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Chapter V · Ascertainment of Total Statutory Income

28. Basis for computing statutory income

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

(1)

The statutory income of every person for each year of assessment from every source of his profits or income in respect of which tax is chargeable, shall be the full amount of the profits or income which was derived by him or arose or accrued to his benefit from such source during that year of assessment, notwithstanding that he may have ceased to possess such source or that such source may have ceased to produce income.

(2)

Where the Commissioner-General directs under the provisions of subsection (4) that the accounts in respect of any trade, business, profession or vocation be made up for such periods as may be specified in that direction, he may further direct that the statutory income from that source for any year of assessment be computed on the amount of the profits of the period ending in that year of assessment. Where however, the statutory income of any person from a trade, business, profession or vocation has been computed by reference to an account made up for a certain period and such person fails to make up an account for the corresponding period in the year following, the statutory income from that source, both of the year of assessment for which such failure occurs and of the two years of assessment following, shall be computed on such basis as the Commissioner-General shall consider just and equitable in the circumstances of the case:

Provided that the Commissioner-General may at any time vary or revoke a direction given under the preceding provisions of this subsection:

Provided further, that where any such direction is varied or revoked by the Commissioner-General, he may order that the statutory income for any year of assessment from the source in respect of which such direction was given, be computed as if the accounts were made up to the thirty-first day of March in that year of assessment.

(3)

Every person who carries on or exercises any trade, business, profession or vocation shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (4), make up the accounts of that trade, business, profession or vocation for each successive period of twelve months ending on the thirty-first day of

March of each year:

Provided that where a person–

(a)

commences to carry on or exercise a trade, business, profession or vocation in any year of assessment, such person shall make up the accounts of such trade, business, profession or vocation for the period beginning from the date of commencement of such trade, business, profession or vocation and ending on the thirty-first day of March of that year of assessment; and

(b)

ceases to carry on or exercise a trade, business, profession or vocation in any year of assessment, such person shall make up the accounts of such trade, business, profession or vocation for the period beginning from the first day of April of that year of assessment and ending on the date of such cessation.

(4)

Where any person is unable to comply with the provisions of subsection (3) in relation to any trade, business, profession or vocation carried on or exercised by him, he shall give notice in writing to the Commissioner-General setting out the reasons for his inability to comply with such provisions. The Commissioner-General may, if satisfied with the reason set out in such notice, direct such person to makeup the accounts of that trade, business, profession or vocation for such periods as may be specified in that direction, and it shall be the duty of such person to comply with the direction:

Provided however that the Commissioner-General may at any time vary or revoke any direction given by him under the preceding provisions of this subsection.

Chapter VI

Ascertainment of Assesable Income

Chapter VII

Ascertainment of Taxable Income

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Special Provisions Relating to the Taxation of Certain Profits and of Dividends Out of Such Profits

Chapter X

Companies

Chapter XI

Special Cases a – Children

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Payment of Tax by Self-Assessment

Chapter XIV

Deduction of Income Tax from Remuneration of Employees by Employers

Chapter XV

Provisions Relating to the Payment of Income Tax by a Government Institution

Chapter XVI

Deductions from Interest Paid by Banks and Financial Institutions

Chapter XVII

Deduction of Income Tax from Specified Fees Paid by Specified Persons

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

Deduction of Income Tax from Any Annuity or Royalty Paid or Any Management Fee Paid or Similar Payment Made by Any Person or Partnership

Chapter XXI

Retention of Moneys in Certain Provident Funds

Chapter XXII

Assessments

Chapter XXIII

Appeals A-Appeals to the Commissioner-General

Chapter XXIV

Finality of Assessments and Penalty for Incorrect Returns

Chapter XXV

Tax in Default and Sums Added Thereto

Chapter XXVI

Recovery of Tax

Chapter XXVII

Miscellaneous

Chapter XXVIII

Repayment

Chapter XXIX

Penalties and Offences

Chapter XXX

Administration

Chapter XXXI

General

Chapter XXXII

Interpretation

Chapter XXXIII

Application of the Inland Revenue Act…

Schedules