INSURANCE COMPANY three contracts of reinsurance made in 1993 and 1994 legislative changes in 1995 - whether in 1995 the three contracts were life reinsurance business - no whether they were overseas life assurance business no whether they were basic life assurance and general annuity business yes - appeal allowed ICTA 1988 Ss 431, 431C, 431D and 431F; Finance Act 1995 Schedule 8 paras 1, 2, 55, 57 and 58; The Insurance Companies (Taxation of Reinsurance Business) Regulations 1995 SI 1995 No. 1730 Regs 1 and 11; The Insurance Companies (Taxation of Reinsurance Business)(Amendment) Regulations 1996 SI 1996 No. 1621 Regs 1, 2 and 5.
THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS SpC 00298
THE ROYAL LONDON MUTUAL INSURANCE SOCIETY LIMITED
Appellant
and -
GRAHAM GEORGE BARRETT
(HM INSPECTOR OF TAXES)
Respondent
SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS : DR NUALA BRICE
THEODORE WALLACE
Sitting in London on 9 and 10 October 2001
David Milne, QC, instructed by Messrs KLegal Solicitors, for the Appellant
Ingrid Simler of Counsel, instructed by the Solicitor of Inland Revenue, for the Respondent
© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2001
DECISION
The appeal
The issues
The evidence
The facts
Reasons for decision
"431(2) Unless the context otherwise requires -
"basic life assurance and general annuity business" means life assurance business other than pension business and overseas life assurance business;
"overseas life assurance business"-
(a) in the case of life assurance business other than reinsurance business, means business with a policy holder or annuitant not residing in the United Kingdom the policy or contract for which was effected at or through a branch or agency outside the United Kingdom where life assurance business is carried on; and
(b) in the case of reinsurance business, means business the contract for which was effected at or through a branch or agency outside the United Kingdom where none, or no significant part, of the reinsurance business carried on relates to life assurance business with policy holders or annuitants residing in the United Kingdom."
"1. In section 431(2) of the Taxes Act 1988 (interpretative provisions relating to insurance companies) insert the following at the appropriate places in alphabetical order -
"life reinsurance business" has the meaning given by section 431C;
"overseas life assurance business" has the meaning given by section 431D;
"basic life assurance and general annuity business" has the meaning given by section 431F;
"reinsurance business" includes retrocession business.
2. After section 431A of the Taxes Act 1988 insert-
Meaning of "life reinsurance business"
431C (1) in this Chapter "life reinsurance business" means reinsurance of life assurance business other than pension business or business of any description excluded from this section by regulations made by the Board.
(2) Regulations under subsection (1) above may describe the excluded business by reference to any circumstances appearing to the Board to be relevant.
Meaning of "overseas life assurance business"
431D (1) In this chapter "overseas life assurance business" means life assurance business, other than pension or life reinsurance business, which-
(a) in the case of life assurance business other than reinsurance business, is business with a policy holder or annuitant not residing in the United Kingdom, and
(b) in the case of reinsurance business, is-
(i) reinsurance of life assurance business with a policy holder or annuitant not residing in the United Kingdom, or
(ii) reinsurance of business within sub-paragraph (i) above or this sub-paragraph.
Meaning of "basic life assurance and general annuity business"
431F In this chapter "basic life assurance and general annuity business" means life assurance business (including reinsurance business) other than pension business, life reinsurance business or overseas life assurance business."
"Meaning of "life reinsurance business"
431C (1) in this Chapter "life reinsurance business" means reinsurance of life assurance business other than pension business or business of any description excluded from this section by regulations made by the Board.
(2) Regulations under subsection (1) above may describe the excluded business by reference to any circumstances appearing to the Board to be relevant. "
"Citation, commencement and effect
1 These Regulations may be cited as the Insurance Companies (Taxation of Reinsurance Business) Regulations 1995, shall come into force on 28 July 1995, and shall have effect with respect to accounting periods beginning on or after 1st January 1995.
Exclusion of certain business from section 431C
11. There shall be excluded from section 431C any reinsurance business where-
(b) the business is of any of the descriptions specified in section 431D(1)(b) of the Taxes Act. ."
"(b) in the case of reinsurance business, is-
(i) reinsurance of life assurance business with a policy holder or annuitant not residing in the United Kingdom, or
(ii) reinsurance of business within sub-paragraph (i) above or this sub-paragraph.
"Regulation 11 excludes certain reinsurance business from section 431C of the 1988 Act (meaning of life reinsurance business) By virtue of paragraph 58 of Schedule 8 to the Finance Act 1995, these Regulations have effect in relation to accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 1995."
"1(3) Regulation 5(a) shall have effect with respect to accounting periods ending on or after 15th July 1996
2. In these Regulations "the principal Regulations" means the Insurance Companies (Taxation of Reinsurance Business) Regulations 1995, and "regulation" means a regulation of the principal Regulations.
5. In Regulation 11-
(a) in paragraphs (b) after the words "Taxes Act", where those words occur, there shall be added ",being business for which the policy or contract concerned was made on or after 1st November 1994"; ..."
"Exclusion of certain business from section 431C
11. There shall be excluded from section 431C any reinsurance business where-
(b) the business is of any of the descriptions specified in section 431D(1)(b) of the Taxes Act, being business for which the policy or contract concerned was made on or after 1st November 1994"; or ..."
"Regulation 5(a) amends, with effect for accounting periods ending on or after the coming into force of these Regulations, regulation 11 of the principal Regulations so as to make clear that overseas life assurance business within section 431D(1)(b) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (reinsurance business) is excluded from section 431C of that Act (meaning of life reinsurance business) only where the policy or contract for the business was made on or after 1st November 1994."
"Meaning of "overseas life assurance business"
431D (1) In this chapter "overseas life assurance business" means life assurance business, other than pension or life reinsurance business, which-
(a) in the case of life assurance business other than reinsurance business, is business with a policy holder or annuitant not residing in the United Kingdom, and
(b) in the case of reinsurance business, is-
(i) reinsurance of life assurance business with a policy holder or annuitant not residing in the United Kingdom, or
(ii) reinsurance of business within sub-paragraph (i) above or this sub-paragraph. "
"55. (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, the amendments made by the following provisions of this Schedule have effect in relation to accounting periods beginning on or after 1 November 1994-
paragraph 1 so far as relating to the definition of "overseas life assurance business"
paragraph 2 so far as relating to sections 431D and 431E of the Taxes Act 1988
(2) Where the policy or contract for any life assurance business was made before 1st November 1994, the amendments made by this Schedule (and the repeals consequential upon those amendments) shall not have effect for determining whether the business is overseas life assurance business.
57. (1) Except as provided by paragraphs 52 to 56 above, and subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, the amendments made by provisions of this Schedule have effect in relation to accounting periods beginning on or after 1st January 1995.
(2) Section 442A of the Taxes Act 1988 does not apply in relation to the reinsurance of a policy or contract where the policy or contract was made, and the reinsurance arrangement effected, before 29th November 1994.
58. Any power to make regulations exercisable by virtue of an amendment made by any provision of this Schedule may be exercised so as to make provision having effect in relation to any accounting period in relation to which that provision has effect in accordance with paragraph 55 or 57 above."
"(2) Where the policy or contract for any life assurance business was made before 1st November 1994, the amendments made by this Schedule (and the repeals consequential upon those amendments) shall not have effect for determining whether the business is overseas life assurance business. "
"(2) Section 442A of the Taxes Act 1988 does not apply in relation to the reinsurance of a policy or contract where the policy or contract was made, and the reinsurance arrangement effected, before 29th November 1994."
"(2) Subject to subsections (5) and (7) below, in subsection (1) above the references to life assurance business with a policy holder or annuitant do not include life assurance business with a person who is an individual if-
(a) the policy holder or annuitant is not beneficially entitled to the rights conferred by the policy or contract for the business, or
(b) any benefits under the policy or contract for the business are or will be payable to a person other than the policy holder or annuitant (or his personal representatives) or to a number of persons not including him (or them).
(4) Subject to subsections (5) and (7) below, in subsection (1) above the references to life assurance business with a policy holder or annuitant do not include life assurance business with a person who is not an individual."
"(2) Where the policy or contract for any life assurance business was made before 1st November 1994, the amendments made by this Schedule (and the repeals consequential upon those amendments) shall not have effect for determining whether the business is overseas life assurance business. "
"Meaning of "overseas life assurance business"
431D (1) In this chapter "overseas life assurance business" means life assurance business, other than pension or life reinsurance business, which-
(a) in the case of life assurance business other than reinsurance business, is business with a policy holder or annuitant not residing in the United Kingdom, and
(b) in the case of reinsurance business, is-
(i) reinsurance of life assurance business with a policy holder or annuitant not residing in the United Kingdom, or
(ii) reinsurance of business within sub-paragraph (i) above or this sub-paragraph.
Decision
DR NUALA BRICE
THEODORE WALLACE
SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS
SC3018/01
15.11.01
She relied upon the Explanatory Note to the 1996 Regulaitons whichj she said indicated the intention of Parliament about the 1965 Regulaiton and the fatc that Reg 11(b) applied onlt to new OLAB and that old OLAB was not ecxcluded from section 431C. Reg 5(b) of the 1996 Regs excldued it from 1 January 1995. It filled a gap rather than clrified an exisitng interpretaiton.
Also section 20(2) and 23(1) of the Intepretaion Act 1978 any interpretaioyno fREg 11(b) must haver egard to provision which extended or applied it, Regard ad to be ahd to para 55(2) and 4311D. as a whole inc onstruing section 431D(1)(b). The only busienss which could be of a descritpion specified in section 431D(1)(b) was OLAB. The Appellant siad that it wa not nevcessary to look at OLAB just to look at the words We say that Reg 11(b) extended and applied to ensure that no overlap LRB and OLAB.
Reg 11(b) was intended to exclude from 431C new OLAB polciies after 1 Novemebr 1994. Did not cover old OLABa s defined by seciton 431(2) that was intedned t be 431C reisuranc ebsiness. 431C not intended to exzclude old OLAB just new OLAB.