OpenLegislation

Finance Act 1997

1997 c. 16 · Enacted 19 March 1997 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 2 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 April 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 97-106repealed (pt.prosp. for s.097-99) (pt.prosp.)Finance Act 1997 s. 113 Sch. 18 Pt. 7 Notes 1 6
s. 110amended (prosp.)The Social Security Contributions (Transfer of Functions, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 art. 6 Sch. 5 para. 9
An Act to grant certain duties, to alter other duties, and to amend the law relating to the National Debt and the Public Revenue, and to make further provision in connection with Finance.[19th March 1997]

Most Gracious Sovereign,

WE, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom in Parliament assembled, towards raising the necessary supplies to defray Your Majesty’s public expenses, and making an addition to the public revenue, have freely and voluntarily resolved to give and grant unto Your Majesty the several duties hereinafter mentioned; and do therefore most humbly beseech Your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part I: Excise Duties
  2. Alcoholic liquor duties
  3. 1Rates of duty on spirits and wines of equivalent strength.
  4. 2Rates of duty on lower strengths of wine and made-wine.
  5. 3Duty on sparkling cider.
  6. 4Cider labelled as strong cider.
  7. 5Cider labelled as made-wine.
  8. Hydrocarbon oil duties
  9. 6Rates of hydrocarbon oil duties and of rebates.
  10. 7Ultra low sulphur diesel.
  11. Tobacco products duty
  12. 8Rates of tobacco products duty.
  13. Air passenger duty
  14. 9Rates of air passenger duty.
  15. Gaming duty
  16. 10Gaming duty to replace gaming licence duty.
  17. 11Rate of gaming duty.
  18. 12Liability to pay gaming duty.
  19. 13Supplemental provisions relating to gaming duty.
  20. 14Subordinate legislation relating to gaming duty.
  21. 15Interpretation of gaming duty provisions.
  22. Vehicle excise duty
  23. 16Increase in general rate.
  24. 17Exemption for vehicles for disabled persons.
  25. 18Provisions applying to exempt vehicles.
  26. 19Issue of licences before payment of duty.
  27. 20Removal and disposal of vehicles.
  28. Part II: Insurance Premium Tax
  29. New rates of tax
  30. 21Rate of tax.
  31. 22Premiums liable to tax at the higher rate.
  32. 23Charge to tax where different rates apply.
  33. 24Commencement of sections 21 to 23.
  34. Taxable intermediaries and their fees
  35. 25Certain fees to be treated as premiums under higher rate contracts.
  36. 26Registration of taxable intermediaries.
  37. 27Supplementary provisions.
  38. Miscellaneous
  39. 28Amounts charged by other intermediaries.
  40. 29Prevention of pre-emption.
  41. 30Tax point for payroll deductions.
  42. Part III: Value Added Tax
  43. Registration
  44. 31Aggregation of businesses.
  45. 32Voluntary registration.
  46. Zero-rating
  47. 33Sale of goods donated to charity.
  48. 34Charitable institutions providing care etc.
  49. Buildings and land
  50. 35References to grants.
  51. 36Buildings intended to be used as dwellings. Repealed
  52. 37Supplies to non-taxable persons etc.
  53. Exempt insurance supplies
  54. 38Exempt insurance supplies.
  55. Bad debt relief
  56. 39Bad debt relief.
  57. Groups of companies
  58. 40Groups containing bodies of different descriptions.
  59. 41Group supplies using an overseas member.
  60. Incidental and supplemental provisions etc.
  61. 42Services subject to the reverse charge.
  62. 43Payments on account: appeals.
  63. Part IV: Payments and overpayments in respect of indirect taxes
  64. Value added tax
  65. 44Liability of Commissioners to interest.
  66. 45Assessment for overpayments of interest.
  67. 46Repayments of overpayments: unjust enrichment.
  68. 47Repayments and assessments: time limits.
  69. 48Set-off of credits and debits.
  70. 49Transitional provision for set-offs etc.
  71. Excise duties and other indirect taxes
  72. 50Overpayments, interest, assessments, etc.
  73. Enforcement of payment
  74. 51Enforcement by distress.
  75. 52Enforcement by diligence. Repealed
  76. 53Amendments consequential on sections 51 and 52.
  77. Part V: Income Tax, Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax
  78. Income tax charge, rates and reliefs
  79. 54Charge and rates of income tax for 1997-98.
  80. 55Modification of indexed allowances. Repealed
  81. 56Blind person’s allowance.
  82. 57Limit on relief for interest. Repealed
  83. Corporation tax charge and rate
  84. 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  85. 59Small companies. Repealed
  86. Payments for wayleaves
  87. 60Wayleaves for electricity cables, telephone lines, etc.
  88. Schedule E
  89. 61Phasing out of relief for profit-related pay. Repealed
  90. 62Travelling expenses etc. Repealed
  91. 63Work-related training. Repealed
  92. Relieved expenditure, losses etc.
  93. 64Postponed company donations to charity. Repealed
  94. 65National Insurance contributions. Repealed
  95. 66Expenditure on production wells etc. Repealed
  96. 67Annuity business of insurance companies. Repealed
  97. 68Consortium claims for group relief. Repealed
  98. Distributions etc.
  99. 69Special treatment for certain distributions.
  100. 70Distributions of exempt funds.
  101. 71Set-off against franked investment income.
  102. 72FIDs paid to unauthorised unit trusts.
  103. 73Tax advantages to include tax credits. Repealed
  104. Investments etc.
  105. 74Enterprise investment scheme. Repealed
  106. 75Venture capital trusts. Repealed
  107. 76Stock lending and manufactured payments.
  108. 77Bond washing and repos. Repealed
  109. 78National Savings Bank interest. Repealed
  110. 79Payments under certain life insurance policies. Repealed
  111. 80Futures and options: transactions with guaranteed returns.
  112. Transfer of assets abroad
  113. 81Transfer of assets abroad. Repealed
  114. Leasing and loan arrangements
  115. 82Finance leases and loans. Repealed
  116. 83Loan relationships: transitions.
  117. Capital allowances
  118. 84. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  119. 85Schedule A cases etc.
  120. 86. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  121. Chargeable gains
  122. 87Re-investment relief.
  123. 88Conversion of securities: QCBs and debentures.
  124. 89Earn-out rights.
  125. Double taxation relief
  126. 90Restriction of relief for underlying tax. Repealed
  127. 91Disposals of loan relationships with or without interest. Repealed
  128. Repayment supplement
  129. 92Time from which entitlement runs.
  130. Part VI: Inheritance Tax
  131. 93Rate bands.
  132. 94Agricultural property relief.
  133. Part VII: Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax
  134. Stamp duty
  135. 95Mergers of authorised unit trusts.
  136. 96Demutualisation of insurance companies.
  137. 97Relief for intermediaries.
  138. 98Repurchases and stock lending.
  139. 99Depositary receipts and clearance services.
  140. Stamp duty reserve tax
  141. 100Mergers of authorised unit trusts.
  142. 101Direction to hold trust property on other trusts.
  143. 102Relief for intermediaries.
  144. 103Repurchases and stock lending.
  145. 104Depositary receipts and clearance services.
  146. 105Inland bearer instruments.
  147. 106Repayment or cancellation of tax.
  148. Part VIII: Miscellaneous and Supplemental
  149. Miscellaneous
  150. 107Petroleum revenue tax: non-field expenditure.
  151. 108Payment of dividends on government stock.
  152. 109Nil levy on dwelling-house disposals.
  153. 110Obtaining information from social security authorities. Repealed
  154. 111. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  155. Supplemental
  156. 112Interpretation.
  157. 113Repeals.
  158. 114Short title.
  159. Schedule 1: Gaming duty: administration, enforcement etc
  160. Part I: The gaming duty register
  161. The Register
  162. 1Paragraph 1
  163. Interpretation
  164. 2Paragraph 2
  165. Registration
  166. 3Paragraph 3
  167. Cancellation of registration
  168. 4Paragraph 4
  169. Penalties in connection with registration
  170. 5Paragraph 5
  171. Notification of premises
  172. 6Paragraph 6
  173. Penalties in connection with notification
  174. 7Paragraph 7
  175. Groups
  176. 8Paragraph 8
  177. Part II: Other provisions
  178. Accounting periods
  179. 9Paragraph 9
  180. Directions as to the making of returns
  181. 10Paragraph 10
  182. Regulations
  183. 11Paragraph 11
  184. Offences
  185. 12Paragraph 12
  186. Distress and poinding
  187. 13Paragraph 13
  188. Disclosure of information
  189. 14Paragraph 14
  190. Evidence by certificate
  191. 15Paragraph 15
  192. Protection of officers
  193. 16Paragraph 16
  194. Schedule 2: Gaming duty: consequential and incidental amendments
  195. Part I: Amendments of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979
  196. Introductory
  197. 1Paragraph 1
  198. Meaning of “revenue trade provisions” and “revenue trader”
  199. 2Paragraph 2
  200. Amendments of Part IXA
  201. 3Paragraph 3
  202. 4Paragraph 4
  203. Part II: Other amendments
  204. Licences under the Gaming Act 1968
  205. 5Paragraph 5
  206. Preferential debts on insolvency
  207. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  208. Assessments to duty
  209. 7Paragraph 7
  210. Schedule 3: Vehicle excise duty: exempt vehicles
  211. Interpretation
  212. 1Paragraph 1
  213. Registration of vehicle on issue of nil licence
  214. 2Paragraph 2
  215. Return of nil licence
  216. 3Paragraph 3
  217. Offence of not exhibiting nil licence
  218. 4Paragraph 4
  219. Offence of failing to have nil licence for exempt vehicle
  220. 5Paragraph 5
  221. Offence of forging or fraudulently using etc. nil licence
  222. 6Paragraph 6
  223. Supplemental provisions
  224. 7Paragraph 7
  225. Further amendments
  226. 8Paragraph 8
  227. Commencement
  228. 9Paragraph 9
  229. Schedule 4: Insurance premium tax: the higher rate
  230. Schedule to be inserted into the Finance Act 1994
  231. Paragraph
  232. Schedule 5: Indirect taxes: overpayments etc
  233. Part I: Unjust enrichment
  234. Application of Part I
  235. 1Paragraph 1
  236. Disregard of business losses
  237. 2Paragraph 2
  238. Reimbursement arrangements
  239. 3Paragraph 3
  240. Contravention of requirement to repay Commissioners
  241. 4Paragraph 4
  242. Part II: Time limits
  243. Repayments
  244. 5Paragraph 5
  245. Assessments
  246. 6Paragraph 6
  247. Part III: Interest
  248. Interest on overpaid air passenger duty
  249. 7Paragraph 7
  250. 8Paragraph 8
  251. Interest on overpaid insurance premium tax
  252. 9Paragraph 9
  253. 10Paragraph 10
  254. Interest on overpaid landfill tax
  255. 11Paragraph 11
  256. 12Paragraph 12
  257. Part IV: Set-off involving landfill tax
  258. 13Paragraph 13
  259. Part V: Recovery of excess payments by the Commissioners
  260. Assessment for excessive repayment
  261. 14Paragraph 14
  262. Assessment for overpayments of interest
  263. 15Paragraph 15
  264. Assessments under paragraphs 14 and 15
  265. 16Paragraph 16
  266. Interest on amounts assessed
  267. 17Paragraph 17
  268. Supplementary assessments
  269. 18Paragraph 18
  270. Review of decisions and appeals
  271. 19Paragraph 19
  272. Interpretation of Part V
  273. 20Paragraph 20
  274. Consequential amendment
  275. 21Paragraph 21
  276. Schedule 6: Assessments for excise duty purposes
  277. Assessment of amounts payable to the Commissioners
  278. 1Paragraph 1
  279. Assessments in cases of a deficiency in stores
  280. 2Paragraph 2
  281. Assessments in cases of a deficiency in warehoused goods
  282. 3Paragraph 3
  283. Assessments in cases of a deficiency in goods moved by pipe-line
  284. 4Paragraph 4
  285. Assessments in cases of untrue declarations etc.
  286. 5Paragraph 5
  287. Assessments relating to hydrocarbon oil duty
  288. 6Paragraph 6
  289. Commencement
  290. 7Paragraph 7
  291. Schedule 7: Special treatment for certain distributions
  292. Distributions to which Schedule applies
  293. 1Paragraph 1
  294. Distributions treated as FIDs
  295. 2Paragraph 2
  296. Distributions treated as section 686 income of trustees
  297. 3Paragraph 3
  298. Stock options
  299. 4Paragraph 4
  300. Dividends on fixed rate preference shares
  301. 5Paragraph 5
  302. Pre-sale distributions
  303. 6Paragraph 6
  304. Manufactured payments
  305. 7Paragraph 7
  306. Amendment of section 95 of the Taxes Act 1988
  307. 8Paragraph 8
  308. Information to be provided about deemed FID
  309. 9Paragraph 9
  310. Group income
  311. 10Paragraph 10
  312. Distribution accounts
  313. 11Paragraph 11
  314. Amendments consequential on paragraph 3 above
  315. 12Paragraph 12
  316. Schedule 8: Enterprise investment scheme: qualifying companies Repealed
  317. Introductory Repealed
  318. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  319. Requirements to be satisfied by the company for whose business activity money is raised Repealed
  320. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  321. Limit on relief for trading groups which let or operate ships Repealed
  322. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  323. Meaning of “qualifying company” Repealed
  324. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  325. Consequential amendments of section 297 Repealed
  326. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  327. Consequential repeals of provisions about subsidiaries Repealed
  328. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  329. Schedule 9: Venture capital trusts: qualifying holdings Repealed
  330. Introductory Repealed
  331. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  332. Requirements as to business of company whose shares et ceteralaetc. are qualifying holdings Repealed
  333. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  334. Consequential amendment of paragraph 4(7) Repealed
  335. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  336. Application of investment Repealed
  337. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  338. Qualifying subsidiaries Repealed
  339. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  340. Commencement Repealed
  341. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  342. Schedule 10: Stock lending arrangements and manufactured payments
  343. Part I: Stock lending
  344. Approved stock lending arrangements: traders
  345. 1Paragraph 1
  346. Stock lending fees
  347. 2Paragraph 2
  348. Stock lending agreements under which manufactured payments are not made
  349. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  350. Manufactured payments in stock lending cases etc.
  351. 4Paragraph 4
  352. Stock lending arrangements: capital gains
  353. 5Paragraph 5
  354. Premiums trust funds of Lloyd’s members
  355. 6Paragraph 6
  356. Commencement
  357. 7Paragraph 7
  358. Part II: Manufactured payments
  359. Repeal of section 737 of the Taxes Act 1988
  360. 8Paragraph 8
  361. Meaning of “foreign income dividend”
  362. 9Paragraph 9
  363. Manufactured dividends on UK equities
  364. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  365. Manufactured interest on UK securities
  366. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  367. Repeal of paragraph 5 of Schedule 23A
  368. 12Paragraph 12
  369. Consequential amendments in Schedule 23A
  370. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  371. Amendments of Taxes Management Act 1970
  372. 14Paragraph 14
  373. Repeal of powers to modify information provisions
  374. 15Paragraph 15
  375. Commencement
  376. 16Paragraph 16
  377. Schedule 11: Futures and options: taxation of guaranteed returns Repealed
  378. Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 5AA to the Taxes Act 1988 Repealed
  379. Paragraph Repealed
  380. Schedule 12: Leasing arrangements: finance leases and loans
  381. Part I: Leasing arrangements where any of the return on investment is in capital form
  382. Purpose of this Part of this Schedule
  383. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  384. Application of this Part of this Schedule
  385. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  386. The conditions
  387. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  388. The arrangements and circumstances in paragraph 3(5)
  389. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  390. Current lessor to be taxed by reference to accountancy rental earnings
  391. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  392. Reduction of taxable rent by certain excesses
  393. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  394. Assignments on which neither a gain nor a loss accrues
  395. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  396. Relief for bad debts etc: corporation tax under Schedule A
  397. 8Paragraph 8
  398. Relief for bad debts etc: cumulative accountancy rental excess
  399. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  400. Relief for bad debts etc: cumulative normal rental excess
  401. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  402. Capital allowances
  403. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  404. Chargeable gains
  405. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  406. Existing schemes where this Part does not at first apply
  407. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  408. New schemes where this Part begins to apply after Part II has applied
  409. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  410. Part II: Other finance leases
  411. Purpose of this Part of this Schedule
  412. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  413. Application of this Part of this Schedule
  414. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  415. Application of provisions of Part I for purposes of Part II
  416. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  417. Part III: Insurance companies
  418. Accounting purposes
  419. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  420. Companies carrying on life assurance business
  421. 19Paragraph 19
  422. Part IV: Supplementary provisions
  423. Normal rent
  424. 20Paragraph 20 Repealed
  425. Accountancy rental earnings
  426. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  427. Rental earnings
  428. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  429. Periods of account which straddle 26th November 1996
  430. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  431. Time apportionment where periods do not coincide
  432. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  433. Connected persons
  434. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  435. Assets which represent the leased asset
  436. 26Paragraph 26 Repealed
  437. Existing schemes and new schemes
  438. 27Paragraph 27 Repealed
  439. Accounting purposes and normal accountancy practice
  440. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  441. Assessments and adjustments
  442. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  443. Interpretation
  444. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  445. Schedule 13: Loan relationships: amendment of transitional provisions
  446. Introductory
  447. 1Paragraph 1
  448. Transitional rules for transitional accounting periods
  449. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  450. Opening valuations as at 1st April 1996
  451. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  452. Adjustments in the case of pre-commencement trading relationships
  453. 4Paragraph 4
  454. Chargeable assets held after commencement
  455. 5Paragraph 5
  456. Adjustments in the case of chargeable assets
  457. 6Paragraph 6
  458. Commencement of Schedule
  459. 7Paragraph 7
  460. Schedule 14
  461. Introductory
  462. 1Paragraph 1
  463. New Chapter on long-life assets
  464. 2Paragraph 2
  465. Consequential amendments
  466. 3Paragraph 3
  467. 4Paragraph 4
  468. 5Paragraph 5
  469. 6Paragraph 6
  470. 7Paragraph 7
  471. 8Paragraph 8
  472. 9Paragraph 9
  473. Commencement
  474. 10Paragraph 10
  475. Schedule 15: Capital allowances: Schedule A cases etc
  476. Repeal of existing rules
  477. 1Paragraph 1
  478. Removal of restriction on set-off of losses
  479. 2Paragraph 2
  480. New general provision
  481. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  482. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  483. Manner of making allowances and charges
  484. 5Paragraph 5
  485. 6Paragraph 6
  486. Meaning of capital expenditure
  487. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  488. Consequential amendment of section 434E of the Taxes Act 1988
  489. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  490. Commencement
  491. 9Paragraph 9
  492. Schedule 16
  493. Part I: Amendments of the Capital Allowances Act 1990
  494. Introductory
  495. 1Paragraph 1
  496. Interpretation of Chapter VI of Part II
  497. 2Paragraph 2
  498. Allowances in respect of expenditure by equipment lessors
  499. 3Paragraph 3
  500. Fixtures in respect of which more than one person gets an allowance
  501. 4Paragraph 4
  502. Disposal value in avoidance cases
  503. 5Paragraph 5
  504. Apportionment of expenditure by election
  505. 6Paragraph 6
  506. Prohibition of double allowances
  507. 7Paragraph 7
  508. Construction of amendments
  509. 8Paragraph 8
  510. Part II: Consequential amendment of the Taxes Management Act 1970
  511. 9Paragraph 9
  512. Schedule 17: Chargeable gains: re-investment relief
  513. Introductory
  514. 1Paragraph 1
  515. Qualifying investments
  516. 2Paragraph 2
  517. Loss of relief
  518. 3Paragraph 3
  519. Meaning of “qualifying company”
  520. 4Paragraph 4
  521. Meaning of “qualifying trade”
  522. 5Paragraph 5
  523. Interpretation of Chapter IA of Part V
  524. 6Paragraph 6
  525. Commencement
  526. 7Paragraph 7
  527. Schedule 18: Repeals
  528. IHydrocarbon Oil Duty
  529. IIGaming Duty
  530. 1Paragraph 1
  531. 2Paragraph 2
  532. IIIVehicle Excise and Registration: Exempt vehicles
  533. IVValue Added Tax
  534. VIndirect taxes
  535. VIIncome Tax, Corporation Tax and Capital Gains Tax
  536. 1Paragraph 1
  537. 2Paragraph 2
  538. 3Paragraph 3
  539. 1Paragraph 1
  540. 2Paragraph 2
  541. 1Paragraph 1
  542. 2Paragraph 2
  543. 3Paragraph 3
  544. 4Paragraph 4
  545. 5Paragraph 5
  546. 6Paragraph 6
  547. 1Paragraph 1
  548. 2Paragraph 2
  549. 3Paragraph 3
  550. 4Paragraph 4
  551. VIIStamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax
  552. 1Paragraph 1
  553. 2Paragraph 2
  554. 3Paragraph 3
  555. 4Paragraph 4
  556. 5Paragraph 5
  557. 6Paragraph 6
  558. 7Paragraph 7
  559. 8Paragraph 8
  560. 9Paragraph 9
  561. 10Paragraph 10