Section 681AI: Exclusion of service charges etc
968.This section is concerned with service charges and the like. It is based on section 779(6) and (12) of ICTA.
969.Leases commonly provide for the tenant to pay the landlord not only rent but also service charges and the like, and these may be paid in a single sum; the definitions of “commercial rent” in sections 681AJ and 681AK do not include service charges etc and so this section correspondingly excludes them from the amount with which the commercial rent is compared.
970.Subsections (3) and (4) prevent the taxpayer escaping this Chapter by agreeing to pay an excessive amount by way of service charge. They include a minor change in the law to bring it into line with Self Assessment. See Change 12 in Annex 1.
971.The source legislation uses the term “asset”, which is defined to exclude land and interests in land. Since many readers may find this counter-intuitive, subsection (2)(b) refers to “relevant assets”. The term “relevant asset” is defined in subsection (5). Chapters 3 and 4 of this Part also use the term “relevant asset”, for the same reason. See sections 681CG and 681DO.