Annex 1: Minor changes in the law made by the Act: Change 61: Averaging: time limit for a further claim: section 225
This change makes clear that the full 22 month time limit applies to a further claim for averaging.
Section 96(8) of ICTA provides that a claim must be made “…before the 31st January next following the year of assessment…”. If this precludes a claim being made on 31 January the rule falls one day short of the full 22 month time limit for the making of claims.
This Act expresses time limits consistently. Where possible, the time limit for an election is the first anniversary of the “normal self-assessment filing date” (defined in section 878 of this Act as 31 January following the relevant tax year). So section 225 makes it clear that the full 22 month time limit applies.
This change has no implications for the amount of tax paid, who pays it or when. It affects (in principle but not in practice) only administrative matters.