SPC00575
INCOME TAX - self-employed trader computation of profits for the year ending on 5 April 2003 whether income understated and expenditure overstated on return yes - appeal in respect of this tax year dismissed - TA 1988 S74(1)(a)
TIME LIMITS whether for the two years ending on 5 April 2001 and 5 April 2002 income which ought to have been assessed to income tax had not been assessed as a result of negligent conduct on the part of the taxpayer or the person acting on his behalf no appeals in respect of these tax years allowed - TMA 1970 s 29(1) and (4)
THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS
ANTHONY MICHAEL GAUGHAN
Appellant
- and
THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HER MAJESTY'S
REVENUE AND CUSTOMS
Respondents
SPECIAL COMMISSIONER: DR A N BRICE
Sitting in London on 14 November 2006
Mr H Naraine, of Messrs H Naraine & Co, Chartered Certified Accountants, for the Appellant
Mr Barry Williams, of the Appeal Unit, for the Respondents
© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2006
DECISION
The appeal
(1) a closure notice dated 16 June 2005 given by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (the Revenue) which made amendments to the Appellant's tax return for the year ending on 5 April 2003; the amendment resulted in an increase of tax due of £8,020.57;
(2) a notice of assessment dated 15 June 2005 in respect of the tax year ending on 5 April 2001 and charging tax of £7,041.42; and
(3) a notice of assessment dated 15 June 2005 in respect of the tax year ending on 5 April 2002 and charging tax of £7,794.98.
The legislation
"74 General rules as to deductions not allowable
(1) Subject to the provisions of the Tax Acts, in computing the amount of the profits or gains to be charged under Case I or Case II of Schedule D, no sum shall be deducted in respect of
(a) any disbursement or expenses, not being money wholly and exclusively laid out or expended for the purposes of the trade, profession or vocation "
"29 Assessment where loss of tax discovered
(1) If an officer of the Board or the Board discover, as regards any person (the taxpayer) and a year of assessment
(a) that any income which ought to have been assessed to income tax have not been assessed, or
(b) that an assessment to tax is or has become insufficient or
(c) that any relief which has been given is or has become excessive
the officer may, subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, make an assessment in the amount which ought in his opinion to be charged in order to make good to the Crown the loss of tax.
(3) Where the taxpayer has made and delivered a return in respect of the relevant year of assessment, he shall not be assessed under subsection (1) above unless one of the two conditions mentioned below is fulfilled.
(4) The first condition is that the situation mentioned in subsection (1) above is attributable to fraudulent or negligent conduct on the part of the taxpayer or a person acting on his behalf. "
The issues
(1) whether, in respect of the year ending on 5 April 2003, in computing the amount of the profits of the Appellant to be charged under Case I of Schedule D income had been omitted or expenditure had been deducted which was not money wholly and exclusively laid out or expended for the purposes of the trade within the meaning of section 74(1)(a) of the 1988 Act; and
(2) whether, in respect of the years ending on 5 April 2001 and 5 April 2002, income which ought to have been assessed to income tax had not been assessed as a result of negligent conduct on the part of the taxpayer or a person acting on his behalf within the meaning of section 29(1) and (4) of the 1970 Act.
The evidence
The facts
The Appellant and his adviser
The returns for the years ending on 5 April 2001 and 2002
The return for the year ending on 5 April 2003
2004 - The notice of intention to enquire
2005 - The closure notice
2005 - The assessments
2005 - The appeal and the working schedules with expenses receipts
2006 - The interview
2006 - The preliminary hearing and the bank statements
The oral evidence of the Appellant
Reasons for Decision - Issue (1) were the profits correctly computed?
Reasons for Decision - Issue (2) was there a loss of tax due to negligent conduct?
.
Decision
(1) that, in respect of the year ending on 5 April 2003, in computing the amount of the profits of the Appellant to be charged under Case I of Schedule D income had been omitted; and
(2) that, in respect of the years ending on 5 April 2001 and 5 April 2002, the Revenue have not discharged the burden of proving that income which ought to have been assessed to income tax had not been assessed as a result of negligent conduct on the part of the taxpayer or a person acting on his behalf.
DR A N BRICE
SEPCIAL COMMISSIONER
RELEASE DATE: 12 December 2006
Authorities referred to in argument but not mentioned in Decision:
Baylis v Gregory [1987] STC 297 at 28
Langham v Veltema (2004) 76 TC 259 at 279 [24] and 294 [32] and [33].
SC 3158/2005