A councillor may, by notice to the Inland Revenue, opt to have income tax deducted from allowances at the basic rate in force at the time of payment of the allowances (the “basic rate option”).

On receiving any such notice the Inland Revenue must give notice to the local council of the councillor’s exercise of the basic rate option.

On receiving a notice under paragraph (2), the local council must, when making any payment of allowances to the councillor, deduct income tax at the basic rate in force at the time of that payment on the non-cumulative basis.

The Inland Revenue may direct the local council to disregard an appropriate amount of the allowances in calculating the tax to be deducted.

In paragraph (4)(b), “deductible expenses” means expenses of a kind which would be deductible under sections 336 to 338 of ITEPA (expenses incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in performance of duties, and travel expenses).