Labour Research September 2001

Features: Law matters

Taxable income

A negotiated settlement for an employee to leave work can be fully liable for tax. Unlike redundancy pay, this is not tax-free for the first £30,000. Negotiated settlements are not necessarily payments in compensation for a breach of contract which is why they can be liable for tax, according to the High Court.

(Richardson (Inspector of Taxes) v Delaney, The Times Law Reports, 11 July 2001)