Section 681: Taxable and other foreign benefits: exemptions
2699.The section derives from ESC A24. This Act legislates the ESC that exempts certain foreign benefits from tax. In practice the ESC is applied not only to the benefits set out in the ESC but to all foreign benefits that correspond to exempt United Kingdom benefits. The section reflects this. See Change 146 in Annex 1.
2700.In order to make the exemptions simple and consistent the phrase “no liability to income tax arises” is used throughout this Act to express exemption from tax. See Note 28 in Annex 2.
2701.Subsection (1) deals with foreign benefits that correspond to the taxable UK benefits listed in Table A. It exempts the foreign benefits to the same extent that the United Kingdom benefits are exempt income because of one of the rules in Chapter 4. The definition of “exempt income” is in section 656(2).
2702.Subsection (2) deals with the foreign benefits that correspond to the exempt UK social security benefits listed in Table B (in Chapter 5). These foreign benefits are not substantially similar to the taxable UK benefits listed in Table A. So they are not covered by subsection (1). But they are wholly exempt from tax. The phrase “no liability to tax” removes not only a charge under this Part but any charge to income tax.
