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Volume 3 Second Supplement

Publication Date: Oct 1988

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DIGEST OF CASES REPORTED

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  Decision No. Download
APPEALS    

Board of Review - request to state a case for the opinion of the High Court - whether the issue raised by the appellant was a question of law - s 69(1) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D30/87(A) Download D30/87(A) (DOC) EN - English Download D30/87(A) (PDF) EN - English

Board of Review - request to state a case for the opinion of the High Court - which documents should be included: Commissioner's determination, transcript of evidence and Board's decision - s 69(1) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D41/85(A) Download D41/85(A) (DOC) EN - English Download D41/85(A) (PDF) EN - English

accounts of taxpayer - to what extent a taxpayer can challenge its own accounts on appeal  

D14/88 Download D14/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D14/88 (PDF) EN - English

assets betterment statement - need for taxpayer to adduce proper evidence to challenge such an assessment  

D28/88 Download D28/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D28/88 (PDF) EN - English
ASSESSMENTS    

assets betterment statement - function of such a statement .  

D28/88 Download D28/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D28/88 (PDF) EN - English

'error or omission' - accounts properly prepared but with hindsight shown to be inaccurate - whether assessment based on those accounts could be corrected - s 70A of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D14/88 Download D14/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D14/88 (PDF) EN - English

'error or omission' in preparation of returns - accounts had been properly prepared and profits tax paid - taxpayer subsequently took the view that on the facts the profits should not have been assessed - whether assessments could be reopened - s 70A of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D18/88 Download D18/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D18/88 (PDF) EN - English
PENALTY ASSESSMENT    

whether penalties excessive - reasonable belief of taxpayer that he was not liable to pay tax - ignorance of penalties - s 82A of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D29/88 Download D29/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D29/88 (PDF) EN - English

whether penalty excessive - hardship to taxpayer - s 82A of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D20/88 Download D20/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D20/88 (PDF) EN - English

whether taxpayer could argue that he was not liable to pay tax - ss 70 and 82A of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D29/88 Download D29/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D29/88 (PDF) EN - English
PERSONAL ASSESSMENT    

personal allowances - whether taxpayer was the child of his father's 'kit fat' (wife) and 'tsip' (concubine) - whether father's 'tsip' (concubine) was taxpayer's step-parent - Chinese law and custom - s l<-2B(2)(b) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D27/88 Download D27/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D27/88 (PDF) EN - English
PROFITS TAX    

deductions - expenses incurred by company director - whether company could claim a deduction for those expenses - s 16(1) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D12/88 Download D12/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D12/88 (PDF) EN - English

deductions - interest on borrowings - borrowings mixed with shareholders' funds and used to produce both assessable and non-assessable profits - whether interest expenses should be apportioned - purpose of borrowings - s l6(l)(a) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance   

D22/88 Download D22/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D22/88 (PDF) EN - English

interest - whether arising 'through or from the carrying on by [a] corporation or its business in [ Hong Kong ]' - relevant factors -s 15(1)(f) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D17/88 Download D17/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D17/88 (PDF) EN - English

interest derived by taxpayer - interest not payable in relevant tax year - whether interest accrued for tax purposes on day by day basis - s 15(l)(f) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance   

D14/88 Download D14/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D14/88 (PDF) EN - English

interest expenses incurred for acquisition and redevelopment of rental premises - whether capital - whether deductible - s 17(l)(c) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D12/88 Download D12/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D12/88 (PDF) EN - English

meaning of 'accrued' - s 15 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D14/88 Download D14/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D14/88 (PDF) EN - English

sale of block - whether profits were trading gains or realization of capital - evidential factors: inconsistent accounting treatment and statement by managing director - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D13/88 Download D13/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D13/88 (PDF) EN - English

sale of flat - anticipated loss of harbour view - whether profits were trading gains or realization of capital - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D10/88 Download D10/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D10/88 (PDF) EN - English

sale of land - whether profits were trading gains or realization of capital - evidential matters: short holding period, small capitalization, use of directors' loans and dishonesty of taxpayer - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D23/88 Download D23/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D23/88 (PDF) EN - English

sale of letters of entitlement to land - whether profits were trading gains or realization of capital - evidential factors: prior history of dealing and accounting treatment - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D25/88 Download D25/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D25/88 (PDF) EN - English

sale of premises - change of intention - whether profits were trading gains or realization of capital - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D16/88 Download D16/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D16/88 (PDF) EN - English

sale of shares - whether profits were trading gains or realization of capital - discussion of tests for determining whether taxpayer was engaged in trading or an adventure in the nature of trade - distinction between objective and subjective tests for determining taxpayer's original intention - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D19/88 Download D19/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D19/88 (PDF) EN - English

sale of shares - whether profits were trading gains or realization of capital - numerous purchase and sales forming part of one larger transaction - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D19/88 Download D19/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D19/88 (PDF) EN - English

source of profits - apportionment of profits between two jurisdictions - whether possible - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D18/88 Download D18/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D18/88 (PDF) EN - English

source of profits - exchange gains (and losses) derived by a financial institution - whether gains arose in or derived from Hong Kong - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D26/88 Download D26/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D26/88 (PDF) EN - English

source of profits - interest - whether arising in or derived from Hong Kong - application of 'operations test' to interest income - 'provision of credit' test - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance   

D26/88 Download D26/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D26/88 (PDF) EN - English

source of profits - interest earned by financial institution - whether 'aris[ing] through or from the carrying on by the [taxpayer] of its business in Hong Kong - s 15(l)(i) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D26/88 Download D26/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D26/88 (PDF) EN - English

source of profits - reinvoicing company - whether profits arose in or derived from Hong Kong - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D21/88 Download D21/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D21/88 (PDF) EN - English

source of profits - trading company - 'operations test' - significance of place of concluding contracts - other relevant factors -s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D21/88 Download D21/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D21/88 (PDF) EN - English

source of profits - trading in goods - discussion of appropriate tests for determining source - status of the 'operations test' - s 14 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance   

D18/88 Download D18/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D18/88 (PDF) EN - English
SALARIES TAX    

deductions - payment in lieu of notice - whether incurred in the production of assessable profits - s 12(1)(a) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D15/88 Download D15/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D15/88 (PDF) EN - English

receipt of income - salary due to employee withheld by way of set-off in order to discharge employee's obligation to employer -whether salary assessable - s 9(l)(a) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D15/88 Download D15/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D15/88 (PDF) EN - English

receipt of income - salary refunded to employer to discharge employee's obligation to employer - whether salary assessable - s 9(l)(a) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D15/88 Download D15/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D15/88 (PDF) EN - English

removal allowance - taxpayer obliged by his contract of employment to change residence - whether moving allowance provided for this purpose was subject to salaries tax - s 9(l)(a) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D11/88 Download D11/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D11/88 (PDF) EN - English

removal expenses - taxpayer obliged by his contract of employment to change residence - whether expenses incurred in moving were deductible - s 12(1)(a) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D11/88 Download D11/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D11/88 (PDF) EN - English

severance payment - whether taxable - s 9(1)(a) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D24/88 Download D24/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D24/88 (PDF) EN - English

sum paid on termination of employment - whether a taxable gratuity or a tax-free severance payment - s 9(1)(a) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance  

D24/88 Download D24/88 (DOC) EN - English Download D24/88 (PDF) EN - English