SE42200 - Emoluments from offices and employments: basis of assessment – introduction - arrangement of guidance

Section 202A(1) and (2)(a) ICTA 1988

Introduction

There are two stages to finding out whether, and when, income from an office or employment is chargeable to Income Tax.

The first step is to decide if the emoluments fall within one of the three Cases of Schedule E. This will not usually be a problem if the person concerned has spent all their time living and working in the United Kingdom. In that case, all their emoluments will usually be chargeable in full under Case I of Schedule E. But if the person has spent time living and working outside the United Kingdom, you will have to consider the detailed guidance at SE40001 onwards to decide which, if any, of the Cases applies.

If none of the Cases of Schedule E applies, the emoluments are not chargeable to tax under Schedule E. But see SE42250 as regards amounts chargeable under Section 148 ICTA 1988.

If the emoluments do fall within one of the Cases of Schedule E, the second step is to decide the year in which they are to be charged to tax. For 1989/90 onwards, emoluments are charged to tax

  • in the year of assessment in which they are received, if they fall within Case I or II
  • in the year of assessment in which they are received in the United Kingdom, if they fall within Case III.

This applies whether the emoluments are for the year of receipt, or for some other year. The year of assessment will not necessarily be the same as the year for which they are assessable emoluments (see example SE42201).

As regards cases where the office or employment is not held at the time when the emoluments are received, see SE42220.

Arrangement of guidance

The detailed guidance on the basis of assessment for emoluments chargeable under Schedule E is arranged as shown in the following table.

SE42205'Earnings basis' and 'accounts basis' not to be used for 1989/90 onwards
SE42210Table setting out the basis of assessment for particular types of payment, and benefits in kind
SE42220Emoluments received before an employment begins, or after it ends
SE42230Money emoluments chargeable under Case I or II: general
SE42240Link between the basis of assessment and operation of PAYE
SE42250Special rules for termination, etc payments chargeable under Section 148 ICTA 1988
SE42260Meaning of 'received': general
SE42270The time when an emolument is received: actual payment
SE42280Payments 'on account of emoluments'
SE42290Entitlement to payment of emoluments
SE42300Entitlement to director’s emoluments
SE42310Crediting of director’s emoluments in the accounts or records of the company
SE42320Limited scope of the 'crediting ' rule
SE42330Director’s emoluments fixed before the end of the period for which they are due
SE42340Director’s emoluments fixed after the end of the period for which they are due
SE42350Director’s emoluments conditional on results: the date they are to be regarded as 'determined'
SE42360The time at which a person has to be a director for the special rules to run
SE42370Basis of assessment for emoluments falling within Case III
SE42380Death of employee or office holder after 5 April 1989
SE42390The charge on the personal representatives of a deceased employee or office holder
SE42400Time limit for assessment of personal representatives
SE42410Death of employee or office holder after 5 April 1989: emoluments received up to the date of death
SE42420More than usual number of pay days in the year
SE42430Timing of expenses deductions
SE42440Assessments made after a change of practice
SE42450Income to which the change of practice rule applies
SE42460The decision in Walters v Tickner
SE42470How the change of practice rule applies
SE42700 onwardsWaivers of remuneration