Income Tax Act, 1967.

PART XVIII

Allowance for Expenditure on Production of Certain Commodities

Expenditure on production of certain commodities.

306.—(1) This section relates only to commodities which were not produced commercially in the State in the twelve months ended on the 31st day of August, 1939, and the production of which in the State (whether for home consumption or for export) would not have been commercially profitable at any time during those twelve months, and “commodity to which this section relates” shall in this section be construed accordingly.

(2) In this section references to abnormal economic conditions in respect of a commodity to which this section relates shall be construed as meaning that, owing to circumstances created by or arising from the national emergency to which the resolution passed by each House of the Oireachtas on the 2nd day of September, 1939, related (including circumstances continuing after the termination of that emergency),—

(a) the said commodity is urgently required in the State to meet an essential need of the people and either cannot be imported in sufficient quantities to meet that need or cannot be imported at all, and

(b) the production of the said commodity in the State for home consumption is, while the said circumstances exist, commercially profitable, but will cease to be commercially profitable after the cesser of those circumstances.

(3) Where—

(a) a person applies, in accordance with this section, to the Revenue Commissioners for a special allowance under this section in respect of any year of assessment, and

(b) shows, to the satisfaction of the Revenue Commissioners, that during that year he used buildings erected or acquired or plant or machinery installed by him after the 31st day of August, 1939, solely for the production by way of trade or business of a commodity to which this section relates, and that such commodity was so produced solely for consumption within the State, and

(c) also shows to the satisfaction aforesaid that during the said year abnormal economic conditions existed in respect of the said commodity,

the Revenue Commissioners may cause such special allowance as they consider just to be made in respect of the said buildings, plant, or machinery from the assessment made on the said person for the said year in respect of the profits of his trade or business of so producing the said commodity.

(4) Application to the Revenue Commissioners for a special allowance under this section in relation to any year of assessment may be made within twelve months after the end of such year.

(5) Where a special allowance is made under the foregoing provisions of this section, effect shall be given to such allowance by repayment or otherwise.

(6) Where special allowances under this section have been made to a person and the Revenue Commissioners are satisfied that abnormal economic conditions have ceased to exist in respect of the commodity in relation to the production of which the said allowances were made, the Revenue Commissioners may review the said allowances.

(7) The following provisions shall have effect in relation to or in consequence of a review under the next preceding subsection of this section of the special allowances under this section made to any person, that is to say:—

(a) for the purpose of such review the Revenue Commissioners may compare the following amounts, that is to say:—

(i) the net cost (as hereinafter defined) to the said person of the buildings, plant, or machinery in respect of which the said special allowances were made, and

(ii) the total allowances as hereinafter defined made to the said person;

(b) for the purposes of the said comparison, the said net cost shall be taken to be the amount by which the actual cost to the said person of the erection or acquisition of the said buildings or the installation of the said plant or machinery exceeds the aggregate of—

(i) the sum or sums (if any) provided by way of subsidy or grant out of public funds towards the said erection, acquisition, or installation, and

(ii) the amount for which, in the opinion of the Revenue Commissioners, the said buildings, plant, or machinery are worth to be sold at or within twelve months after the cesser of abnormal economic conditions in respect of the commodity for the production of which the said buildings, plant, or machinery were or was used;

(c) the said total allowances shall be taken to be the aggregate of all special allowances made to the said person under the foregoing provisions of this section and all allowances made to such person in respect of the said buildings, machinery, or plant under or by reason of section 65 (4) (a), 241 or 243 for the year of assessment in which occurred the cesser of abnormal economic conditions in respect of the commodity for the production of which the said buildings, plant, or machinery was or were used and for any previous year of assessment during which the said buildings, plant, or machinery were or was so used;

(d) if the said net cost exceeds the said total allowances, the Revenue Commissioners may make, by repayment or otherwise, such further special allowance as is in their opinion just;

(e) if the said total allowances exceed the said net cost, the special allowances under this section made to the said person may be revised and such additional assessments as the Revenue Commissioners consider to be necessary may be made on the said person for any year of assessment in respect of which any such special allowance was granted to him.