Edwards (Inspector of Taxes) v. Bairstow and Anor

[1956] A.C. 14

(Judgment by: Lord Somervell of Harrow)

Between: Edwards (Inspector of Taxes) - Appellant
And: Bairstow and Anor - Respondents

Court:
House of Lords

Judges: Viscount Simonds
Lord Radcliffe
Lord Tucker

Lord Somervell of Harrow

Subject References:
REVENUE
INCOME TAX
Profits of trade
Isolated transaction
Adventure in the nature of trade
Purchase and sale of spinning plant
Finding of General Commissioners
Review
Principles

Legislative References:
Income Tax Act, 1918 (8 & 9 Geo. 5, c. 40) - Sch. D, Case I

Hearing date: 20-22 June 1955
Judgment date: 25 July 1955

Judgment by:
Lord Somervell of Harrow

My Lords, I have had the advantage of reading the opinion of my noble and learned friend Lord Radcliffe, in which I concur.

Appeal allowed.

Solicitors: Solicitor of Inland Revenue; Iliffe, Sweet & Co. for Laycock, Dyson & Laycock, Huddersfield.

By Sch. D to the Income Tax Act, 1918:

"1.
Tax under this Schedule shall be charged in respect of -

(a)
The annual profits or gains arising or accruing ...

(ii)
to any person residing in the United Kingdom from any trade, profession, employment or vocation ...

2.
Tax under this Schedule shall be charged under the following Cases respectively;
that is to say - Case I - Tax in respect of any trade not contained in any other Schedule ..."

By s. 237:

"... 'Trade' includes every trade, manufacture, adventure or concern in the nature of trade ..."

[1930] A.C. 415 ; 46 T.L.R. 296 .

(1954) 33 A.T.C. 131 , 133.

[1947] K.B. 349 , 353, 356, 356-7, 358; 63 T.L.R. 98 ; [1947] 1 All E.R. 126 .

(1904) 6 F. 894; 5 T.C. 159.

1910 S.C. 906; 5 T.C. 658.

(1924) 131 L.T. 248; 9 T.C. 141.

[1926] 1 K.B. 550 , 559; 42 T.L.R. 233 ; [1927] A.C. 312 ; 43 T.L.R. 116 .

1927 S.C. 251; 11 T.C. 538.

(1927) 11 T.C. 610.

1929 S.C. 379; 14 T.C. 490.

[1925] 2 K.B. 753 ; 41 T.L.R. 614 .

[1930] 1 K.B. 279 .

[1930] A.C. 415 ; 46 T.L.R. 296 .

[1925] 2 K.B. 753 .

1942 S.C. 493; 21 T.C. 498.

1952 S.C. 387; 34 T.C. 13.

1953 S.C. 49; 34 T.C. 389.

6 F. 894; 5 T.C. 159.

131 L.T. 248; 9 T.C. 141.

1927 S.C. 251; 11 T.C. 538.

[1926] 1 K.B. 550 .

1929 S.C. 379; 14 T.C. 490.

1942 S.C. 493; 21 T.C. 498.

[1930] A.C. 415 .

[1947] K.B. 439 .

[1925] 2 K.B. 753 .

1942 S.C. 493; 24 T.C. 498.

[1930] A.C. 415 .

[1930] A.C. 415 .

Ibid. 428.

1927 S.C. 251; 11 T.C. 538.

6 F. 894; 5 T.C. 159.

[1926] 1 K.B. 550 .

[1925] 2 K.B. 753 .

Ibid.

33 A.T.C. 131 , 133.

1942 S.C. 493; 21 T.C. 498.

1927 S.C. 251; 11 T.C. 538.

1952 S.C. 387; 34 T.C. 13.

1953 S.C. 49; 34 T.C. 389.

1942 S.C. 493; 24 T.C. 498.

[1930] A.C. 415 .

[1930] A.C. 415 .

[1930] 1 K.B. 279 , 288.

1952 S.C. 387; 34 T.C. 13.

1929 S.C. 790, 794-5, 796; 14 T.C. 684.

(1929) 14 T.C. 694, 699.

[1938] 1 K.B. 591 ; 54 T.L.R. 320 ; [1938] 1 All E.R. 93 .

6 F. 894; 5 T.C. 159.

[1930] A.C. 415 .

[1925] 2 K.B. 37 ; 41 T.L.R. 371 .

[1925] 2 K.B. 753 .

[1930] 1 K.B. 279 , 283-4, 301.

[1930] A.C. 415 , 421-2, 426.

[1947] K.B. 526 ; 63 T.L.R. 199 ; [1947] 1 All E.R. 282 .

[1930] A.C. 415 .

[1928] A.C. 217 ; 44 T.L.R. 374 .

[1928] A.C. 234 , 246, 247; 44 T.L.R. 374 .

[1928] 1 K.B. 507 , 515-6; 43 T.L.R. 796 .

[1928] A.C. 132 ; 44 T.L.R. 307 .

[1921] 2 K.B. 332 ; 37 T.L.R. 371 .

1939 S.C. 545; 22 T.C. 706.

1932 S.C. 87; 16 T.C. 381.

[1926] 1 K.B. 550 .

1929 S.C. 379; 14 T.C. 490

6 F. 894; 5 T.C. 159.

[1928] A.C. 132 , 140, 142.

6 F. 894; 5 T.C. 159.

1942 S.C. 493; 24 T.C. 498.

[1938] A.C. 415 .

1942 S.C. 493; 24 T.C. 498.

1 [1925] 2 K.B. 753 ; 41 T.L.R. 614 .

2 1953 S.C. 49, 56; 34 T.C. 389, 394.

3 [1930] 1 K.B. 279 .

4 [1925] 2 K.B. 753 .

5 [1930] A.C. 415 .

6 [1928] A.C. 234 ; 44 T.L.R. 374 .

7 1942 S.C. 493, 501; 24 T.C. 498, 504.

8 [1921] 2 K.B. 332 ; 37 T.L.R. 371 .

9 [1921] 2 K.B. 332 ; 37 T.L.R. 371 .

10 [1925] 2 K.B. 753 , 772-3.

11 1927 S.C. 251, 258; 11 T.C. 538, 545-6.

[F84]
12 [1930] A.C. 415 .

13 (1925) 133 L.T. 582, 585; 41 T.L.R. 345 .

14 [1925] 2 K.B. 753 .

15 [1925] 2 K.B. 753 , 768.

16 Ibid. 772.

17 1942 S.C. 493, 497-8; 24 T.C. 498, 501.

18 1952 S.C. 387, 393; 34 T.C. 13, 18-9.

19 [1925] 2 K.B. 753 .