Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2016 and shall come into force on 6th April 2016.

Amendments to the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

2.-(1) The Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1)-

(a)omit the definition of "lower rate"; and

(b)at the appropriate places insert-

""basic rate" means the rate of income tax determined in pursuance of section 6(2) of the Income Tax Act 2007(4);";

""Scottish basic rate" means the rate of income tax of that name calculated in accordance with section 6A of the Income Tax Act 2007(5);"; and

""Scottish taxpayer" has the same meaning as in Chapter 2 of Part 4A of the Scotland Act 1998;".

(3) In regulation 4(6)-

(a)omit paragraph (2);

(b)in paragraph (3) omit "or (2)"; and

(c)in paragraph (3)(a)-

(i)for "lower rate or, as the case may be, the lower rate and the basic rate" substitute "basic rate, or in the case of a Scottish taxpayer, the Scottish basic rate,";

(ii)for "personal relief to which the claimant is entitled under sections 257(1), 257A(1) and 259 of the Taxes Act as is" substitute "personal reliefs to which the claimant is entitled under Chapters 2, 3 and 3A of Part 3 of the Income Tax Act 2007(7) as are";

(iii)for "lower rate" in the third place it appears substitute "basic rate, or the Scottish basic rate,"; and

(iv)for "relief" in the second place it appears substitute "reliefs".

(4) In regulation 14(1)-

(a)for the words from "lower rate" the first time it appears to "as is" substitute "basic rate, or in the case of a Scottish taxpayer, the Scottish basic rate, of tax less only the personal reliefs to which the claimant is entitled under Chapters 2, 3 and 3A of Part 3 of the Income Tax Act 2007 as are";

(b)for "lower rate" in the third place it appears substitute "basic rate, or the Scottish basic rate,"; and

(c)for "relief" in the second place it appears substitute "reliefs".

Revocations

3.  The Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2000(8) are revoked.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Social Security Benefit (Computation of Earnings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 520).

The 1996 Regulations make provision for the calculation or estimation of income so as to enable the Department to determine the amount of benefit a claimant should be awarded. Broadly, the income of a self-employed claimant is calculated by determining the claimant's net profit over a representative period and then deducting (amongst other liabilities) an amount in respect of income tax, based on the basic rate of tax applicable to that period.

These Regulations amend the provisions relating to the calculation or estimation of income in consequence of the power of the Scottish Parliament to set a Scottish rate of income tax provided for in Part 4A of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46). The power is first being exercised for the tax year 2016-2017.

Regulation 2 introduces definitions of a "Scottish taxpayer" and the "Scottish basic rate" of tax and paragraphs (3) and (4) add references to the "Scottish basic rate" of tax to the existing references to the basic rate of tax and update references to "personal reliefs" so as to refer to the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007 (c.3).

Regulation 2(3)(a) omits regulation 4(2) of the 1996 Regulations, which is no longer relevant.

Regulation 3 makes a revocation consequential upon the omission of regulation 4(2).

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on business or civil society organisations.