Section 3 Interpretation of Income Tax Acts
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(1) In the Income Tax Acts, except where otherwise provided or the context otherwise requires-
["chargeable tax", in relation to an individual for a year of assessment, means the amount of income tax to which the individual is chargeable for that year of assessment under section 15 in respect of his or her total income for that year including, in the case of an individual assessed to tax in accordance with the provisions of section 1017, the total income, if any, of the individual's spouse;
"general tax credit", in relation to an individual for a year of assessment, means any relief (other than a credit under section 59) applicable for that year of assessment, not by way of deduction from income, but by way of reduction of or deduction from the chargeable tax or by way of repayment thereof when paid, other than a personal tax credit, and such credit shall be determined by reference to the amount of the reduction, deduction or repayment as the case may be;]1
"higher rate", in relation to tax, means the rate of tax known by that description and provided for in section 15;
"incapacitated person" means any minor or person of unsound mind;
["income tax payable", in relation to an individual for a year of assessment, means the chargeable tax less the aggregate of the personal tax credits and general tax credits;
"personal tax credit", in relation to an individual for a year of assessment, means a tax credit specified in sections 461, 461A, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 466A, 468 and 478; ]2
"relative" includes any person of whom the person claiming [relief]3 had the custody and whom he or she maintained at his or her own expense while that person was under the age of 16 years;
"standard rate", in relation to tax, means the rate of tax known by that description and provided for in section 15;
"tax" means income tax;
"taxable income" has the meaning assigned to it by section 458;
"total income" means total income from all sources as estimated in accordance with the Income Tax Acts;
"trade" includes every trade, manufacture, adventure or concern in the nature of trade.
Amendments
1 Inserted by Finance Act 2001 section 2(3) and Schedule 1 para 1(a)(i) for 2001 and later tax years.
2 Inserted by Finance Act 2001 section 2(3) and Schedule 1 para 1(a)(ii) for 2001 and later tax years.
3 Substituted by Finance Act 2000 section 14 and Schedule 1 para 1.
(2)(a) Subject to subsection (3), in the Income Tax Acts, "earned income", in relation to an individual, means-
(i) any income arising in respect of any remuneration from any office or employment of profit held by the individual, or in respect of any pension, superannuation or other allowance, deferred pay, or compensation for loss of office, given in respect of the past services of the individual or of the husband or parent of the individual in any office or employment of profit, or given to the individual in respect of the past services of any deceased person, whether or not the individual or husband or parent of the individual shall have contributed to such pension, superannuation allowance or deferred pay,
(ii) any income from any property which is attached to or forms part of the emoluments of any office or employment of profit held by the individual, and
(iii) any income charged under Schedule D and immediately derived by the individual from the carrying on or exercise by the individual of his or her trade or profession, either as an individual or, in the case of a partnership, as a partner personally acting in the partnership.
(b) In cases where the profits of a wife are deemed to be profits of the husband, any reference in this subsection to an individual includes either the husband or the wife.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), in the Income Tax Acts, except where otherwise expressly provided, "earned income" includes-
(a) any annuity made payable to an individual under the terms of an annuity contract or trust scheme for the time being approved by the Revenue Commissioners for the purposes of Chapter 2 of Part 30 to the extent to which such annuity is payable in return for any amount on which relief is given under section 787, and
(b) any payment or other sum which is or is deemed to be income chargeable to tax under Schedule E for any purpose of the Income Tax Acts.
(4) References to profits or gains in the Income Tax Acts shall not include references to chargeable gains within the meaning of the Capital Gains Tax Acts.
