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INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE

INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE (Added 2 of 1971 s. 27) 35B. Buildings and structures bought unused Where capital expenditure is incurred on the construction of a building or structure and, before that building or structure is used, the relevant interest therein is sold- (a) the expenditure actually incurred on the construction thereof shall be left out of account for the purposes of this Part and any initial allowance made under section 34 shall be disallowed and such additional assessments as may be necessary consequent thereon shall be made; but (b) (i) in a case where the person who sells that interest incurred that expenditure and made that sale in the course of a trade which consists, in whole or part, in the construction or development of buildings or structures for the purpose of sale, the person who buys that interest shall be deemed for those purposes to have incurred, on the date when the purchase price becomes payable, capital expenditure on the construction thereof equal to the net price paid by him for that interest; and (ii) in any other case, the person who buys that interest shall be deemed for those purposes to have incurred, on the date when the purchase price becomes payable, capital expenditure on the construction thereof equal to the expenditure actually incurred on the construction of the building or structure or to the net price paid by him for that interest, whichever is the less: (Replaced 29 of 1982 s. 7) Provided that- (a) where in a case to which paragraph (b) (i) applies the relevant interest in the building or structure is sold more than once before the building or structure is used, only the person who buys that interest on the occasion of the last of those sales shall be deemed to have incurred capital expenditure on the construction of the building or structure and that capital expenditure shall be equal to the net price paid on the first sale or the net price paid by him, whichever is the less; (b) where in a case to which paragraph (b) (ii) applies the relevant interest in the building or structure is sold more than once before the building or structure is used, that paragraph shall have effect only in relation to the last of those sales. (Replaced 29 of 1982 s. 7) (Added 2 of 1971 s. 27) 36. Rebuilding allowance for a commercial building or structure Where at the end of the basis period for any year of assessment a person is entitled to an interest in a commercial building or structure and where that interest is the relevant interest in relation to the capital expenditure incurred on the construction of that building or structure, an allowance to be known as a "rebuilding allowance" equal to 2% of the capital expenditure incurred on the construction of such building or structure shall be made to him for that year of assessment.

(Replaced 36 of 1955 s. 42. Amended 26 of 1969 s. 18; 30 of 1990 s. 3) 36A. Application of provisions to machinery or plant (1) Except where otherwise provided, in relation to the initial and annual allowances on machinery or plant- (a) sections 37, 37A, 38 and 39 shall apply to the years of assessment up to and including the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1979; and (b) section 39B, 39C and 39D shall apply to the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1980 and to subsequent years of assessment.

(2) Where in relation to any machinery or plant the Commissioner is satisfied that in respect of any year of assessment commencing on or after 1 April 1980 the application of any of the provisions of the sections referred to in subsection (1) (b) is impracticable or inequitable, he may direct that the provisions of the sections referred to in subsection (1) (a) shall apply to the extent and for the duration specified in the direction.

(3) Where under subsection (2) the Commissioner directs that the provisions of section 37 shall apply to any machinery or plant in respect of- (a) the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1980, the initial allowance shall be equal to 35% of the expenditure referred to in subsection (1) of that section; (b) any year of assessment commencing on or after 1 April 1981, the initial allowance shall be equal to 55% of the expenditure referred to in subsection (1) of that section. (Replaced 29 of 1982 s. 8) (Added 63 of 1980 s. 2) 37. Initial and annual allowances, machinery or plant (1) Where a person carrying on a trade, profession or business incurs capital expenditure on the provision of machinery or plant for the purposes of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV then, except where such expenditure is expenditure of a kind described in section 16B(1) (b), there shall be made to him, for the year of assessment in the basis period for which the expenditure is incurred, an allowance, to be known as an "initial allowance". (Amended 30 of 1950 Schedule; 35 of 1965 s. 19; 26 of 1969 s. 19; 23 of 1974 s. 2) (1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), the initial allowance shall be- (a) in respect of a year of assessment up to and including the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1973, equal to one-fifth of the expenditure referred to in subsection (1); and (b) in respect of the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1974 and all subsequent years of assessment up to and including the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1979, equal to one-quarter of such expenditure. (Added 23 of 1974 s. 2. Amended 32 of 1981 s. 4) (2) Where at the end of the basis period for any year of assessment a person owns and has in use machinery or plant for the purposes of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV there shall be made to him in respect of that year of assessment an allowance to be known as an "annual allowance" for depreciation by wear and tear of those assets. The allowance shall be calculated at the rates prescribed by the Board of Inland Revenue and shall be computed on the reducing value of the asset, which shall be the cost of the asset reduced by- (a) any initial allowance computed in accordance with the provisions of this section; and (b) by the annual allowances computed under the provisions of this section: Provided that- (a) where the asset was acquired before the basis period in respect of the year of assessment 1947/48 the value at the end of the basis period shall be computed by deducting from the amount paid for the asset by its present owner annual allowances as if this subsection had been in force during the whole period of ownership of the asset excluding any period during which the owner was deprived of the use of the asset by reason of enemy occupation; (b) the Commissioner may in his discretion allow a higher rate than that prescribed by the Board of Inland Revenue. (Amended 16 of 1951 s. 7; 35 of 1965 s. 19; 26 of 1969 s. 19) (2A) For the purposes of subsection (2), in any case where machinery or plant is owned and used by a person for any period immediately before he uses it for the purposes of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV, "cost of the asset" means the sum computed by deducting from the actual cost the notional amount of the annual allowances which would have been made under subsection (2) to the owner if since acquiring the asset he had used it for the purpose of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV. (Added 26 of 1969 s. 19) (3) Nothing in subsection (2) shall apply in respect of any machinery or plant owned and used by a person for the purposes of his trade or business where such machinery or plant represents scientific research expenditure of a capital nature which pursuant to section 16B (1) (b) has been allowed as a deduction in ascertaining the profits from such trade or business in respect of which such person is chargeable to tax under Part IV for any year of assessment. (Added 35 of 1965 s. 19) (4) If a person succeeds to any trade, profession or business which immediately before the succession- (a) was carried on by another person; and (b) made use of machinery or plant for the purpose of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV, and, immediately after the succession, such machinery or plant, without being sold to the successor, is in use in that trade, profession or business for the same purpose, the reduced value of such machinery or plant shall, for the purpose of computing annual allowances under subsection (2), be taken to be the reduced value thereof still unallowed to that other person as at the time of the succession. (Added 2 of 1971 s.

28) (5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), no initial allowance shall be made under this Part by virtue of subsection (4). (Added 2 of 1971 s. 28) 37A. Initial and annual allowances in respect of machinery and plant acquired under hire purchase agreement (1) Where a person carrying on a trade, profession or business incurs capital expenditure under a hire purchase agreement on the provision of machinery or plant for the purposes of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV then, except where such expenditure is expenditure of a kind described in section 16B (1) (b), there shall be made to him for each year of assessment in the basis period for which he has made an instalment payment under such agreement, an initial allowance. (Amended 35 of 1965 s.

20; 26 of 1969 s. 20; 23 of 1974 s. 3) (1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), the initial allowance shall be- (a) in respect of a year of assessment up to and including the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1973, equal to one-fifth of the capital portion only of the instalment payment referred to in subsection (1); (b) in respect of the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1974 and all subsequent years of assessment up to and including the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1979, equal to one-quarter of the capital portion only of such payment; (c) in respect of the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1980 equal to 35% of the capital portion only of such payment; (Replaced 29 of 1982 s. 9) (d) in respect of the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1981 and all subsequent years of assessment up to and including the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1988, equal to 55% of the capital portion only of such payment; and (Added 29 of 1982 s. 9. Amended 17 of 1989 s.

8) (e) in respect of any year of assessment commencing on or after 1 April 1989, equal to 60% of the capital portion only of such payment. (Added 17 of 1989 s. 8) (2) Where at the end of the basis period for any year of assessment a person has in use for the purposes of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV, machinery or plant acquired by him under a hire purchase agreement there shall be made to him in respect of that year of assessment an annual allowance for depreciation by wear and tear on such machinery or plant. (Amended 26 of 1969 s. 20) (3) An annual allowance under this section shall be calculated at rates prescribed by the Board of Inland Revenue and shall be computed on the reducing value of such machinery or plant which shall be the full cost thereof, excluding any interest which may be included in such cost under the terms of the agreement and reduced by any initial or previous annual allowances computed under this section: (Amended 35 of 1965 s. 20) Provided that the Commissioner may in his discretion allow a higher rate than that prescribed by the Board of Inland Revenue.

(4) Nothing in subsection (2) shall apply in respect of any machinery or plant used by a person for the purposes of his trade or business where such machinery or plant represents scientific research expenditure of a capital nature which pursuant to section 16B (1) (b) has been allowed as a deduction in ascertaining the profits from such trade or business in respect of which such person is chargeable to tax under Part IV for any year of assessment. (Added 35 of 1965 s. 20) (Added 36 of 1955 s. 43) 38. Balancing allowances and charges, machinery or plant (1) Where any of the following events occurs in the case of any machinery or plant in respect of which an initial allowance or an annual allowance has been made for any year of assessment to a person carrying on a trade, profession or business, that is to say, either- (Amended 30 of 1950 Schedule) (a) the machinery or plant is sold, whether while still in use or not; or (b) the machinery or plant is destroyed; or (c) the machinery or plant is put out of use as being worn out or obsolete or otherwise useless or no longer required, and the event in question occurs either whilst the person is carrying on his trade, profession or business or at the time when he ceases so to do, an allowance or charge, to be known as a "balancing allowance" or a "balancing charge", shall in the circumstances mentioned in this section, be made to or, as the case may be, on that person for the year of assessment in his basis period for which that event occurs. (Amended 36 of 1955 s. 44) (2) Where there are no sale, insurance, salvage or compensation moneys or where the amount of the capital expenditure of the person in question on the provision of the plant or machinery still unallowed as at the time of the event exceeds those moneys, a balancing allowance shall be made, and the amount thereof shall be the amount of the expenditure still unallowed as aforesaid or, as the case may be, the excess thereof over the said moneys; but in a case where an annual allowance has been computed on the cost of the asset as determined in accordance with section 37 (2A), the cost of the asset as computed in accordance with that subsection shall be deemed to be the capital expenditure for the purposes of this subsection and in a case where an annual allowance has been computed in accordance with section 37 (4), the reduced value used for the purpose of that subsection shall be deemed to be the capital expenditure for the purposes of this subsection. (Amended 26 of 1969 s. 21; 2 of 1971 s. 29) (3) If the sale, insurance, salvage or compensation moneys exceed the amount, if any, of the said expenditure still unallowed as at the time of the event, a balancing charge shall be made, and the amount on which it is made shall be an amount equal to the excess or, where the said amount still unallowed is nil, to the said moneys.

(4) Where by reason of a person ceasing to carry on his trade, profession or business, machinery or plant in respect of which an initial or an annual allowance has been made is put out of use, such person shall be deemed to have received immediately prior to such cessation, sale moneys for such machinery or plant of such an amount as the Commissioner may consider it would have realized had it been sold in the open market at the time of cessation: Provided that if such person sells such machinery or plant within 12 months of the date of cessation he may claim the adjustment of any balancing allowance or charge which may have been made to or on him as if such sale had taken place immediately prior to the date of cessation and notwithstanding the provisions of section 70 an assessor shall make any necessary correction to any assessment. (Added 36 of 1955 s. 44. Amended 35 of 1965 s. 21) (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, in no case shall the amount on which a balancing charge is made on a person exceed the aggregate of the following amounts, that is to say- (Amended 36 of 1955 s.

44) (a) the amount of the initial allowance, if any, made to him in respect of the expenditure in question; (b) the amount of the annual allowances, if any, made to him in respect of the expenditure in question, including any allowance computed under proviso (b) to section 37 (2) at a rate higher than that prescribed by the Board of Inland Revenue. (Amended 3 of 1949 s. 13) 38A. Determination of cost of individual assets sold together for one price Where assets which qualify for initial or annual allowances under this Part are sold together or with other assets in pursuance of one bargain the Commissioner shall for the purposes of the calculation of the allowances and charges provided for in this Part, and having regard to all the circumstances of the transaction allocate a purchase price to each individual asset.

(Added 36 of 1955 s. 45) 38B. Commissioner's power to determine the true value of an asset on sale Where an asset which qualifies for initial or annual allowances is sold, and- (a) the buyer is a person over whom the seller has control; or (b) the seller is a person over whom the buyer has control; or (c) both the seller and the buyer are persons over both of whom some other person has control; or (d) the sale is between a husband and wife, not being a wife living apart from her husband, (Added 71 of 1983 s. 18) the Commissioner shall, if he is of the opinion that the sale price of such asset does not represent its true market value at the time of such sale, determine such true market value and the amount so determined shall be deemed to be the sale price of such asset for the purpose of calculating the allowances and charges provided for in this Part. (Added 36 of 1955 s. 45) 38C. Special provision as to allowances on a change in partnership Where a change occurs in a partnership of persons carrying on any trade, profession or business and an application made in accordance with the provisions of the proviso to section 22 (3) has been properly received by an assessor the provisions of this Part shall apply as if no such change had occurred except that any annual and rebuilding allowances in respect of assets of the old partnership acquired by the new partnership granted for the year of assessment in which such assets were acquired by the new partnership, shall be apportioned pro rata between the old and the new partnership. (Added 36 of 1955 s. 45. Amended 49 of 1956 s. 27) 39. Replacement of machinery or plant Where machinery or plant in the case of which any of the events mentioned in section 38 (1) has occurred is replaced by the owner thereof and a balancing charge falls to be made on him by reason of that event or, but for the provisions of this section, would have fallen to be made on him by reason thereof, then, if by notice in writing to the Commissioner he so elects, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say- (Amended 30 of 1950 Schedule) (a) if the amount on which the charge would have been made is greater than the capital expenditure on providing the new machinery or plant- (i) the charge shall be made only on an amount equal to the difference; and (ii) no initial allowance, no balancing allowance and no annual allowance shall be made or allowed in respect of the new machinery or plant or the expenditure on the provision thereof; and (iii) in considering whether any, and, if so, what balancing charge falls to be made in respect of the expenditure on the new machinery or plant, there shall be deemed to have been made in respect of that expenditure an initial allowance equal to the full amount of that expenditure; (b) if the capital expenditure on providing the new machinery or plant is equal to or greater than the amount on which the charge would have been made- (i) the charge shall not be made; and (ii) the amount of any initial allowance in respect of the said expenditure shall be calculated as if the expenditure had been reduced by the amount on which the charge would have been made; and (iii) in considering what annual allowance is to be made in respect of the new machinery or plant, there shall be left out of account a proportion of the machinery or plant equal to the proportion which the amount on which the charge would have been made bears to the amount of the said expenditure; and (iv) in considering whether any and, if so, what balancing allowance or balancing charge falls to be made in respect of the new machinery or plant, the initial allowance in respect thereof shall be deemed to have been increased by an amount equal to the amount on which the charge would have been made.

39A. Reduction of allowances not to affect calculation of subsequent allowances Where, by virtue of section 12 (2), 18F (1) or 19E (1), the amount of any allowance provided for under this Part is reduced, such reduction shall not affect the calculation of subsequent allowances which shall be computed in the first place as if the full amount of the allowance had been granted and shall then where appropriate be apportioned in relation to the extent to which the relevant assets are or have been used in the production of assessable income or assessable profits. (Added 7 of 1975 s. 27) 39B. Initial and annual allowances on machinery or plant under the pooling system (1) Where a person carrying on a trade, profession or business incurs capital expenditure on the provision of machinery or plant for the purposes of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV then, except where such expenditure is expenditure of a kind described in section 16B (1) (b), there shall be made to him, for the year of assessment in the basis period for which the expenditure is incurred, an allowance, to be known as an "initial allowance". (Amended 32 of 1981 s. 6) (1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), the initial allowance shall be equal to the following percentages of the expenditure referred to in that subsection- (a) for the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1980, 35%; (b) for the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1981 and all subsequent years of assessment up to and including the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1988, 55%; (Amended 17 of 1989 s. 9) (c) for any year of assessment commencing on or after 1 April 1989, 60%.

(Added 17 of 1989 s. 9) (Replaced 29 of 1982 s. 10) (2) Where during the basis period for any year of assessment or during the basis period for any earlier year of assessment a person owns or has owned and has in use or has had in use any machinery or plant for the purposes of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV, there shall be made to him in respect of each class of machinery or plant for that year of assessment an allowance, to be known as an "annual allowance", for depreciation by wear and tear of such machinery or plant. (Amended L. N.

262 of 1985) (3) The annual allowance shall be calculated at the rates of depreciation prescribed by the Board of Inland Revenue and shall be computed on the reducing value of each class of machinery or plant.

(4) Subject to subsections (5), (6) and (7), the reducing value of a class of machinery or plant shall be the aggregate capital expenditure incurred on the provision of the machinery or plant belonging to that class reduced by- (a) the aggregate of any initial allowances computed in accordance with section 37 in respect of any machinery or plant belonging to that class; (b) the aggregate of any annual allowances computed in accordance with section 37 in respect of any machinery or plant belonging to that class; (c) the aggregate of any initial allowances computed in accordance with this section in respect of any machinery or plant belonging to that class; (d) any annual allowance computed in accordance with this section; (e) any sale, insurance, salvage or compensation moneys received in respect of any machinery or plant belonging to that class; and (f) any reducing value of machinery or plant excluded from the total reducing value of a class of machinery or plant under section 39C (3).

(5) Where, prior to the commencement of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 4) Ordinance 1980 (63 of 1980), any machinery or plant has been the subject of a balancing allowance or balancing charge computed, in accordance with section 38, such machinery or plant shall, for the purposes of subsection (4), be excluded from the class of machinery or plant.

(6) Where any machinery or plant is owned and used by a person for any period immediately before he uses it for the purposes of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV, the capital expenditure incurred on the provision of the machinery or plant for the purposes of subsection (4) shall be computed by deducting from the actual cost the notional amount of the annual allowances which would have been made under section 37 to the owner if since acquiring the machinery or plant he had used it for the purpose of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV.

(7) If a person succeeds to any trade, profession or business which immediately before the succession- (a) was carried on by another person; and (b) the machinery or plant that was used at any time by that other person for the purpose of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV is not sold to the successor, the reducing value of such machinery or plant shall, for the purpose of computing annual allowances under subsection (3), be taken to be the reducing value thereof still unallowed to that other person as at the time of succession.

(8) Notwithstanding subsection (7), no initial allowance shall be made under this Part by virtue of subsection (7).

(9) No annual allowance shall be made where the reductions made under subsection (4) exceed the aggregate capital expenditure incurred on the provision of the class of machinery or plant.

(10) Nothing in subsection (2) shall apply in respect of any machinery or plant owned and used by a person for the purposes of his trade or business where such machinery or plant represents scientific research expenditure of a capital nature which pursuant to section 16B (1) (b) has been allowed as a deduction in ascertaining the profits from such trade or business in respect of which such person is chargeable to tax under Part IV for any year of assessment.

(11) The Commissioner may in his discretion allow a higher rate of depreciation in respect of any class of machinery or plant than that prescribed by the Board of Inland Revenue.

(Added 63 of 1980 s. 3) 39C. Pooling system when not to apply (1) The provisions of this Part which applied immediately prior to the commencement of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 4) Ordinance 1980 (63 of 1980) shall continue to apply- (a) subject to subsection (2), in respect of machinery or plant to which section 37A applies; (b) in respect of machinery or plant to which section 39A applies.

(2) Where, pursuant to the terms and conditions of a hire purchase agreement, machinery or plant to which section 37A applies passes into the ownership of the person carrying on a trade, profession or business who incurred the capital expenditure under the hire purchase agreement, the reducing value of such machinery or plant computed in accordance with that section shall be included in the class of machinery or plant for the purposes of section 39B for the years of assessment following the year of assessment during the basis period for which the machinery or plant passed into the ownership of that person.

(3) Where any machinery or plant which is included in a class of machinery or plant for the purposes of section 39B and which was used wholly and exclusively in the production of profits chargeable to tax under Part IV is subsequently not so used wholly and exclusively in the production of such profits, the provisions of this Part which applied immediately prior to the commencement of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 4) Ordinance 1980 (63 of 1980) shall apply to such machinery or plant in respect of the year of assessment during the basis period for which the machinery or plant is subsequently not used wholly and exclusively in the production of profits chargeable to tax under Part IV, and the reducing value of such machinery or plant shall be deemed to be such an amount as the Commissioner may consider it would have realized had it been sold in the open market at the time it ceased to be used wholly and exclusively in the production of such profits, and such reducing value shall be excluded from the total reducing value of that class of machinery or plant.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (2), in the application of section 37A, subsection (2) of that section shall be read as if "during the basis period" was substituted for "at the end of the basis period".

(Added 63 of 1980 s. 3) 39D. Balancing allowances and charges under the pooling system (1) Where at the end of a basis period for a year of assessment the aggregate reductions made under section 39B (4) in respect of a class of machinery or plant exceed the aggregate capital expenditure incurred by a person on the provision of machinery or plant belonging to that class- (a) a charge, to be known as a "balancing charge", shall be made on him, and the amount on which it is made shall be an amount equal to the excess; and (b) the reducing value at the end of the basis period for that year of assessment shall be nil.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) and except where subsection (4) applies, where a person ceases to carry on his trade, profession or business in a year of assessment, the aggregate of the sale, insurance, salvage or compensation moneys, if any, of the machinery or plant in respect of which an initial allowance or annual allowance has been made shall be compared with the amount of the reducing value of the class of machinery or plant at the end of the basis period for that year of assessment and- (a) where there are no sale, insurance, salvage or compensation moneys, or where the amount of the reducing value exceeds the aggregate of such moneys, an allowance, to be known as a "balancing allowance", shall be made to him, and the amount thereof shall be the amount of the reducing value or, as the case may be, the excess thereof over the aggregate of the said moneys; or (b) where there are, sale insurance, salvage or compensation moneys, and the aggregate of such moneys exceeds the amount, if any, of the reducing value, a charge, to be known as a "balancing charge", shall be made on him, and the amount on which it is made shall be an amount equal to the excess or, where the reducing value is nil, to the aggregate of the said moneys.

(3) Subsection (2) shall not apply on the occasion on which any machinery or plant, to which section 39B (7) applies, passes by way of succession.

(4) Where by reason of a person ceasing to carry on his trade, profession or business machinery or plant in respect of which an initial allowance or annual allowance has been made is put out of use and there are no sale, insurance, salvage or compensation moneys, such person shall, subject to subsection (5), be deemed to have received immediately prior to such cessation, sale moneys for such machinery or plant of such an amount as the Commissioner may consider it would have realized had it been sold in the open market at the time of cessation.

(5) If a person sells any machinery or plant referred to in subsection (4) within 12 months of the date of cessation he may claim the adjustment of any balancing allowance or balancing charge which may have been made to or on him as if such sale had taken place immediately prior to the date of cessation and notwithstanding section 70 an assessor shall make any necessary correction to any assessment.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where the aggregate of any sale, insurance, salvage or compensation moneys in respect of any machinery or plant exceeds the capital expenditure incurred on the provision of that machinery or plant, the aggregate of such moneys shall- (a) for the purposes of calculating a balancing charge under subsection (2) (b); and (b) in calculating the reducing value of the class of machinery or plant under section 39B (4), not exceed the capital expenditure incurred on the provision of that machinery or plant.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6), the capital expenditure incurred on the provision of the machinery or plant shall be taken as- (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 6) (a) in a case where section 37 (2A) applies, the "cost of the asset" computed in accordance with that section; (b) in a case where section 39B (6) applies, the capital expenditure computed in accordance with that section; or (c) in any other case, the aggregate capital expenditure incurred by the person in question on the provision of the machinery or plant for the purposes of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV.

(Added 63 of 1980 s. 3) 39E. Allowances under this Part in respect of capital expenditure on leased machinery and plant (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Part, a person (in this section referred to as "the taxpayer") who incurs capital expenditure on the provision of machinery or plant, being machinery or plant acquired by the taxpayer under a contract entered into after the commencement of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance 1986 (7 of 1986), for the purpose of producing profits chargeable to tax under Part IV shall not have made to him the initial or annual allowances prescribed in section 37, 37A or 39B if, at a time when the machinery or plant is owned by the taxpayer, a person holds rights as lessee under a lease of the machinery or plant, and- (a) the machinery or plant was, prior to its acquisition by the taxpayer, owned and used by that person (whether alone or with others), or any associate of that person (which person or any such associate is hereinafter referred to as "the end-user"); or (b) the machinery or plant, not being a ship or aircraft or any part thereof, is while the lease is in force- (i) used wholly or principally outside Hong Kong by a person other than the taxpayer; or (Amended 15 of 1992 s. 4) (ii) the whole or a predominant part of the cost of the acquisition or construction of the machinery or plant was financed directly or indirectly by a non-recourse debt; or (c) the machinery or plant is a ship or aircraft or any part thereof and- (i) the person holding rights as lessee is not an operator of a Hong Kong ship or aircraft; or (ii) the whole or a predominant part of the cost of acquisition or construction of the ship or aircraft or the part thereof was financed directly or indirectly by a non-recourse debt. (Replaced 15 of 1992 s. 4) (2) Subsection (1) (a) shall not apply where- (a) the machinery or plant was acquired by the taxpayer on payment from the end-user at not more than the price which the end-user paid to the supplier (not being a supplier who is himself an end-user); and (b) no initial or annual allowances have at any time prior to the acquisition of the machinery or plant by the taxpayer been made under section 37, 37A or 39B to the end-user in respect of such machinery or plant.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) an allowance shall be deemed not to have been made if the end-user, by notice in writing to the Commissioner within 3 months of the date on which the capital expenditure on the provision of machinery or plant giving rise to the allowance is incurred, or within such further time as the Commissioner may, in any particular case, permit, disclaims such allowance.

(4) For the purposes of this section, where a trustee of a trust estate or a corporation controlled by such a trustee owns machinery or plant or holds rights as a lessee under a lease of machinery or plant, the trustee, the corporation and the beneficiary under the trust shall each be deemed to be the owner or holder, as the case may be, of rights as a lessee of the machinery or plant. (Replaced 15 of 1992 s. 4) (5) In this section- "acquisition" means acquisition by a person as owner and includes holding or hiring under a hire-purchase agreement or, if the hire-purchase agreement is a conditional sale agreement, holding as purchaser; "arrangement" includes- (a) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, promise or undertaking, whether express or implied, and whether or not enforceable, or intended to be enforceable, by legal proceedings; and (b) any scheme, plan, proposal, action or course of action or course of conduct; "associate", in relation to a person holding rights as lessee under any lease of machinery or plant (including a person who is deemed to be holding such rights), means-(Amended 15 of 1992 s. 4) (a) where the person holding such rights is a natural person- (i) a relative of the person holding such rights; (ii) a partner of the person holding such rights and any relative of that partner; (iii) a partnership in which the person holding such rights is a partner; (iv) any corporation controlled by the person holding such rights, by a partner of the person holding such rights or by a partnership in which the person holding such rights is a partner; (v) any director or principal officer of any such corporation as is referred to in subparagraph (iv); (b) where the person holding such rights is a corporation- (i) any associated corporation; (ii) any person who controls the corporation and any partner of such person, and, where either such person is a natural person, any relative of such person; (iii) any director or principal officer of that corporation or of any associated corporation and any relative of any such director or officer; (iv) any partner of the corporation and, where such partner is a natural person, any relative of such partner; (c) where the person holding such rights is a partnership- (i) any member of the partnership and, where such member is a natural person, any relative of such member; (ii) any partner of the partnership and, where such partner is a natural person, any relative of such partner and, where such partner is a partnership, any relative of any member of that partnership who is a natural person; (iii) any corporation controlled by the partnership or by any partner thereof or, where such a partner is a natural person, any relative of such partner; (iv) any corporation of which any partner is a director or principal officer; (v) any director or principal officer of a corporation referred to in subparagraph (iii); "associated corporation" means- (a) a corporation over which the person holding rights under any lease of machinery or plant (including a person who is deemed to be holding such rights) has control; (Amended 15 of 1992 s. 4) (b) a corporation which has control over such person holding rights, being a corporation; (c) a corporation which is under the control of the same person as such person holding rights, being a corporation; "beneficiary under the trust" means any person who benefits or is capable (whether by the exercise of a power of appointment or otherwise) of benefiting under a trust estate, either directly or through any interposed person, or who is able or might reasonably be expected to be able, whether directly or indirectly, to control the activities of the trust estate or the application of its corpus or income; (Replaced 15 of 1992 s. 4) "conditional sale agreement" means an agreement for the sale of goods under which the purchase price or part of it is payable by instalments, and the property in the goods remains in the seller (notwithstanding that the buyer is to be in possession of the goods) until such conditions as to the payment of instalments or otherwise as may be specified in the agreement are fulfilled; "control", in relation to a corporation, means the power of a person to secure- (a) by means of the holding of shares or the possession of voting power in or in relation to that or any other corporation; or (b) by virtue of any powers conferred by the articles of association or other document regulating that or any other corporation, that the affairs of the first-mentioned corporation are conducted in accordance with the wishes of that person; "end-user" means any person (whether alone or with others) holding rights as lessee under a lease of machinery or plant or any associate of such person; "held for use" includes installed ready for use and held in reserve; "lease" includes- (a) any arrangement under which a right to use machinery or plant is granted by the owner of the machinery or plant to another person; and (b) any arrangement under which a right to use machinery or plant, being a right derived directly or indirectly from a right referred to in paragraph (a), is granted by a person to another person, but does not include a hire-purchase agreement or a conditional sale agreement unless, in the opinion of the Commissioner, the right under the agreement to purchase or obtain the property in the goods would reasonably be expected not to be exercised; "non-recourse debt", in relation to the financing of the whole or a predominant part of the cost of the acquisition or construction of any machinery or plant, means a debt where the rights of the creditor in the event of default in the repayment of principal or payment of interest- (a) are limited wholly or predominantly to any or all of the following- (i) rights (including a right to moneys payable) in relation to the machinery or plant or the use of the machinery or plant; (ii) rights (including rights to moneys payable) in relation to goods produced, supplied, carried, transmitted or delivered, or services provided, by means of the machinery or plant; (iii) rights (including a right to moneys payable) in relation to the loss or disposal of the whole or a part of the machinery or plant or of the taxpayer's interest in the machinery or plant; (iv) any conjunction of such rights as are referred to in subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii); (v) rights in respect of a mortgage or other security over the machinery or plant; or (vi) rights arising out of any arrangement relating to the financial obligations of the end-user of the machinery or plant towards the taxpayer, being financial obligations in relation to the machinery or plant; (b) are in the opinion of the Commissioner capable of being limited as described in paragraph (a), having regard to either or both of the following- (i) the assets of the taxpayer; (ii) any arrangement to which the taxpayer is a party; or (c) where paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, are limited by reason that not all of the assets of the taxpayer (not being assets that are security for a debt of the taxpayer other than a debt arising in relation to the financing of the whole or part of the cost of the acquisition of the machinery or plant) would be available for the purpose of the discharge of the whole of the debt so arising (including the payment of interest) in the event of any action or actions by the creditor or creditors against the taxpayer arising out of the debt; "operator of a Hong Kong aircraft" means a person who- (a) holds an air operators' certificate issued under the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 1977 (App. III, p. DP1) by the Governor of Hong Kong; and (b) carries on business as an operator of aircraft and the business is controlled and managed in Hong Kong; (Added 15 of 1992 s. 4) "operator of a Hong Kong ship" means a person who- (a) is responsible for defraying all or a substantial portion of the expenses of operating the ship and the ship operates mainly in the waters of Hong Kong or between the waters of Hong Kong and waters within the river trade limits; and (b) carries on business as an operator of ships and the business is controlled and managed in Hong Kong; (Added 15 of 1992 s. 4) "principal officer" means- (a) a person employed by a corporation who, either alone or jointly with one or more other persons, is responsible under the immediate authority of the directors for the conduct of the business of the corporation; or (b) a person so employed who, under the immediate authority of a director of the body corporate or a person to whom paragraph (a) applies, exercises managerial functions in respect of the body corporate; "relative" means the spouse, parent, child, brother or sister of the relevant person, and, in deducing such a relationship, an adopted child shall be deemed to be a child both of the natural parents and the adopting parent and a step child to be the child of both the natural parents and of any step parent; "used" includes held for use.

(6) The amendments made to this section by section 4 (b) and (d) (iv) of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Ordinance 1992 (15 of 1992) apply to capital expenditure on the provision of machinery or plant under a transaction entered into on or after 15 November 1990 except expenditure under a transaction which was the subject of an application for advance clearance made to the Commissioner before 15 November 1990 and the Commissioner before or after that date expressed the opinion that the transaction would not fall within the terms of section 61A or, where no such application was made in respect of a transaction entered into before 15 November 1990 under which expenditure was incurred on or after 15 November 1990, the transaction under which the expenditure was made is, in the Commissioner's opinion, of the same type as any for which, in the circumstances prevailing as at 14 November 1990, he would have expressed the opinion that the transaction would not fall within the terms of section 61A. (Added 15 of 1992 s. 4) (Added 7 of 1986 s. 7) 40. Interpretation (1) In this Part- "basis period" has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 except that- (a) where 2 basis periods overlap the period common to both shall be deemed to fall in the first basis period only; and (b) where there is an interval between the end of the basis period for one year of assessment and the beginning of the basis period for the next year of assessment the interval shall be deemed to fall in the second basis period but where, in respect of salaries tax, the interval is the year ending on 31 March 1973, that interval shall not be deemed to fall in the second basis period; (Replaced 49 of 1956 s. 28. Amended 8 of 1973 s. 8) "capital expenditure"- (a) includes interest paid and commitment fees incurred in respect of a loan made for the sole purpose of financing the provision of an industrial building or structure or commercial building or structure or machinery or plant; but (b) does not include expenditure which is reimbursed by way of or attributable to any grant, subsidy or similar financial assistance and in relation to the person incurring the expenditure does not include any expenditure which is allowed to be deducted in ascertaining for the purpose of Part IV the profits of a trade or business carried on by that person; (Replaced 30 of 1981 s. 7) "capital expenditure on the provision of machinery or plant" includes capital expenditure on alterations to an existing building incidental to the installation of that machinery or plant for the purposes of the trade, profession or business; "class of machinery or plant" means the items of machinery or plant for which the same rate of depreciation is prescribed by the Board of Inland Revenue; (Added 63 of 1980 s. 4) "commercial building or structure" means any building or structure or part of any building or structure used by the person entitled to the relevant interest for the purposes of his trade, profession or business other than an industrial building or structure; (Replaced 35 of 1965 s. 22. Amended 26 of 1969 s. 22) "hire-purchase agreement" means an agreement for the bailment of goods under which the bailee may buy the goods, or under which the property in the goods will or may pass to the bailee; (Added 7 of 1986 s. 8) "industrial building or structure" means any building or structure or part of any building or structure used- (a) for the purposes of a trade carried on in a mill, factory or other similar premises; or (b) for the purposes of a transport, tunnel, dock, water, gas or electricity undertaking or a public telephonic or public telegraphic service; or (Amended 39 of 1969 s. 5) (c) for the purposes of a trade which consists of the manufacture of goods or materials or the subjection of goods or materials to any process; or (d) for the purposes of a trade which consists in the storage- (i) of goods or materials which are to be used in the manufacture of other goods or materials; or (ii) of goods or materials which are to be subjected in the course of a trade to any process; or (iii) of goods or materials on their arrival into Hong Kong; or (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) (e) for the purposes of the business of farming; (f) for the purposes of scientific research in relation to any trade or business, and, in particular, the said expression includes any building or structure or part of any building or structure used by a person carrying on a trade, undertaking or business specified in paragraphs (a) to (e) of this definition and provided by him for the welfare of workers employed in his trade, undertaking or business and in use for that purpose: Provided that- (i) where part of the whole of a building or structure is, and part thereof is not, an industrial building or structure, and the capital expenditure which has been incurred on the construction of the second mentioned part is not more than one-tenth of the total capital expenditure which has been incurred on the construction of the whole building or structure, the whole building or structure and every part thereof shall be treated as an industrial building or structure; and (ii) subject to the provisions of paragraph (i) of this proviso but notwithstanding anything else contained in the foregoing provisions of this definition, the expression "industrial building or structure" shall not include any building or structure or part of any building or structure used as a dwelling house (other than as a dwelling house for the housing of manual workers), retail shop, showroom, hotel or office; (Replaced 35 of 1965 s. 22) "relevant interest" means, in relation to any expenditure incurred on the construction of a building or structure the interest in that building or structure to which the person who incurred the expenditure was entitled when he incurred it; (Amended 49 of 1956 s. 28) "residue of expenditure" means the amount of the capital expenditure incurred in the construction of a building or structure reduced by- (a) the amount of any initial allowance made; (b) any annual allowance made; (c) any balancing allowance granted, and increased by any balancing charges made: Provided that in computing the residue of expenditure there shall be written off, in respect of any year in which no initial or annual allowance fell to be made, an amount of one-fiftieth of the capital expenditure in the case of a year prior to the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1965, and one-twenty-fifth of the capital expenditure in the case of such or any subsequent year of assessment, and for the purposes of this proviso "year" means the period which would have comprised a year of assessment in respect of which an initial or annual allowance would have fallen to be made if the building or structure had then been in use as an industrial building or structure and the provisions of section 34 had then been in force. (Replaced 35 of 1965 s. 22) (2) For the purposes of this Part, any capital expenditure incurred for the purposes of a trade, profession or business by a person about to carry on such trade, profession or business shall be treated as if it had been incurred by that person on the first day upon which he does carry on such trade, profession or business. (Added 35 of 1965 s. 22) (3) References in this Part to capital expenditure incurred on the construction of a building or structure do not include any expenditure incurred on the acquisition of, or of rights in or over, any land. (Added 29 of 1982 s.

11) (Replaced 36 of 1955 s. 46) 40A. Initial allowances in years of assessment 1974/75 to 1975/76 (1) Where- (a) the assessable profits of a person for the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1974 are computed under section 18A; and (b) there is an interval between the end of the basis period for the year of assessment ending on 31 March 1974 and the beginning of the basis period for the year of assessment ending on 31 March 1975, then, notwithstanding paragraph (b) of the definition of "basis period" in section 40 (1), but subject to subsection (3) the initial allowance on capital expenditure provided under this Part shall be made only on the higher of the capital expenditure incurred in the interval or the second basis period referred to paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(2) Where- (a) the assessable profits of a person for the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1974 have been computed under section 18; and (b) there is an interval between the end of the basis period for the year of assessment ending on 31 March 1975 and the beginning of the basis period for the year of assessment ending on 31 March 1976, then, notwithstanding paragraph (b) of the definition of "basis period" in section 40 (1), but subject to subsection (3), the initial allowance on capital expenditure provided under this Part shall, in respect of the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1975, be made only on the higher of the capital expenditure incurred in the interval or in the second basis period referred to in paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(3) Where the amount of capital expenditure incurred in the interval and the second basis period referred to in subsection (1) (b) or (2) (b) is the same, the initial allowance shall be made only in respect of the capital expenditure incurred in the second basis period.

(Added 7 of 1975 s. 28) PART VII PERSONAL ASSESSMENT 40B. Interpretation In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires- "income", in relation to any person, means income derived beneficially by that person; "individual" means a person electing or who has elected to be chargeable to tax under this Part; "joint total income" means joint total income calculated in accordance with section 42A; "loss" and "losses" do not include a loss sustained by a person acting in his capacity as trustee of a trust.

(Replaced 43 of 1989 s. 11) 41. Election for personal assessment (1) Subject to subsection (1A), an individual- (a) of or above the age of 18; and (b) who is or, if he or she is married, whose spouse is either a permanent or temporary resident, may elect for personal assessment on his or her total income in accordance with this Part. (Replaced 43 of 1989 s. 12) (1A) Where- (a) an individual is married and not living apart from his or her spouse; and (b) both that individual and his or her spouse- (i) have income assessable under this Ordinance; and (ii) are eligible to make an election under subsection (1), then that individual may not make such an election unless his or her spouse does so too. (Added 43 of 1989 s. 12) (2) Where an individual is deceased an executor shall have the same right to elect for personal assessment on the total income of the deceased as the deceased would have if he were alive. (Replaced 35 of 1965 s. 23.

Amended 71 of 1983 s. 20; 43 of 1989 s. 12) (2A) Where- (a) a deceased individual, or his executor on his behalf, elected, or is deemed to have elected, to be personally assessed for the year of assessment in which the deceased died; and (b) that individual was a partner in a partnership; and (c) that individual had a share of the partnership assessable profits or losses in the year of assessment following that in which he died, then his executor may claim to have that share of such assessable profits or losses computed in accordance with Part IV included in the deceased's total income for the year of assessment in which he died. (Added 7 of 1975 s. 29) (3) Any election under this sections shall be made in writing and lodged with the Commissioner not later than 2 years after the end of the year of assessment in respect of which the election is made or 1 month after an assessment of income or profits forming part of the individual's total income for such year of assessment becomes final and conclusive under section 70, whichever is the later. (Amended 2 of 1971 s. 31) (4) In this section- "permanent resident" means an individual who ordinarily resides in Hong Kong; (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) "temporary resident" means an individual who stays in Hong Kong for a period or a number of periods amounting to more than 180 days during the year of assessment in respect of which the election is made or for a period or periods amounting to more than 300 days in 2 consecutive years of assessment one of which is the year of assessment in respect of which the election is made.

(Replaced 36 of 1955 s. 47. Amended 71 of 1983 s. 20; 7 of 1986 s. 12) 42. Calculation of total income (1) For the purposes of this Part the total income of an individual for any year of assessment shall, subject to subsection (8), be the aggregate of the following amounts- (a) (i) in respect of the years of assessment up to and including the year of assessment commencing on 1 April 1982 and in a case mentioned in section 5B (5), the sum which is equivalent to that part of the net assessable value as ascertained in accordance with sections 5 (1A) and 5A on which any property tax is chargeable on the individual which represents proportionately the part or parts of the land or buildings or land and buildings in respect of which the property tax is chargeable which have been let for any period during the year of assessment, taking into account both the area or areas let and the period or periods of letting; (Amended 76 of 1975 s. 9; 8 of 1983 s. 12) (ii) in respect of the years of assessment commencing on or after 1 April 1983, the sum equivalent to the net assessable value as ascertained in accordance with sections 5 (1A) and 5B; (Added 8 of 1983 s. 12) (b) the net assessable income of the individual for that year of assessment; and (Replaced 71 of 1983 s. 21) (c) the assessable profits of the individual for that year of assessment computed in accordance with Part IV: (d) (Repealed 17 of 1989 s. 10) Provided that there shall be deducted from that part of the total income arising from paragraph (a) the amount of any interest payable on any money borrowed for the purpose of producing that part of the total income where the amount of such interest has not been allowed and deducted under Part IV. (Amended 17 of 1989 s. 10) (2) There shall be deducted from the total income of an individual for any year of assessment- (a) subject to subsections (3) and (4), the aggregate of approved charitable donations which are made during the year of assessment by the individual and his or her spouse, if such aggregate of donations is not less than $100; and (b) the amount of the individual's loss or share of loss for that year of assessment computed in accordance with Part IV.

(3) An individual shall not be entitled under subsection (2) (a) to deduct for any year of assessment any sum which is allowable as a deduction under section 16, 16B, 16C or 16D or which has been allowed to the individual's spouse against total income that is required to be aggregated with that of the individual under section 42A (1).

(4) The total amount- (a) of any sum which is allowable as a deduction under subsection (2) (a); and (b) any sum which is allowable as a deduction under section 16D, shall not exceed 10% of the total amount of- (i) the total income of the individual for the year of assessment; and (ii) any sum which is allowable as a deduction under section 16D.

(5) Where in any year of assessment the amount of an individual's loss under subsection (2) (b) exceeds that individual's total income, after making the deductions under subsection (2) (a), the amount of such excess shall be carried forward and set off against the individual's total income for future years of assessment: Provided that, in a case where the total incomes of spouses are required to be aggregated under section 42A (1), any such excess for either spouse shall, before being carried forward and set off under this subsection, be reduced as far as can be done by being set off against the total income of the other spouse as reduced under subsection (2).

(6) The proviso to subsection (5) shall apply, with any necessary modifications, in relation to an individual who has elected to be personally assessed under this Part and to his or her spouse where- (a) by reason of the application of section 41 (1A), that individual could not have so elected unless his or her spouse did so too, had his or her spouse had income assessable under this Ordinance; and (b) for this reason only he or she was able so to elect, as if the total income of both spouses had been required to be aggregated under section 42A (1). (Replaced 43 of 1989 s. 13) (7) The amount of any excess set off under subsection (5) against an individual's total income or that of the individual's spouse for any year of assessment shall not be set off for any other year of assessment.

(8) For the purposes of this Part the total income of an individual for any year of assessment shall not include the profits or losses or share of profits or losses of that individual as a member of any partnership (other than a partnership referred to in section 345 (2) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32)) consisting, at any time in that year of assessment, of more than 20 partners. (Amended 51 of 1978 s. 9) (9) For the purposes of subsection (8), in calculating the number of partners in a partnership there shall be included every partner in any other partnership which is itself a partner in the first-mentioned partnership.

(10) Where an election is made by a husband and wife under section 41 (1A) the total income (as reduced under subsections (2) and (5)) of each of them shall be separately calculated under this section before both incomes are aggregated under section 42A. (Replaced 43 of 1989 s. 13) (Replaced 7 of 1975 s. 30. Amended 71 of 1983 s. 21; 43 of 1989 s. 13) 42A. Assessment to tax (1) In giving effect to an election under section 41 the assessor shall make a single assessment- (a) in the sum of the total income, as reduced under section 42 (2) and (5), of the individual making the election; or (b) in the case of an election under section 41 (1A), in the sum of the joint total income resulting from the aggregation of the total income of the one spouse, as so reduced, with that of the other, as also so reduced, as reduced in each case by such of the allowances prescribed in Part V as may be appropriate.

(2) In the case of an election under section 41 (1A) by a husband and wife who married one another in the year of assessment to which the election relates, they shall be deemed for the purpose of ascertaining their joint total income under subsection (1) (b) to have married at the commencement of that year.

(Replaced 43 of 1989 s. 14) 42B. (Repealed 43 of 1989 s. 14) 43. Rates of charge (1) Tax shall be charged on the amount of the assessment referred to in section 42A (1) at the rates specified in Schedule 2- (a) on the individual; or (b) in the case of a husband and wife making an election under section 41 (1A) on both of them subject to apportionment in the manner prescribed by subsection (2B). (Replaced 43 of 1989 s. 15) (1A) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the amount of tax charged under that subsection shall not in any case exceed the amount which would have been chargeable had the standard rate been charged on the total income (as reduced under section 42 (2) and (5)) or, as the case may be, the joint total income. (Added 65 of 1970 s. 8. Amended 7 of 1975 s. 32; 71 of 1983 s. 24) (2) Any property tax, any salaries tax and any profits tax paid under the provisions of Parts II, III and IV respectively shall, where the relevant amounts on which such taxes were calculated are included in the total income of the person who paid the tax, be set off for the purposes of collection against the tax charged under this Part on that person.

(Replaced 26 of 1969 s. 26. Amended 8 of 1973 s. 11; 8 of 1983 s. 13; 71 of 1983 s. 24; 17 of 1989 s. 12; 43 of 1989 s. 15) (2A) (Repealed 17 of 1989 s. 12) (2B) Any tax chargeable on a husband and wife under subsection (1) (b) in any year of assessment shall be apportioned between them so that each spouse shall, in respect of that year, be charged such proportion of the tax as the total income of that spouse (as reduced under section 42 (2) and (5)) bears to joint total income of the husband and wife. (Replaced 43 of 1989 s. 15) (2C) (Repealed 43 of 1989 s. 15) (3) Where the aggregate of the taxes which may be set off under subsection (2) exceeds the amount of tax charged under this Part, the Commissioner shall, on receipt of a claim from the person charged in the specified form and on being satisfied that the claim is in order, refund such excess to that person. (Added 36 of 1955 s. 50. Amended 26 of 1969 s. 26; 39 of 1969 s. 8; 30 of 1981 s. 8; 71 of 1983 s. 24; 17 of 1989 s. 12; 43 of 1989 s.

15) 43A. (Repealed 19 of 1991 s. 4) PART VIII DOUBLE TAXATION RELIEF (Amended 49 of 1956 s. 32) 44. (Repealed 49 of 1956 s. 33) 45. Relief in respect of Commonwealth income tax (1) If any person resident in Hong Kong who has paid, by deduction or otherwise, or is liable to pay, tax under this Ordinance for any year of assessment on any part of his income, proves to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that he has paid, by deduction or otherwise, or is liable to pay, Commonwealth income tax for that year in respect of the same part of his income, he shall be entitled to relief from tax in Hong Kong paid or payable by him on that part of his income at a rate thereon to be determined as follows- (a) if the Commonwealth rate of tax does not exceed one-half of the rate of tax appropriate to his case under this Ordinance in Hong Kong the rate at which relief is to be given shall be the Commonwealth rate of tax; (b) in any other case the rate at which relief is to be given shall be half the rate of tax appropriate to his case under this Ordinance.

(Amended 30 of 1950 Schedule) (2) If any person not resident in Hong Kong who has paid, by deduction or otherwise, or is liable to pay, tax under this Ordinance for any year of assessment on any part of his income proves to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that he has paid, by deduction or otherwise, or is liable to pay Commonwealth income tax for that year of assessment in respect of the same part of his income, he shall be entitled to relief from tax paid or payable by him under this Ordinance on that part of his income at a rate thereon to be determined as follows- (a) if the Commonwealth rate of tax appropriate to his case does not exceed the rate of tax appropriate to his case under this Ordinance, the rate at which relief is to be given shall be one-half of the Commonwealth rate of tax; (b) if the Commonwealth rate of tax appropriate to his case exceeds the rate of tax appropriate to his case under this Ordinance, the rate at which relief is to be given shall be equal to the amount by which the rate of tax appropriate to his case under this Ordinance exceeds one-half of the Commonwealth tax. (Amended 30 of 1950 Schedule) (3) For the purposes of this section, Commonwealth income tax means any income tax charged under any law in force in any part of the Commonwealth (other than the United Kingdom or Hong Kong) if the legislature of that part of place has provided for relief in respect of tax charged on income both in that part or place and Hong Kong in a manner similar to that provided in this section. (Amended 30 of 1950 Schedule) (4) For the purpose of this section the expression "rate of tax" when applied to tax paid or payable under this Ordinance means the rate determined by dividing the amount of the tax paid or payable for the year (before the deduction of the relief granted under this section) by the amount of the income in respect of which the tax paid or payable under this Ordinance has been charged for that year and the Commonwealth rate of tax shall be computed in a similar manner. (Replaced 49 of 1956 s. 34.

Amended 26 of 1969 s. 27) (5) Where a person is for any year of assessment resident both in Hong Kong and in a part or place in which Commonwealth income tax is charged, he shall for the purposes of this section be deemed to be resident where during that year he resides for the longer period. (Amended 30 of 1950 Schedule.) (6) The expression "income" in this section shall mean income or profits.

(Added 30 of 1950 Schedule. Amended 49 of 1956 s. 34) (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) 46. Official secrecy Where, under any law in force in any part of the Commonwealth provision is made for the allowance of relief from income tax in respect of the payment of tax under this Ordinance, the obligation as to secrecy imposed by section 4 of this Ordinance shall not prevent the disclosure to the authorized officers of the government in that part of the Commonwealth of such facts as may be necessary to enable the proper relief to be given in cases where relief is claimed from tax under this Ordinance or from income tax in that part or place aforesaid.

(Amended 30 of 1950 Schedule) 47-48. (Repealed 49 of 1956 s. 35) 49. Double taxation arrangements (1) If the Governor in Council by order declares that arrangements specified in the order have been made with the Government of any territory outside Hong Kong with a view to affording relief from double taxation in relation to income tax and any tax of a similar character imposed by the laws of that territory, and that it is expedient that those arrangements should have effect, the arrangements shall have effect in relation to tax under this Ordinance notwithstanding anything in any enactment. (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) (2) (Repealed 49 of 1956 s. 36) (3) On the making of an order under this section with respect to arrangements relating to any territory forming part of the Commonwealth (other than the United Kingdom or Hong Kong), section 45 shall cease to have effect as respects that territory except in so far as the arrangements otherwise provide. (Amended 30 of 1950 Schedule; 7 of 1986 s.

12) (4) Any order made under this section may be revoked by a subsequent order.

(5) Where any arrangements have effect by virtue of this section, the obligation as to secrecy imposed by section 4 shall not prevent the disclosure to any authorized officer of the Government with which the arrangements are made of such information as is required to be disclosed under the arrangements.

(6) The Governor in Council may make rules for carrying out the provisions of any arrangements having effect under this section.

(Amended 49 of 1956 s. 36) 50. Tax credits (1) The provisions of this section shall have effect where, under arrangements having effect under section 49, tax payable in respect of any income in the territory with the Government of which the arrangements are made is to be allowed as a credit against tax payable in respect of that income in Hong Kong; and in this section the expression "foreign tax" means any tax payable in that territory which under the arrangements is to be so allowed and the expression "tax" means tax chargeable under this Ordinance. (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) (2) The amount of the tax chargeable in respect of the income shall be reduced by the amount of the credit: Provided that credit shall not be allowed against tax for any year of assessment unless the person entitled to the income is resident in Hong Kong for that year. (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) (3) The credit shall not exceed the amount which would be produced by computing the amount of the income in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance and then charging it to tax at a rate ascertained by dividing the tax chargeable (before allowance of credit under any arrangements having effect under section 49) on the total income of the person entitled to the income by the amount of his total income.

(4) Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (3), the total credit to be allowed to a person for any year of assessment for foreign tax under all arrangements having effect under section 49 shall not exceed the total tax payable by him for that year of assessment. (Amended 17 of 1989 s. 13) (5) In computing the amount of the income- (a) no deduction shall be allowed in respect of foreign tax (whether in respect of the same or any other income); (b) where the tax chargeable depends on the amount received in Hong Kong, the said amount shall be increased by the appropriate amount of the foreign tax in respect of the income; (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) (c) where the income includes a dividend and under the arrangements foreign tax not chargeable directly or by deduction in respect of dividend is to be taken into account in considering whether any, and if so what, credit is to be given against tax in respect of the dividend the amount of the income shall be increased by the amount of the foreign tax not so chargeable which falls to be taken into account in computing the amount of the credit, but notwithstanding anything in the preceding provisions of this subsection a deduction shall be allowed of any amount by which the foreign tax in respect of the income exceeds the credit therefor.

(6) Subsection (5) (a) and (b) (but not the remainder thereof) shall apply to the computation of total income for the purposes of determining the rate mentioned in subsection (3), and shall apply thereto in relation to all income in the case of which credit falls to be given for foreign tax under arrangements for the time being in force under section 49.

(7) Where- (a) the arrangements provide, in relation to dividends of some classes, but not in relation to dividends of other classes, that foreign tax not chargeable directly or by deduction in respect of dividends is to be taken into account in considering whether any, and if so what, credit is to be given against tax in respect of the dividends; and (b) a dividend is paid which is not of a class in relation to which the arrangements so provide, then, if the dividend is paid to a company which controls, directly or indirectly not less than one-half of the voting power in the company paying the dividend, credit shall be allowed as if the dividend were a dividend of a class in relation to which the arrangements so provide.

(8) Credit shall not be allowed under the arrangements against tax chargeable in respect of the income of any person for any year of assessment if he elects that credits shall not be allowed in the case of his income for that year.

(9) Any claim for an allowance by way of credit shall be made not later than 2 years after the end of the year of assessment, and in the event of any dispute as to the amount allowable the claim shall be subject to objection and appeal in like manner as an assessment.

(10) Where the amount of a credit given under the arrangement is rendered excessive or insufficient by reason of any adjustment of the amount of any tax payable either in Hong Kong or elsewhere, nothing in this Ordinance limiting the time for the making of assessments or claims for relief shall apply to any assessment or claim to which the adjustment gives rise, being an assessment or claim made not later than 2 years from the time when all such assessments, adjustments and other determinations have been made, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, as are material in determining whether any and if so what credit falls to be given. (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) PART IX RETURNS, ETC.

51. Returns and information to be furnished (1) An assessor may give notice in writing to any person requiring him within a reasonable time stated in such notice to furnish any return which may be specified by the Board of Inland Revenue for property tax, salaries tax or profits tax under Parts II, III, IV, XA, XB and XC, containing such particulars and in such form as may be specified by the Board of Inland Revenue. (Amended 35 of 1965 s. 26; 39 of 1969 s. 9; 8 of 1973 s. 12; 7 of 1975 s. 33; 8 of 1983 s. 14; 17 of 1989 s. 14; 43 of 1989 s. 16) (2) Every person chargeable to tax for any year of assessment shall inform the Commissioner in writing that he is so chargeable not later than 4 months after the end of the basis period for that year of assessment unless he has already been required to furnish a return under the provisions of subsection (1). (Replaced 49 of 1956 s. 37) (2A) An assessor shall give notice to any individual who has elected to be personally assessed under Part VII requiring that individual within a reasonable time stated in the notice to furnish a return in the specified form of his total income assessable under this Ordinance. (Added 43 of 1989 s. 16) (2B) Where a notice is required to be given under subsection (2A) to an individual who is married and not living apart from his or her spouse- (a) such notice shall be given to both that individual and his or her spouse; and (b) they shall be required to furnish a return of their joint total income assessable under this Ordinance. (Added 43 of 1989 s. 16) (3) An assessor may give notice in writing to any person when and as often as he thinks necessary requiring him within a reasonable time stated in such notice to furnish fuller or further returns respecting any matter of which a return is required or prescribed by this Ordinance.

(4) For the purposes of obtaining full information in regard to any matter which may affect any liability, responsibility or obligation of any person under this Ordinance- (a) an assessor or an inspector may give notice in writing to such person, or to any other person whom he considers may be in possession of information or documents in regard to any such matter as aforesaid, requiring him within such reasonable time as is stated in the notice to furnish all information in his possession respecting any such matter, and to produce for examination any deeds, plans, instruments, books, accounts, trade lists, stock lists, vouchers, bank statements or other documents which the assessor or inspector giving the notice considers are or may be relevant for the purpose aforesaid: Provided that in the case of a notice under this paragraph requiring the production of any account kept by a solicitor and relating to the affairs of any client or clients of his, production of a copy of all relevant entries therein respecting any matter upon which information is sought shall be a sufficient compliance with the aforesaid requirement of the notice if the copy is certified by the solicitor as being a correct copy of all relevant entries in such account respecting the matter aforesaid; (b) an assistant commissioner may give notice in writing to such person, or to such other person, requiring him, at a time and place to be named by the assistant commissioner, to attend and be examined, and upon such examination to answer truthfully all questions put to him, respecting any such matter as aforesaid. (Replaced 35 of 1965 s. 26. Amended 40 of 1972 s. 4) (4A) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the powers conferred by subsection (4) include the power to require information from, and to require the attendance for the purpose of being examined of, - (a) any person, or any employee of any person, who was a party to any particular land or property transaction; (b) any person, or any employee of any person, who has acted for or is acting for any party to any particular land or property transaction; (c) any person who either paid or received, directly or indirectly, any consideration, brokerage, commission or fee in respect of or in connection with any particular land or property transaction; and (d) any person, or any employee of any person, who was concerned in the passing of any consideration, brokerage, commission or fee, or in the clearing or collection of any cheque or other instrument of exchange, respecting any particular land or property transaction, as to any of the following matters, that is to say- (i) the full names (including aliases) and addresses of any of the persons referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) and any other information in his possession which may be helpful in identifying or locating any such persons; (ii) any consideration, brokerage, commission or fee paid or received in respect of or in connection with any such land or property transaction; and (iii) the terms and conditions of any such land or property transaction, and the existence in respect of any communication, whether oral or written, of privilege from disclosure shall not constitute any excuse for the nondisclosure of information as to any of the matters specified in paragraphs (i) to (iii) where disclosure thereof is required from any of the persons referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d), but except as aforesaid nothing in subsection (4) shall require disclosure by counsel or solicitor of any privileged information or communication given or made to him in that capacity. (Added 35 of 1965 s. 26) (4B) (a) Any person who without reasonable excuse, the burden of proof whereof shall lie upon him, fails to comply with the requirements of a notice given to him under subsection (4) (a) or fails to attend in answer to a notice issued under subsection (4) (b) or having attended fails to answer any questions put to him, being questions which under that paragraph may be put to him, shall be liable to a penalty of $5,000 recoverable under section 75 as a civil debt due to the Crown: (Amended 11 of 1985 s. 3) provided that- (i) the Commissioner may compound any such penalty and may before judgement in proceedings therefor stay or compound such proceedings, or may refuse to accept payment of such penalty or any part thereof except under a judgement of the court in proceedings for the recovery thereof; (ii) the court before which any proceedings for such penalty are brought may, if it thinks fit, give judgement for a less amount.

(b) In addition to giving judgement for the penalty or any less amount as aforesaid, the court may order the person against whom the proceedings were brought to do, within a time specified in the order, the act which he has failed to do. (Added 35 of 1965 s. 26) (5) A return, statement, or form purporting to be furnished under this Ordinance by or on behalf of any person shall for all purposes be deemed to have been furnished by that person or by his authority, as the case may be, unless the contrary is proved, and any person signing any such return, statement, or form shall be deemed to be cognizant of all matters therein.

(6) Any person who ceases to carry on any trade, profession or business or who ceases to own any source of income or to be the owner of any land or buildings or land and buildings in respect of which tax is chargeable under the provisions of Part II, III, IV or VII shall so inform the Commissioner in writing within 1 month of such cessation. (Replaced 49 of 1956 s. 37; 8 of 1983 s. 14) (7) Any person chargeable to tax under Part III, IV or VII who is about to leave Hong Kong for any period exceeding 1 month shall give notice in writing to the Commissioner of his expected date of departure, and if he intends to return to Hong Kong the approximate date of his return. Such notice shall be given not later than 1 month before the expected date of departure: Provided that- (a) the Commissioner may accept such shorter notice as he may deem reasonable; and (b) this subsection shall not apply in the case of an individual who is required in the course of his employment, business or profession to leave Hong Kong at frequent intervals. (Added 49 of 1956 s. 37. Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) (8) Any person chargeable to tax under Part II, III, IV or VII who changes his address shall within 1 month inform the Commissioner in writing of the particulars of the change. (Added 2 of 1971 s. 33. Amended 8 of 1983 s.

14) (9) (Repealed 43 of 1975 s. 2) 51A. Power to require statement of assets and liabilities, etc.

(1) Where the Commissioner or the deputy commissioner is personally of the opinion that a person has made an incorrect return or supplied false information having the effect of understating his income or profits chargeable to tax and has done so without reasonable excuse and not through an innocent oversight or omission, the Commissioner may, with the consent of the Board of Review, give notice in writing to such person requiring him to furnish within the time limited by such notice, not being less than 30 days from the date of service of the notice, a statement containing particulars of- (Amended 43 of 1975 s. 3; L. N. 377 of 1980) (a) all assets which the person or his spouse possessed in Hong Kong, including any possessed jointly or severally with any other person, at such times as may be specified in the notice; and (b) all liabilities to which the person or his spouse was subject in Hong Kong, including any to which he was subject jointly or severally with any other person, at such times as may be specified in the notice; and (c) all expenditure or disbursements from funds in Hong Kong, including remittances overseas and gifts, incurred or made by the person or his spouse during such periods as may be specified in the notice; and (d) all sums, including remittances, gifts and legacies received in Hong Kong by the person or his spouse during such periods as may be specified in the notice. (Amended 71 of 1983 s. 26; 7 of 1986 s. 12) (2) A notice given under subsection (1) shall not specify any time or period earlier than 7 years before the commencement of the year of assessment in which it is given.

(3) An application for the consent of the Board of Review shall be made in writing by the Commissioner to the clerk of the Board and shall be accompanied by a statement of the material on the basis of which it is proposed to exercise the powers of the Commissioner or deputy commissioner under subsection (1).

(4) Upon receipt of an application under subsection (3), the Chairman of the Board of Review shall appoint 3 members from the panel of the Board of Review, one of whom shall be the Chairman or a deputy chairman, to consider the application.

(5) When the Board is considering an application, the Commissioner or his authorized representative may attend, but the person in respect of whom the application is made may not attend.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), neither in the application nor on the consideration thereof shall the identity of the person in respect of whom the application is made be revealed to the Board of Review.

(7) If the person on whom a notice under subsection (1) has been given so requests, the Commissioner shall furnish him with a certificate from the Chairman or deputy chairman of the Board of Review certifying that the Board's consent to the issue of the notice was given, and for the purpose of obtaining such a certificate the Commissioner shall reveal to the chairman or deputy chairman the identity of that person.

(8) The decision of the Board of Review to grant or refuse consent shall be final. (Added 26 of 1969 s. 28. Amended 40 of 1972 s. 5; 43 of 1975 s.

3) 51B. Power to issue search warrant (1) If the Commissioner, or an officer of the Inland Revenue Department not below the rank of chief assessor authorized in writing by the Commissioner for the purpose (in this section referred to as the authorized officer), satisfies a magistrate, by statement made on oath, - (a) that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person has made an incorrect return or supplied false information having the effect of understating his income or profits chargeable to tax and has done so without reasonable excuse and not through an innocent oversight or omission; or (b) that a person has failed to comply with an order of a court made under section 80 (1) directing him to comply with the requirements of a notice given to him under section 51 (1) or (3), the magistrate may by warrant authorize the Commissioner or authorized officer to exercise the following powers- (i) without previous notice at any reasonable time during the day, to enter and have free access to any land, buildings, or place where he suspects there to be any books, records, accounts or documents of that person, or of any other person, which may afford evidence material in assessing the liability of the first-mentioned person for tax, and there to search for and examine any books, records, accounts or documents; (Amended 43 of 1975 s. 4) (ii) in carrying out any such search, to open or cause to be removed and opened, any article in which he suspects any book, records, accounts or documents to be contained; (iii) to take possession of any books, records, accounts or documents of that person or that person's spouse, and to make copies of such parts of any books, records, accounts or documents of any other person, as may afford evidence material in assessing the liability of the first-mentioned person for tax; (Replaced 43 of 1975 s. 4. Amended 71 of 1983 s. 27) (iv) to retain any such books, records, accounts or documents for as long as they may be reasonably required for any assessment to be made or for any proceedings under this Ordinance to be completed; Provided that if the Commissioner or authorized officer shall retain any book, record, account or document for a period of more than 14 days, the person aggrieved may apply in writing to the Board of Review for an order directing the return thereof and the Board of Review, after hearing the applicant or his authorized representative and the Commissioner or his representative, may so order, either unconditionally or subject to any condition which the Board may consider it proper to impose. (Amended 7 of 1975 s. 34) (1A) Any officer of the Inland Revenue Department under the direction of the Commissioner or an authorized officer may assist the Commissioner or an authorized officer in the execution of a warrant issued under subsection (1) and may exercise any of the powers referred to in subsection (1) (i), (ii) and (iii). (Added 40 of 1972 s. 6) (2) When exercising any power under subsection (1), the Commissioner or authorized officer shall produce on demand the warrant issued to him under that subsection.

(3) The person to whose affairs any books, records, accounts or documents taken possession of under subsection (1) relate shall be entitled to examine and make extracts from them at such times and under such conditions as the Commissioner may determine.

(4) Any person who obstructs or hinders the Commissioner or an authorized officer acting in the discharge of his duty under subsection (1) or an officer assisting him under subsection (1A) shall be guilty of an offence: Penalty a fine of $2,000 and imprisonment for 6 months.

(Added 26 of 1969 s. 28. Amended 40 of 1972 s. 6) 51C. Business records to be kept (1) Subject to subsection (2), every person carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong shall keep sufficient records in the English or Chinese language of his income and expenditure to enable the assessable profits of such trade, profession or business to be readily ascertained and shall retain such records for a period of not less than 7 years after the completion of the transactions, acts or operations to which they relate. (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) (2) Subsection (1) shall not require the preservation of any records- (a) which the Commissioner has specified need not be preserved; or (b) of a corporation which has been dissolved.

(Added 26 of 1969 s. 28) 51D. Rent records to be kept (1) Subject to subsection (2), every person who is the owner of land or buildings or land and buildings situated in Hong Kong shall keep sufficient records in the English or Chinese languages of the consideration, in money or money's worth, payable or deemed to be payable to him, to his order or for his benefit on or after 1 April 1983 in respect of the right of use of that land or buildings or land and buildings to enable the assessable value of that land and buildings to be readily ascertained and shall retain such records for a period of not less than 7 years after the completion of the transactions, acts or operations to which they relate.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not require the preservation of any records- (a) which the Commissioner has specified need not be preserved; or (b) of a corporation which has been dissolved.

(Added 8 of 1983 s. 15) 52. Information to be furnished by officials and employers (1) The Commissioner may give notice in writing to any officer in the employment of the Government or of any public body requiring him within a reasonable time stated in such notice to furnish any particulars which he may require for the purposes of this Ordinance which may be in the possession of such officer: Provided that no such officer shall by virtue of this section be obliged to disclose any particulars as to which he is under any express statutory obligation to observe secrecy.

(2) Every person who is an employer shall, when required to do so by notice in writing given by an assessor, furnish within a reasonable time stated in such notice a return containing the names and places of residence and the full amount of the remuneration, whether in cash or otherwise, for the period specified in the notice, of- (a) all persons employed by him in receipt of remuneration in excess of a minimum figure to be fixed by the assessor; and (b) any other person employed by him named by the assessor.

(3) For the purposes of this section, any director of a company, or person engaged in the management of a company, shall be deemed to be a person employed by the company. (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 9) (4) Where any person who is an employer commences to employ in Hong Kong an individual who is or is likely to be chargeable to tax under Part III, or any married person, he shall give notice thereof in writing to the Commissioner not later than 3 months after the date of commencement of such employment, stating the full name and address of the individual, the date of commencement and the terms of employment. (Added 49 of 1956 s.

38, Amended 7 of 1986 s. 9; 43 of 1989 s. 17) (5) Where any person who is an employer ceases or is about to cease to employ in Hong Kong an individual who is or is likely to be chargeable to tax under Part III, or any married person, he shall give notice thereof in writing to the Commissioner not later than 1 month before such individual ceases to be employed in Hong Kong, stating the name and address of the individual and the expected date of cessation: (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 9; 43 of 1989 s. 17) Provided that the Commissioner may accept such shorter notice as he may deem reasonable. (Added 49 of 1956 s. 38) (6) The employer of any individual who is chargeable to tax under Part III and is about to leave Hong Kong for any period exceeding 1 month shall give notice in writing to the Commissioner of the expected date of departure of such individual. Such notice shall be given not later than 1 month before the expected date of departure: Provided that- (a) the Commissioner may accept such shorter notice as he may deem reasonable; and (b) this subsection shall not apply in the case of an individual who is required in the course of his employment to leave Hong Kong at frequent intervals. (Added 49 of 1956 s. 38) (7) An employer who is required by subsection (6) to give notice to the Commissioner of the expected departure of an individual shall not, in the case of an individual whom he has ceased, or is about to cease, to employ in Hong Kong, except with the consent in writing of the Commissioner or in the case of money paid to the commissioner on the direction of the individual, make any payment of money or money's worth to or for the benefit of the individual for a period of 1 month from the date on which he gave the notice; and compliance with this subsection shall constitute a defence in any proceedings against an employer in respect of his failure to make any payment to or for the benefit of the individual during the said period. (Added 26 of 1969 s. 29. Amended 2 of 1971 s. 34) (8) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in subsections (4) and (5) an employer shall not be required to give notice under those subsection in respect of a married person if he has reasonable grounds for believing that neither that person nor his or her spouse are, or are likely to be, chargeable to tax under Part III. (Added 7 of 1986 s. 9. Amended 43 of 1989 s. 17) (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) 53. Who may act for incapacitated or non-resident persons An act or thing required by or under this Ordinance to be done by any person shall, if such person is an incapacitated or non-resident person, be deemed to be required to be done by the trustee of such incapacitated person or by the agent of such non-resident person, as the case may be.

54. Liability of executor of deceased taxpayer The executor of a deceased person shall be chargeable with the tax for all periods prior to the date of such person's death with which the said person would be chargeable if he were alive, and shall be liable to do all such acts, matters or things as the deceased person if he were alive would be liable to do under this Ordinance: Provided that- (a) no proceedings, other than an assessment to additional tax under section 82A, shall be instituted against the executor under the provisions of Part XIV in respect of any act or default of the deceased person; (Amended 43 of 1975 s. 5) (b) no assessment or additional assessment in respect of a period prior to the date of such person's death shall be made after the expiry of 1 year from such date of death, or 1 year from the date of filing any affidavit required under the Estate Duty Ordinance (Cap. 111), whichever is the later. (Amended 26 of 1969 s. 30) 55. (Repealed 49 of 1956 s. 39) 56. Precedent partner to act on behalf of partnership (1) Wherever 2 or more persons in partnership act as agents, or are employers, or are persons in receipt of profits or act in any other capacity whatever, either on behalf of themselves or of any other person, the precedent partner of such partnership shall be answerable for doing all such acts, matters and things as would be required to be done under the provisions of this Ordinance by an individual acting in such capacity: (Amended 49 of 1956 s. 40) Provided that any person to whom a notice has been given under the provisions of this Ordinance as precedent partner of a partnership shall be deemed to be the precedent partner thereof unless he proves that he is not a partner in such partnership, or that some other person resident in Hong Kong is the precedent partner thereof. (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12) (2) Where 2 or more persons who are not in partnership act jointly in any capacity mentioned in subsection (1), they shall be jointly and severally answerable for doing all such acts, matters, and things as would be required to be done under the provisions of this Ordinance by an individual acting in such capacity.

56A. Joint owners and co-owners (1) Where 2 or more persons are joint owners or owners in common of any land or buildings or land and buildings, any of those persons appearing from any deed, conveyance, judgement or other instrument in writing registered in the Land Registry under the Land Registration Ordinance (Cap. 128) to be such an owner shall be answerable for doing all such acts, matters and things as would be required to be done under the provisions of this Ordinance by a sole owner. (Amended 56 of 1992 s. 20; 8 of 1993 s. 2) (2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall relieve any person of any obligation under this Ordinance or affect any right and obligation of joint owners or owners in common as between themselves.

(3) Where any person pays property tax under subsection (1) and that person is not, apart from that subsection, liable to that tax or part of it, that person may recover from any other person that tax or part of it to which that other person, apart from that subsection, is liable under this Ordinance.

(Added 8 of 1983 s. 16) 57. Principal officer to act on behalf of a corporation or body of persons (1) The secretary, manager, any director or the liquidator of a corporation and the principal officer of a body of persons shall be answerable for doing all such acts, matters, or things as are required to be done under the provisions of this Ordinance by such corporation or body of persons.

(2) If no secretary, manager, director or liquidator of a corporation or no principal officer of a body of persons is ordinarily resident in Hong Kong, the corporation or body of persons, as the case may be, shall inform the Commissioner, and keep him so informed at all times, of the name and address of an individual ordinarily resident in Hong Kong who shall be answerable for doing all such acts, matters, or things as are required to be done under the provisions of this Ordinance by such corporation or body of persons. (Amended 7 of 1986 s. 12)

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