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Inland Revenue (Amendment)


Published: 1999-11-30

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Inland Revenue (Amendment)
Inland Revenue (Amendment)
AN ACT TO AMEND THE INLAND REVENUE ACT, NO. 28 OF 1979

BE it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows :-

[30th November , 1999 ]
Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act. No. 41 of 1999.

Amendment of section 8 of Act No. 28 of 1979.

2. Section 8 of the Inland Revenue Act, No. 28 of 1979 (hereinafter referred to as the "principal enactment") as last amended by Act, No. 52 of 1998 is hereby further amended in paragraph (a) of that section as follows :-

(1) in sub-paragraph (LXXV) of that paragraph, by the substitution, for the words and figures "the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau established under the Mines and Minerals Act, No. 33 of 1992", of the words and figures '"the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau established under the Mines and Minerals Act, No. 33 of 1992 :":

(2) by the addition, at the end of that paragraph, of the following sub-paragraphs :-

(LXXVI) the Common wealth Development Corporation ;

(LXXVII) the India-Sri Lanka Foundation incorporated under the Companies Act, No. 17 of 1982."

Amendment of section 9 of the principal enactment.

3. Section 9 of the principal enactment as last amended by Act No. 52 of 1998, is hereby further amended in sub- principal paragraph (viii) of paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of that section, by the substitution, for the words "the Commonwealth Secretariat in any of its programmes for technical co-operation With,Sri Lanka", of the Words "the Commonwealth Secretariat in any of its programmes for technical co-operation with Sri Lanka, or the Commonwealth Development Corporation."

Amendment of section 14 of the principal enactment.

4. Section 14 of the principal enactment as last amended by Act No. 52 or 1998 is hereby further amended in sub-paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of that section as follows :-

(1) by the renumbering of sub-paragraphs (xxii) and (xxiii) inserted by Act No. 52 of 1998) as sub-paragraphs (xxiv) and (xxv) respectively, of subsection (1); and

(2) by the addition, immediately after the renumbered sub paragraph (xxv) of that subsection of the following sub-paragraphs :-

"(xxvi) the sale, on or after April 1, 1999, but before April 1, 2000 by any person, of any share held by him in any company, being a company the shares of which are quoted on or before March 31, 2000 in any official list published by any stock exchange licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka ;

(xxvii) change of ownership of any :-

(i) share warrant; or

(ii) financial instrument which is derived from, and dependant on, another financial instrument,

issued by any company and which at the time of such change of ownership, is quoted in any official list published by any stock exchange licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri lanka.".

Amendment of section 15 of the principal enactment.

5. Section 15 of the principal enactment as last amended by Act No. 52 of 1998, is hereby further amended as follows:-

(1) in paragraph (v) of that section, by the substitution for all the words and figures from "such part of any sum" to "established by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act. No. 21 of 1985" of the following :-

"such part of any sum as does not exceed-

(a) two thousand rupees paid in any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1990 but prior to April 1, 1999; and

(b) three thousand rupees paid in any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1999

by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment established by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act. NO. 21 of" 1985.";

(2) by the repeal of paragraph (vv) of that section, and the substitution therefor of the following paragraph :-

(vv) such part of any sum as does not exceed-

(a) two thousand rupees received in any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1990 but prior to April 1, 1999; and

(b) three thousand rupees received in any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1999,

by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment established by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act, No. 21 of 1985, in respect of any Sri Lankan for whom employment outside Sri Lanka has been provided or secured by such Bureau ;

Amendment of section 23 of the principal enactment.

6. Section 23 of the principal enactment, as last amended by Act No. 52 of 1998, is hereby further amended as follows:-

(1) in subsection (1) of that section,.-

(a) in paragraph (eee) of that subsection -

(i) by the substitution, in sub-paragraph (ia) of that paragraph for the words and figures "[other than plant, machinery or fixtures referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) or (iia)]" of the words and figures "[other than plant, machinery or fixtures referred to in sub-paragraph (ii), (iia) or (iib)]" ; and

(ii) by the insertion, immediately after sub-paragraph (iia) of that paragraph, of the following subparagraph :-

"(iib) any computer hardware, telecommunication equipment or any accessory to such hardware or equipment acquired by him on or after April 1, 1998 but prior to April 1, 2000 for the replacement of or for upgrading, any computer hardware, telecommunication equipment or any accessory thereto acquired prior to April 1, 1998 and used in any trade, business, profession or vocation carried on or exercised by such person if such computer hardware or telecommunication equipment or accessory to such hardware or equipment acquired on or after April 1, 1998 is millennium compliant, at the rate of one hundred per centum of its cost of its acquisition ":

(b) by the repeal of paragraph (eeeee), of that subsection and the substitution therefor of the following paragraph ;-

"(eeeee) an allowance in respect of-

(i) any computer software (other than computer software referred to in sub-paragraph (ii)) acquired by such person during the period of which the profits and income are being ascertained and used by such person in any trade, business, profession, or vocation carried on or exercised by him, such allowance being an amount equal to-

(A) thirty-three and one third per centum of the cost of acquisition of such computer software where such computer software is so acquired prior to April 1, 1997; and

(B) fifty per centum of the cost of acquisition of such computer software, where such computer software is so acquired on or alter April 1, 1997 ;

(ii) any computer software acquired by such person, on or after April 1, 1998, but prior to April 1, 2000, for the replacement of, or for upgrading, the computer software acquired prior to April 1, 1998, and used in any trade business, profession or vocation carried on or exercised by him, if such computer software acquired on or after April 1, 1998 is millennium compliant, at the rate of one hundred per centum of the cost of its acquisition :

Provided that no deduction under the preceding provisions of this paragraph shall he allowed to any person in respect of any computer software it the total of the allowances granted in she preceding years of assessment in respect of such computer software is equal to the cost of acquisition of such computer software.".

Amendment of section 30 of the principal enactment.

7. Section 30 of the principal enactment as last amended by Act, No. 52 of 1998 is hereby further amended in subsection (2) of that section as follows :-

(1) in the third proviso to that subsection, by the substitution for the words and figures "any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1989, but prior to March 31, 1997 and for the period commencing from March 31, 1997 to December 31, 1997", of the words and figures "any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1989" ;

(2) in the fourth proviso to that subsection, by the substitution for the words and figures "an year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1989" of the words and figures "any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1989, but prior to April 1, 1997 and for the period commencing from April 1, 1997 to December 31, 1997.".

Amendment of section 31 of the principal enactment.

8. Section 31 of the principal enactment as last amended by Act No. 52 of 1998 is hereby further amended in subsection (6) of that section as follows :-

(1) by the substitution, in paragraph (i) of that subsection for the words and letters "paragraph (b), (c), (m) or (n) of subsection (2)", of the words and letters "paragraph (b), (c), (m) (n) or (s) of subsection (2)";

(2) by the substitution, in paragraph (ii) of that subsection, for the words and letters "paragraph (q) or (s)", of the word and letter "paragraph (q)".

Amendment of section 32DDD of the principal enactment.

9. Section 32DDD of the principal enactment inserted by Act, No. 52 of 1998, is hereby further amended as follows :-

(1) in subsection (1) of that section, by the substitution, for the words and figures from "Where the taxable income" to "the tax shall be computed as follows :- of the following : -

"Where the taxable income of any person (other than any company)-

(A) for the year of assessment commencing on April 1, 1998, includes any profits and income [within the meaning of section 3(a)] from any agricultural undertaking or any undertaking for the promotion of tourism ; or

(B) for any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1999, includes any profits and income [within the meaning of section 3(a) from any agricultural undertaking, undertaking for the promotion of tourism or undertaking for construction work,

(hereinafter in this section referred to as "specified profits") and the rate of income tax payable on a part of such income (hereinafter in this section referred to as "relevant part of income") exceeds fifteen per centum, then in regard to the relevant part of income, tax shall be computed as follows :-";

(2) in subsection (2) of that section"

(i) in the proviso to paragraph (c) of that subsection, by the substitution, for the words "profits arising from such deemed sale.", of the words "profits arising from such deemed sale;"

(ii) by the addition immediately after paragraph (c) of that subsection of the following paragraph :-

"(d) undertaking for construed on work means an undertaking carried on by a resident person for the construction of any-

(i) building;

(ii) roads or bridges ; or

(iii) water supply, drainage or sewerage systems,".

Amendment of section 32DDDD of principal enactment.

10. Section 32DDDD of the principal enactment inserted by Act No. 52 of 1998, is hereby further amended as follows:-

(1) by the repeal of subsection (1) of that section and the substitution therefor of the following subsection :"

"(1) Where the taxable income of any company-

(a) for the year of assessment commencing on April 1, 1998, includes any profits and income [within the meaning of section 3(a)] from any agricultural undertaking or

any undertaking for the promotion of tourism;

(b) for any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1,1999, includes any profits and income [within the meaning of section 3(a)] from any agricultural undertaking or

any undertaking for the promotion of tourism, or any undertaking for construction work.

such part of such taxable income as consists of such profits and income shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other provision of in is Chapter, Chapter VIII A or Chapter IX, be chargeable with income tax at the rate of fifteen per centum"; and

(2) in subsection (2) of that section by the substitution, for the words "the profits and income from any agricultural undertaking shall", of the words "the profits and income from any agricultural undertaking and undertaking for construction work shall".

Amendment of section 32EEEE of the principal enactment.

11. Section 32EEEE of the principal enactment is hereby amended in subsection (3) of that section by the substitution for the words and figures "shall apply to that company for the year of assessment commencing on April 1, 1997", of the words and figures" shall apply to that company for the year of assessment commencing on April 1, 1997".

Amendment of section 32EEEEE of the principal enactment .

12. Section 32EEEEE of the principal enactment is hereby amended in paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of that section by the substitution for ail the words from "is not less than three hundred to the end of that paragraph of the following :-

"is not less than three hundred

the deduction referred to in subsection (1), shall apply to that company for the year of assessment commencing on April 1, 1997, as an amount equal to two and one half per centum of such part.".

Amendment of section 113A of the principal enactment .

13. Section 113A of the principal enactment as last amended Act No. 24 of 1997 is hereby further amended in paragraph (b) the definition of "interest' , of subsection (1) of that section by the insertion, immediately alter item (ii) of that paragraph of the following item : -

"(iii) a bond, note, debenture, loan, stock or other security held by such person and which is quoted in any official list published by any stock exchange licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka ; ".

Amendment of the first Schedule to the principal enactment.

14. The First Schedule to the principal enactment as last amended by Act No. 24 of 1997, is hereby further amended in Part IV of that Schedule as follows :-

(a) in paragraph (d) of that Part by the substitution for the words and figures "for any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1997", of the words and figures "for any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1997 but prior to April 1, 1999.";

(b) by the addition, immediately after paragraph (d) of that Part of the following paragraph :-

"(e) for any year of assessment commencing on or after April 1, 1999-

On the first Rs. 500,000 Nil
On the next Rs. 150.000 5 per centum
On the next Rs. 150.000 10 per centum
On the balance 15 per centum .".

Retrospective effect.

15.

(1) The amendments to section 14, section 15, section 32DDD Section 32DDDD, section 113 A and the First Schedule to the principal enactment made respectively by section 4, section 5, section 9, section 10, section 13 and section 14 of this Act shall be deemed for all purposes to have come into force on April 1, 1999.

(2) The amendment to section 23 of the principal enactment made by the section 6 of this Act shall be deemed for ail purposes to have come into force on April 1,1998.

(3) The amendment to section 30 of the principal enactment made by section 7 of this Act shall be deemed for all purposes to have come into force on January 1, 1998.

(4) The amendment to section 31 of the principal enactment made by section 8 of this Act shall be deemed for ail purposes to have come into force on November 6, 1997.

(5) The amendment of section 8 of the principal enactment made by section 2(1 )(c) of Act No. 52 of 1998 in relation to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau established under the Mines and Minerals Act No. 33 of 1992, shall be deemed for all purposes to have come into force on March 18, 1993 notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the said Act.

Sinhala text to prevail in case of any inconsistency.

16. In the event of any inconsistency between the Sinhala and the Tamil texts of this Act the Sinhala text shall prevail.