extra-Statutory Concessions Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/157), arts. 1, 2(3)

290BAllowances paid to ministers of religion in respect of accommodation outgoingsU.K.

(1)This section applies where a person in lower-paid employment as a minister of a religious denomination is paid an allowance intended to be used, wholly or in part, for paying accommodation outgoings.

(2)No liability to tax arises by virtue of the payment of the allowance to the extent that it is used for paying accommodation outgoings.

(3)In this section—

Textual Amendments

F2Ss. 290A, 290B inserted (with effect in accordance with art. 2(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Enactment of Extra-Statutory Concessions Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/157), arts. 1, 2(3)

MPs, government ministers etc.U.K.

291Termination payments to MPs and others ceasing to hold officeU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax in respect of earnings arises by virtue of any grant or payment to which this section applies (but see Chapter 3 of Part 6: payments and benefits on termination of employment etc.).

(2)This section applies to grants and payments—

[F3(a)made under section 5(1) of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 in connection with a person's ceasing to be a member of the House of Commons,]

(b)made under section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 (c. 5) (grants to persons ceasing to hold certain ministerial and other offices),

(c)made under section 3 of the European Parliament (Pay and Pensions) Act 1979 (c. 50) (resettlement grants for persons ceasing to be Representatives), [F4or under Article 13 of the Statute for Members of the European Parliament (transitional allowances),]

(d)made under section 81(3) of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) to a person—

(i)ceasing to be a member of the Scottish Parliament on its dissolution, or

(ii)ceasing to hold an office corresponding to a relevant office,

[F5(e)made under section 20(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 to a person—

(i)ceasing to be a member of the National Assembly for Wales; or

(ii)ceasing to hold office as the Presiding Officer, Deputy Presiding Officer, or such other office in connection with the Assembly as the Assembly may determine, but continuing to be an Assembly Member,

(ea)made under section 53(3) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 to a person ceasing to be a member of the Welsh Assembly GovernmentF6...]

(f)made under section 48(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) to a person—

(i)ceasing to be a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly on its dissolution, or

(ii)ceasing to hold an office corresponding to a relevant office[F7, or

(g)made under section 26A of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (payments on ceasing to hold office as Mayor of London or as a member of the London Assembly).]

(3)In this section “a relevant office” has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

Textual Amendments

F3S. 291(2)(a) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 15(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), s. 15(1)

F4Words in s. 291(2)(c) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 56(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2009 (c. 10), s. 56(2)

F6Word in s. 291(2)(ea) omitted (with effect in accordance with s. 52(4) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), s. 52(2)

F7S. 291(2)(g) and word inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 52(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), s. 52(3)

[F8292Accommodation expenses of MPsU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of a payment made to a member of the House of Commons under section 5(1) of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 if the payment is—

(a)expressed to be made in respect of accommodation expenses, or

(b)related to or in consequence of a payment expressed to be so made.

(2)Accommodation expenses” means expenses necessarily incurred on overnight accommodation that is required for the performance of the member's parliamentary duties in or about the Palace of Westminster or the member's constituency.

(3)But the cost of an overnight stay in a hotel that was required only because, on that night, the member had been required to be at the House of Commons because the House was sitting late does not count as accommodation expenses for the purposes of this section, unless the member had been required to be at the House because it was sitting beyond 1 a.m.

(4)Subsection (1) does not apply to a loan for a deposit payable at the commencement of a tenancy.

[F9(5)The reference in subsection (1) to a payment made to a member of the House of Commons under section 5(1) of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 includes a payment made under that section to another person at the direction of a member (see section 6(7) of that Act).]]

Textual Amendments

F8S. 292 substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 4 para. 1(4)(5) of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2010 (c. 31), Sch. 4 para. 1(2)

F9S. 292(5) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 37(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), s. 37(1)

293Overnight expenses of other elected representativesU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of a payment to which this section applies if it is expressed to be made in respect of a member’s necessary overnight expenses.

(2)This section applies to payments—

(a)made to members of the Scottish Parliament under section 81(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46),

(b)made to members of the National Assembly for Wales under [F10section 20(2) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 or to a member of the Welsh Assembly Government under section 53(2) of that Act], or

(c)made to members of the Northern Ireland Assembly under section 47(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47).

(3)In this section “a member’s necessary overnight expenses” means additional expenses necessarily incurred by a member for the purpose of performing duties as a member in staying overnight away from the member’s only or main residence—

(a)in the area in which the Parliament or Assembly to which the member belongs sits, or

(b)in the constituency or region which the member represents.

[F11293A UK travel and subsistence expenses of MPsU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of a payment made to a member of the House of Commons under section 5(1) of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 if the payment is expressed to be made—

(a)in respect of relevant UK travel expenses, or

(b)in respect of relevant subsistence expenses.

(2)Relevant UK travel expenses” means expenses necessarily incurred on journeys of the following kinds within the United Kingdom—

(a)journeys made by the member that are necessary for the performance of the member's parliamentary duties, and

(b)if the member shares caring responsibilities with a spouse or partner, journeys made by the spouse or partner between the member's London Area residence and the member's constituency residence.

(3)Relevant subsistence expenses” means expenses necessarily incurred on an evening meal (excluding alcoholic drinks) eaten on the Parliamentary Estate, where the member is required to be at the House of Commons because the House is sitting beyond 7.30 p.m.

(4)Caring responsibilities” and “London Area” have the same meaning in subsection (2)(b) as they have in the scheme in effect for the time being under section 5 of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009.]

Textual Amendments

F11S. 293A inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 4 para. 2(2)(3) of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2010 (c. 31), Sch. 4 para. 2(1)

[F13294[F12European] travel expenses of MPs and other representativesU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of a sum that is paid to—

(a)a member of the House of Commons under section 5(1) of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009,

(b)a member of the Scottish Parliament under section 81(2) of the Scotland Act 1998,

(c)a member of the National Assembly for Wales under section 20(2) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 or a member of the Welsh Assembly Government under section 53(2) of that Act, or

(d)a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly under section 47(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998,

and expressed to be made in respect of European travel expenses.]

[F14(2)European travel expenses” means the cost of, and any additional expenses incurred in, travelling between the United Kingdom and a relevant European location.

(3)Relevant European location” means—

(a)a European Union institution or agency, or

(b)the national parliament of—

(i)another member State,

(ii)a candidate or applicant country, or

(iii)[F15any other country that is a member of the Council of Europe.]

(4)The Treasury may by order amend subsection (3) by—

(a)adding a European location,

(b)removing a European location, or

(c)varying the description of a European location.]

Textual Amendments

F12Word in s. 294 heading substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 82(5) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), s. 82(4)

F13S. 294(1) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 4 para. 1(4)(5) of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2010 (c. 31), Sch. 4 para. 3(2)

F14S. 294(2)-(4) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 82(5) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), s. 82(3)

F15S. 294(3)(b)(iii) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 4 para. 3(4)(5) of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2010 (c. 31), Sch. 4 para. 3(3)

295Transport and subsistence for Government ministers etc.U.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of the provision of transport or subsistence provided or made available by or on behalf of the Crown to—

(a)the holder of a ministerial office, or

(b)a member of the family or household of the holder of a ministerial office.

(2)No liability to income tax arises in respect of payments and reimbursements by or on behalf of the Crown of expenses incurred in connection with the provision of transport or subsistence to a person within subsection (1).

(3)Ministerial office” means—

(a)an office in Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom,

(b)any other office which is one of the offices and positions in respect of which salaries are payable under section 1 of the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 (c. 27), and

(c)an office under one of the following Acts which corresponds to an office within paragraph (a) or (b)—

(i)the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46),

(ii)[F16the Government of Wales Act 2006], or

(iii)the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47).

(4)In determining whether a particular person holds an office within subsection (3)(b), it is irrelevant whether or not a salary is paid or payable to that person under the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975.

(5)In this section references to the provision of transport to a person include references to—

(a)the provision or making available to that person of a vehicle with or without a driver,

(b)the provision of fuel for a vehicle provided or made available to that person, and

(c)the provision of any other benefit in connection with such a vehicle.

(6)In this section—

(a)subsistence” includes food and drink and temporary living accommodation, and

(b)vehicle” means a mechanically propelled road vehicle.

Armed forcesU.K.

296Armed forces' leave travel facilitiesU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of—

(a)the provision of travel facilities for a member of the armed forces of the Crown going on or returning from leave, or

(b)a payment made in respect of such travel.

(2)In subsection (1) “travel facilities” does not include a vehicle.

297Armed forces' food, drink and mess allowancesU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of allowances if—

(a)they are payable out of the public revenue to any description of members of the armed forces of the Crown, and

(b)the Treasury certifies that they are payable to them instead of food or drink normally supplied to members of the armed forces.

(2)No liability to income tax arises in respect of allowances if—

(a)they are payable out of the public revenue in respect of any description of members of the armed forces of the Crown, and

(b)the Treasury certifies that they are so payable as a contribution to the expenses of a mess.

[F17297AArmed forces: the Operational AllowanceU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of payments to members of the armed forces of the Crown of the Operational Allowance.

(2)The Operational Allowance is an allowance designated as such [F18under a Royal Warrant made under section 333 of the Armed Forces Act 2006] .]

Textual Amendments

F17S. 297A inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 64(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2007 (c. 11), s. 64(1)

F18Words in s. 297A(2) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 16(5) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), s. 16(2)

[F19297BArmed forces: the Council Tax ReliefU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of payments of the Council Tax Relief to members of the armed forces of the Crown.

(2)Payments of the Council Tax Relief are payments designated as such [F20under a Royal Warrant made under section 333 of the Armed Forces Act 2006] .]

Textual Amendments

F19S. 297B inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 51(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), s. 51(1)

F20Words in s. 297B(2) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 16(5) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), s. 16(3)

[F21297CArmed forces: Continuity of Education AllowanceU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of payments of the Continuity of Education Allowance to or in respect of members of the armed forces of the Crown during their employment under the Crown or after their deaths.

(2)The Continuity of Education Allowance is an allowance designated as such under a Royal Warrant made under section 333 of the Armed Forces Act 2006.]

Textual Amendments

F21S. 297C inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 16(5) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), s. 16(4)

298Reserve and auxiliary forces' training allowancesU.K.

No liability to income tax arises in respect of the following sums if they are payable out of the public revenue to members of the reserve and auxiliary forces of the Crown—

(a)training expenses allowances, and

(b)bounties payable in consideration of the members undertaking certain training and attaining a particular standard of efficiency.

Crown employeesU.K.

299Crown employees' foreign service allowancesU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of an allowance paid to a person in employment under the Crown if it is certified to represent compensation for the extra cost of being obliged to live outside the United Kingdom in order to perform the duties of the employment.

(2)A certificate under subsection (1) may only be given by—

(a)the Treasury,

(b)the Secretary of State,

(c)the Lord Chancellor,

(d)the Chancellor of the Exchequer,

(e)the Minister for the Civil Service,

(f)the Lord President of the Council,

(g)the Lord Privy Seal, or

(h)the Attorney General.

Consuls, foreign agents etc.U.K.

300ConsulsU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of income arising from the office of a consul in the United Kingdom in the service of a foreign state.

(2)Such income is also to be disregarded in estimating the amount of income for any income tax purposes.

(3)In this section “consul” means a person recognised by Her Majesty as being a consul-general, consul, vice-consul or consular agent.

301Official agentsU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of income arising from employment as an official agent in the United Kingdom for a foreign state if conditions A and B are met.

(2)Condition A is that the employee is neither—

(a)a Commonwealth citizen, nor

(b)a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.

(3)Condition B is that the functions of the employment are not exercised in connection with a trade, business or other undertaking carried on for the purposes of profit.

(4)Such income is also to be disregarded in estimating the amount of income for any income tax purposes.

(5)In this section “official agent” means a person who is not a consul (as defined in section 300) but is employed on the staff of—

(a)a consulate, or

(b)an official department or agency of a foreign state.

(6)Subsection (5)(b) does not apply to a department or agency which carries on a trade, business or other undertaking for the purposes of profit.

302Consular employeesU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of income arising from employment in the United Kingdom as a consular employee for a foreign state if—

(a)Her Majesty by Order in Council directs that this section applies to the foreign state for the purpose of giving effect to a reciprocal arrangement with that state, and

(b)condition A or B is met.

(2)Condition A is that the employee is a national of the foreign state.

(3)Condition B is that the employee is not a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen.

(4)In this section—

(5)An Order in Council under subsection (1) may limit the operation of this section in relation to a state in any way appearing to Her Majesty necessary or expedient having regard to the arrangement with the state.

(6)Such an Order—

(a)may be made so as to have effect from a date earlier than that on which it is made, but not earlier than the arrangement in question comes into force, and

(b)may contain such transitional provisions as appear to Her Majesty necessary or expedient.

(7)A statutory instrument containing such an Order is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.

(8)This section does not affect section 301 (official agents).

Textual Amendments

Visiting forces and staff of designated allied headquartersU.K.

303Visiting forces [F23etc] U.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of earnings if—

(a)they are paid by the government of a designated country to a member of a visiting force of that country or of a civilian component of such a force, and

(b)that person is not a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)—

(a)members of the armed forces of a designated country who are attached to a designated [F24international military] headquarters are treated as a visiting force of that country, and

(b)whether a person is a member of a civilian component of such a force is to be determined accordingly.

(3)No liability to income tax arises in respect of earnings if they are paid by a designated allied headquarters to an employee of a category for the time being agreed between Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom and the other members of the North Atlantic Council.

(4)But where the employee is a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen, subsection (3) only applies if it is necessary for it to do so to give effect to an agreement between parties to the North Atlantic Treaty.

[F25(4A)No liability to income tax arises in respect of earnings if—

(a)they are paid by the government of a designated country to a person belonging to the EU civilian staff, and

(b)that person is not a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen.]

(5)Subsections (1) and (2) are to be interpreted as if—

(a)they were in Part 1 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (c. 67), and

(b)references in that Act to a country to which a provision of that Act applies were references to a designated country.

(6)In this section—

Textual Amendments

F23Words in s. 303 heading substituted (17.7.2012) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 37 para. 4(5)

F24Words in s. 303(2)(a) substituted (17.7.2012) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 37 para. 4(2)

F25S. 303(4A) inserted (17.7.2012) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 37 para. 4(3)

F26Word in s. 303(6) omitted (17.7.2012) by virtue of Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 37 para. 4(4)(a)

F27Words in s. 303(6) inserted (17.7.2012) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 37 para. 4(4)(b)

Detached national expertsU.K.

304Experts seconded to European CommissionU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of daily subsistence allowances paid by the European Commission to persons whose services are made available to the Commission by their employers under the detached national experts scheme.

(2)The detached national experts scheme” means—

(a)the scheme relating to national experts seconded to the European Commission which was established by the Commission on 26th July 1988, as it has effect for the time being, or

(b)any scheme having effect for the time being which replaces that scheme.

[F28304AExperts seconded to other European Union bodiesU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of any subsistence allowances paid by a relevant EU body to persons who, because of their expertise in matters relating to the subject matter of the functions of the relevant EU body, have been seconded to the body by their employers.

(2)Each of the following is a “relevant EU body”—

(a)the European Medicines Agency, established as the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2309/93 of 22 July 1993,

(b)the European Police College, established by Council Decision of 20 September 2005 (2005/681/JHA),

(c)the European Banking Authority, established by Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 of 24 November 2010, and

(d)any other body established by an EU instrument which is designated as a relevant EU body for the purposes of this section by an order made by the Treasury.]

Textual Amendments

F28S. 304A inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 38(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), s. 38(1)

Offshore oil and gas workersU.K.

305Offshore oil and gas workers: mainland transfersU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of—

(a)the provision for an employee who has a permanent workplace at an offshore installation of—

(i)transfer transport,

(ii)related accommodation and subsistence, or

(iii)local transport, or

(b)the payment or reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by such an employee on such transport or accommodation and subsistence.

(2)Subsection (1)(a)(ii) only applies if the related accommodation and subsistence is provided at reasonable cost.

(3)In this section “transfer transport” means transport by sea or air between the mainland of Great Britain or Northern Ireland and the offshore installation, which meets conditions A and B.

(4)Condition A is that the place of arrival or departure on the mainland is one to or from which transport between the mainland and the offshore installation is provided for employees generally.

(5)Condition B is that the cost of the transport would not be deductible under Part 5 if the employee incurred and paid it.

(6)In this section—

Textual Amendments

F29Words in s. 305(6) repealed (with effect in accordance with Sch. 27 para. 16 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), Sch. 27 para. 13, Sch. 42 Pt. 2(19)

Miners etc.U.K.

306Miners etc: coal and allowances in lieu of coalU.K.

(1)No liability to income tax arises in respect of the provision of coal or smokeless fuel or an allowance paid in lieu of such provision if the employee is a colliery worker and the condition in subsection (2) is met.

(2)That condition is that the amount of coal or fuel provided or in respect of which the allowance is paid does not substantially exceed the amount reasonably required for personal use.

(3)That condition is assumed to be met unless the contrary is shown.

(4)In this section “colliery worker” means a coal miner or any other person employed at or about a colliery otherwise than in clerical, administrative or technical work.