[2002] UGCA 2

[2002] UGCA 2

The Court of Appeal held that section 168(21) of the Income Tax Act, 1997 does not entitle a holder of a Certificate of Incentives to exemption from withholding tax on dividends paid to non-resident shareholders. The exemption is expressly limited to resident persons, both for dividends and interest. The court found...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2002] UGCA 2
Parties
Appellant: Total Uganda Limited; Respondent: Uganda Revenue Authority
Court
Court of Appeal of Uganda
Jurisdiction
Uganda
Case Number
Civil Appeal No. 1 of 2002
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Second Appeal From High Court, After Tax Appeals Tribunal
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Withholding Tax, Tax Exemptions, Investment Incentives, Non Resident Shareholders
Source Language
en
Tax Law Commercial and Corporate Withholding Tax Tax Exemptions Investment Incentives Non Resident Shareholders

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Parties

Total Uganda Limited

Appellant

Uganda Revenue Authority

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Second Appeal From High Court, After Tax Appeals Tribunal

  1. 1 Whether a holder of a Certificate of Incentives who has elected to continue under section 168(21) of the Income Tax Act, 1997 is entitled to exemption from withholding tax on dividends paid to non-resident shareholders.
  2. 2 Whether section 168(21) of the Income Tax Act, 1997 extends exemption from withholding tax on dividends to both resident and non-resident shareholders.

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal held that section 168(21) of the Income Tax Act, 1997 does not entitle a holder of a Certificate of Incentives to exemption from withholding tax on dividends paid to non-resident shareholders. The exemption is expressly limited to resident persons, both for dividends and interest. The court found that the wording of the section is clear and unambiguous, and the use of 'and' is conjunctive, relating both dividends and interest to resident persons. The appellant's interpretation was rejected as it would improperly extend the exemption beyond the statutory language. The appeal was dismissed, and the decision of the Tax Appeals Tribunal and High Court was upheld.

Court Disposition

appeal dismissed

Orders

  • The appeal is dismissed with costs to the respondent.
  • The decision of the Tax Appeals Tribunal and High Court is upheld.