1 Short title and commencement. 
(1) This Act may be cited as the Income Tax Act 2007. 
(2) This Act shall come into force on a day to be proclaimed by His Majesty 
in Council and shall apply to fiscal years as set out in the proclamation.

2 Interpretation 
In this Act, unless the context requires otherwise — 
“amount” includes an amount-in-kind; 
“approved retirement fund” means a retirement fund approved by the 
Chief Commissioner in accordance with the regulations; 
“associate”, in relation to a person, means any other person who acts or 
may act in accordance with the directions, requests, suggestions, or wishes 
of the first-mentioned person, and the second-mentioned person shall be 
an associate of the first-mentioned person; 
“business” includes any profession, trade, manufacture, or undertaking 
(including an undertaking in the nature of trade) conducted for pecuniary 
profit, but shall not include employment; 
“business asset” means any asset, whether of a revenue or capital nature, 
used or held ready for use in a business, including goodwill, trading stock, 
a depreciable asset, or an intangible; 
“business income” has the meaning in section 12; 
“chargeable income” has the meaning in section 10; 
“Chief Commissioner” shall have the same meaning ascribed to it in the 
Revenue Services Administration Act 2002; 
“Commissioner” shall have the same meaning ascribed to it in the 
Revenue Services Administration Act 2002; 
“company” means — 
(a) a body or association of persons corporate or unincorporate whether 
incorporated, created, or formed in Tonga or elsewhere; 
(b) a foreign association of persons that the Chief Commissioner has 
declared to be a company for the purposes of this Act; or 
(c) a partnership, 
but does not include a trust; 
“consideration received”, in relation to the disposal of an asset, has the 
meaning in section 47; 
“consumption tax” means the consumption tax imposed under the 
Consumption Tax Act 2003; 
“cost”, in relation to an asset, has the meaning in sections 45 and 46; 
“debt” means an amount owing, including accounts payable and amounts 
owing under a promissory note, bill of exchange, debenture, security, 
bond, or similar financial instrument; 
“depreciable asset” has the meaning in section 27; 
“dividend” means — 
(a) any distribution of profits by a company to a shareholder or a 
partnership to a partner; 
(b) any amount returned to a shareholder in respect of a share on a 
partial reduction in capital to the extent that the amount returned 
exceeds the amount by which the nominal value of the share was 
reduced; or 
(c) any amount distributed to a shareholder on redemption or 
cancellation of a share (including in liquidation) to the extent the 
amount distributed exceeds the nominal value of the share; 
“employee” means an individual engaged in employment; 
“employer” means a person who engages or remunerates an employee; 
“employment” includes — 
(a) a directorship or other office in the management of a company; 
(b) a position entitling the holder to a fixed or ascertainable 
remuneration; or 
(c) the holding or acting in any public office; 
“employment income” has the meaning in section 13; 
“exempt income” means income described as exempt income in this Act 
and as a consequence not included in gross income; 
“fair market value” has the meaning in section 3; 
“fiscal year” means — 
(a) in the case of a company, the period of twelve months ending on 
the date of the annual balance of its accounts; or 
(b) in any other case, the period of twelve months ending on 30th June; 
“gross income” means amounts defined as gross income in section 11 and 
other amounts included in gross income under this Act; 
“income tax” means any tax imposed under this Act; 
“insurance premium” includes a premium in relation to reinsurance; 
“intangible” means — 
(a) any patent, invention, design or model, secret formula or process, 
trademark, copyright, or other like property or right; 
(b) contractual rights with a benefit for a period of more than one year; 
or 
(c) any expenditure that provides an advantage or benefit for a period 
of more than one year, other than expenditure incurred to acquire 
any tangible movable or immovable property;
“interest” means — 
(a) an amount, described as interest, discount, premium, or otherwise, 
whether periodical or a lump sum, as consideration for the use of 
money or being given time to pay; 
(b) an amount that is functionally equivalent to an amount referred to in 
paragraph (a); 
(c) any amount treated as interest under section 43; or 
(d) a commitment, guarantee, service, or similar fee payable in respect 
of a debt or other instrument or agreement giving rise to interest 
under paragraphs (a), (b), or (c); 
“liaison office”, in relation to a person, means an office of the person the 
sole activity of which is representation; 
“member”, in relation to a company, means a shareholder, partner in a 
partnership, or any other person with a membership interest in the 
company; 
“membership interest”, in relation to a company, means a share, an 
interest of a partner in a partnership, and any other ownership interest in 
the company; 
“natural resource amount” means — 
(a) an amount (including a premium or like amount) as consideration 
for the right to take minerals or a living or non-living resource from 
land or sea; or 
(b) an amount calculated in whole or part by reference to the quantity 
or value of minerals or a living or non-living resource taken from 
land or sea; 
“non-resident person” has the meaning in section 4(2); 
“partnership” means two or more persons carrying on business jointly 
for common profit; 
“permanent establishment” means a fixed place of business through 
which the business of a person is wholly or partly carried on, and 
includes — 
(a) a place of management, branch, office, factory, warehouse, or 
workshop, other than a liaison office; 
(b) a mine, oil or gas well, quarry, or other place of extraction of 
natural resources; 
(c) a building site, or a construction, assembly or installation project, or 
supervisory activities connected with such site or project, but only 
if the site, project or activities continue for more than 90 days; 
(d) the furnishing of services, including consultancy services, by any 
person through employees or other personnel engaged by the person 
for such purpose, but only if activities of that nature continue for 
the same or a connected project within Tonga for a period or 
periods aggregating more than ninety days within any twelvemonth period; 
(e) a person (referred to as an “agent”) acting in Tonga on behalf of 
another person, if the agent — 
(i) has and habitually exercises an authority to conclude 
contracts on behalf of the other person; or 
(ii) habitually maintains a stock of goods or other merchandise 
from which the agent regularly delivers goods or 
merchandise on behalf of the other person; or 
(f) any substantial equipment used by a person; 
“person” means an individual, trust, company, government, or public 
international organisation; 
“presumptive income taxpayer” means a person liable for income tax 
under section 8; 
“property income” has the meaning in section 14; 
“quarter” means a period of three months ending on September 30, 
December 31, March 31, or June 30; 
“received”, in relation to a person, includes — 
(a) applied on behalf of the person either at the instruction of the 
person or under any law; 
(b) reinvested, accumulated, or capitalised; 
(c) credited to an account, or carried to any reserve, sinking, or 
insurance fund; or 
(d) made available to the person; 
“rent” means any consideration for the use or occupation of, or the right 
to use or occupy any land or building, including any premium, fine, or like 
amount; 
“resident company” has the meaning in section 4(6); 
“resident individual” has the meaning in section 4(3) to (5); 
“resident person” has meaning in section 4(1); 
“resident trust” has the meaning in section 4(7); 
“royalty” means an amount, however described, whether periodical or a 
lump sum, as consideration for — 
(a) the use of, or right to use any patent, invention, design or model, 
secret formula or process, trademark, or other like property or right; 
(b) the use of, or right to use any copyright of a literary, artistic, or 
scientific work (including films or video tapes for use in connection 
with television or tapes in connection with radio broadcasting); 
(c) the receipt of, or right to receive, any visual images or sounds, or 
both, transmitted by satellite, cable, optic fibre, or similar 
technology in connection with television, radio, or internet 
broadcasting; 
(d) the supply of any technical, industrial, commercial, or scientific 
knowledge, experience, or skill; 
(e) the use of or right to use any industrial, commercial, or scientific 
equipment; 
(f) the supply of any assistance that is ancillary and subsidiary to, and 
is furnished as a means of enabling the application or enjoyment of, 
any property or right referred to in paragraphs (a) through (e); or 
(g) the disposal of any property or right referred to in paragraphs (a) 
through (e); 
“taxable business income” means business income included in gross 
income; 
“taxpayer” means a person liable for income tax under this Act and 
includes a person who has a business loss for a fiscal year; 
“technical services fee” means an amount, however described, whether 
periodical or lump sum, as consideration for the rendering of any 
managerial, technical, or consultancy services, including the services of 
technical or other personnel, but does not include employment income; 
“trading stock” means anything produced, manufactured, purchased, or 
otherwise acquired for manufacture, sale, or exchange for the purposes of 
producing taxable business income, and includes any materials or supplies 
to be consumed in the production or manufacturing process, and livestock; 
“trust” means a trust established under statutory law or the laws of equity 
and includes a testamentary estate; 
“trustee” includes the executor of a testamentary estate; and 
“turnover”, in relation to a person for a fiscal year, means the gross 
revenue (including the gross proceeds from the disposal of a business 
asset) derived by the person during the year, but not including — 
(a) exempt income; 
(b) an amount subject to separate taxation under section 6 or 7; or 
(c) an amount for which withholding tax under section 90 is a final tax. 
 

3 Fair market value 
(1) For the purposes of this Act, the fair market value of any asset, service, or 
benefit at a particular time shall be the ordinary open market value of the 
asset, service, or benefit at that time. 
(2) If the fair market value of any asset, service, or benefit cannot be 
determined under subsection (1), the fair market value shall be the amount 
determined by the Chief Commissioner. 

4 Residents and Non-residents 
(1) A person shall be a resident person at a particular time if, at that time, the 
person is a resident individual, resident company, resident trust, or the 
Government. 
(2) A person who is not a resident person at a particular time shall be a nonresident person at that time. 
(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), an individual shall be a resident 
individual for a fiscal year if the individual — 
(a) has his home in Tonga at any time during the year; 
(b) is present in Tonga for a period of, or periods amounting in 
aggregate to, one hundred eighty-three days in any twelve month 
period that commences or ends during the year; or 
(c) is an employee of the Government posted abroad at any time 
during the year. 
(4) An individual who is a resident individual under subsection (3) for a fiscal 
year, in this section referred to as the “current fiscal year”, but who was 
not a resident individual for the preceding fiscal year shall be treated as a 
resident individual in the current fiscal year only for the period 
commencing on the day on which the individual was first present in 
Tonga. 
(5) An individual who is a resident individual for the current fiscal year but 
who is not a resident individual for the following fiscal year shall be 
treated as a resident individual in the current fiscal year only for the 
period ending on the last day on which the individual was present in 
Tonga. 
(6) A company shall be a resident company for a fiscal year if the 
company — 
(a) is incorporated, created, or formed in Tonga; 
(b) has the centre of its administrative management in Tonga at any 
time during the fiscal year; or 
(c) is a partnership with a partner who is a resident person at any time 
during the year. 
(7) A trust shall be a resident trust for a fiscal year if — 
(a) the trust was settled or established in Tonga; or 
(b) a trustee of the trust is a resident person at any time during the year.

5 Tax on chargeable income 
(1) The Chief Commissioner shall, with the approval of His Majesty in 
Council by Order and in accordance with clause 19(b) of the Constitution 
impose, revoke, suspend, reduce or increase income tax for each fiscal 
year on a person who has chargeable income for the year. 
(2) The income tax imposed under subsection (1) for a fiscal year shall be 
computed by applying the rate or rates of tax applicable to the person 
under the Order to the chargeable income of the person for the year, and 
any tax credits allowed to the person for the year are subtracted from the 
resulting amount. 
(3) If a person is allowed more than one tax credit for a fiscal year, the credits 
are applied in the following order — 
(a) the foreign tax credit allowed under section 62; then 
(b) the tax credits allowed under sections 90 and 92. 
(4) In lieu of taxation under subsection (1), certain classes of income 
(including the income of certain classes of persons) may be subject to — 
(a) income tax as provided in section 6, 7, or 8; or 
(b) withholding of tax as a final tax as provided in section 91.

6 Tax on certain payments to non-residents 
(1) The Chief Commissioner shall, with the approval of His Majesty in 
Council by Order and in accordance with clause 19(b) of the Constitution 
impose, revoke, suspend, reduce or increase income tax on a non-resident 
person who has received Tongan-source — 
(a) interest income; 
(b) royalties; 
(c) technical services fees; 
(d) dividends; or
(e) insurance premiums. 
(2) This section does not apply to — 
(a) any interest if the debt claim or other instrument or agreement 
giving rise to the interest is effectively connected with a permanent 
establishment in Tonga of the non-resident person; 
(b) any royalty if the property, right, or supply giving rise to the royalty 
is effectively connected with a permanent establishment in Tonga 
of the non-resident person; 
(c) any technical services fee or insurance premium if the services 
giving rise to the fee or premium are rendered through a permanent 
establishment in Tonga of the non-resident person; or 
(d) any interest, royalty, technical services fee, dividend, or insurance 
premium that is exempt income of the non-resident person. 
(3) Any interest, royalty, technical services fee, or insurance premium 
described in subsection (3)(a), (b), or (c) shall be treated as income 
attributable to the permanent establishment and shall be taxable under 
section 5. 
(4) The tax payable under this section is discharged if the tax has been 
withheld from the payment of the income under section 80. 

7 Tax on shipping and air transport income of a non-resident person 
(1) The Chief Commissioner shall, with the approval of His Majesty in 
Council by Order and in accordance with clause 19(b) of the Constitution 
impose, revoke, suspend, reduce or increase income tax on a non-resident 
person operating a ship or aircraft. 
(2) This section does not apply to any amount that is exempt income. 
(3) The tax payable under this section is discharged if the tax has been paid in 
accordance with section 73 or 74.

8 Presumptive income tax 
(1) The Chief Commissioner shall, with the approval of His Majesty in 
Council by Order and in accordance with clause 19(b) of the Constitution 
impose, revoke, suspend, reduce or increase presumptive income tax for 
each quarter on a person carrying on business — 
(a) who is not registered or treated as registered for Consumption 
Tax; and 
(b) whose annual turnover is less than $100,000. 
(2) A person to whom subsection (1) applies may apply, in writing, to the 
Chief Commissioner for section 5 to apply instead of this section. 
(3) If the Chief Commissioner is satisfied that a person who has lodged an 
application under subsection (3) will keep proper records, the Chief 
Commissioner may grant the application subject to such conditions as the 
Chief Commissioner may specify by notice in writing to the applicant. 

9 General provisions relating to income taxes imposed under 
sections 6, 7, and 8 
Subject to this Act, the tax imposed under sections 6, 7, and 8 on a person shall 
be a final tax on the income in respect of which it is imposed and — 
(a) the income shall not be included in — 
(i) gross income in computing the chargeable income of the 
person for any fiscal year; or 
(ii) turnover in computing the minimum income tax liability of 
the person for any fiscal year; 
(b) no deduction shall be allowable under this Act for any expenditure 
incurred in deriving the income; 
(c) the amount on which tax is imposed under section 6(2), 7(2), or 
8(2) shall not be reduced by any loss; and 
(d) the tax payable by the person under section 6, 7, or 8 shall not be 
reduced by any tax credits allowed under this Act. 

10 Chargeable income 
The chargeable income of a person for a fiscal year shall be the gross income of 
the person for the year reduced by the total amount of deductions allowed to the 
person for the year.

11 Gross income 
(1) Subject to this Act, the gross income of a person for a fiscal year shall be 
the total amount of — 
(a) business income;
(b) employment income; 
(c) property income; and 
(d) any other income, 
derived by the person during the year, other than exempt income. 
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) — 
(a) the gross income of a resident person includes income derived from 
all sources within and outside Tonga; and 
(b) the gross income of a non-resident person includes only Tongansource income. 
(3) Unless the Act provides otherwise, the rules in Division V of this Part 
apply in determining when an amount is derived for the purposes of 
this Act. 

12 Business income 
Business income means — 
(a) the gross receipts, whether of a revenue or capital nature, arising 
from the conduct of business, including the gross proceeds from the 
disposal of trading stock and any consideration for accepting a 
restriction on the capacity to carry on business, but not including 
any amount taken into account in the computation of business 
income under paragraph (b) or (c); 
(b) any balancing charge under section 32; and 
(c) any gain arising on the disposal of a business asset, other than an 
asset dealt with under paragraph (a) or (b), computed as the 
consideration received on disposal less the cost of the asset at the 
time of disposal.

13 Employment income 
(1) Employment income means any amount, whether of a revenue or capital 
nature, arising from employment, including — 
(a) any salary, wages, or other remuneration provided to an employee, 
including leave pay, payment in lieu of leave, overtime pay, bonus, a
commission, fees, gratuity, or work condition supplements; 
(b) the value of any benefit-in-kind, whether convertible to money or 
not, as determined under the First Schedule; 
(c) the amount of any allowance provided by an employer to an 
employee, including a cost of living, subsistence, rent, utilities, 
education, entertainment, meeting, or travel allowance, but not
including any allowance solely expended in the performance of the 
employee’s duties of employment; 
(d) the amount of any expenditure incurred by an employee that is paid 
or reimbursed by the employer, other than expenditure incurred on 
behalf of the employer in the performance of the employee’s duties 
of employment; 
(e) any amount as consideration for the agreement by a person to — 
(i) enter into employment; 
(ii) any conditions of employment or any changes to the 
employee’s conditions of employment; or 
(iii) a restrictive covenant in respect of any past, present, or 
prospective employment; 
(f) any amount received on termination of employment, whether paid 
voluntarily or under an agreement, including any compensation for 
redundancy or loss of employment and golden handshake 
payments; or 
(g) any pension, annuity, or supplement to a pension or annuity 
received in relation to employment. 
(2) For the purposes of this Act, an amount shall be treated as arising from the 
employment of an employee regardless of whether it is paid or 
provided by — 
(a) the employer of the employee, an associate of the employer, or by a 
third party under an arrangement with the employer or an associate 
of the employer; or 
(b) a past employer or a prospective employer. 

14 Property income 
Property income means — 
(a) any dividend, interest, royalty, rent, natural resource amount, or 
other amount arising from the provision, use, or exploitation of 
property; or 
(b) any pension, charge, or annuity, or any supplement to a pension, 
charge, or annuity, 
but does not include an amount that is business or employment income.

15 Exempt income of King 
The income derived by His Majesty the King shall be exempt income. 

16 Exemptions provided for in other legislation 
(1) The income derived by an individual entitled to privileges under the 
Diplomatic Privileges Act (Cap.161) or the Consular Relations Act 
(Cap.159) shall be exempt income to the extent provided in that Act. 
(2) The income derived by a public international organisation shall be exempt 
income to the extent provided in the Diplomatic Privileges Act (Cap.161). 
(3) The income derived by an individual entitled to privileges under the 
Diplomatic Privileges Act (Cap.161) or the Consular Relations Act 
(Cap.159) shall be exempt income to the extent provided in that Act. 
(4) The income derived by the National Reserve Bank of Tonga shall be 
exempt income to the extent provided in the National Reserve Bank of 
Tonga Act (Cap. 102). 
(5) No provision in any other law providing an exemption from any income 
tax imposed under this Act shall have legal effect unless also provided for 
in this Act.

17 Exemptions under international agreements 
Any employment income derived by an individual shall be exempt income to the 
extent provided for in an agreement between the Government and a foreign 
government or public international organisation for the provision of financial, 
technical, or administrative assistance to the Government. 

18 Exempt income of non-profit organisations 
(1) In this section — 
“charitable purposes” includes the relief of poverty, advancement of 
education or religion, or any other purpose beneficial to the 
community; and 
“non-profit organisation” means an institution, body, or trust of a public 
character that the Chief Commissioner has certified as conducting 
activities exclusively for charitable purposes.
(2) The income (other than business income) of a non-profit organisation 
shall be exempt income.  

19 Exempt pensions 
(1) A pension shall be exempt income if granted to — 
(a) a member of the Tonga Defence Force for a disability suffered 
during any war; or 
(b) a dependent relative of an individual referred to in paragraph (a) if 
the individual was killed or suffered a disability during any war. 
(2) A pension or gratuity shall be exempt income if paid to an individual 
under the Pensions Act, Retirement Fund Act, or Legislative Assembly 
Act, or any other pension scheme approved by His Majesty in Council. 

20 Exempt retirement and death gratuities 
Any amount derived as a retiring or death gratuity, or as consolidated 
compensation for death or injuries shall be exempt income. 

21 Exempt Dividends 
A dividend paid by a resident company to a member who is a resident person 
shall be exempt income.

22 Exempt income of retirement funds and life insurance companies 
(1) The income derived by an approved retirement fund shall be exempt 
income. 
(2) An amount contributed by an employer to a retirement fund for the benefit 
of an employee of the employer shall be exempt income of the employee. 
(3) Any premium derived by a life insurance company in respect of a life 
insurance policy shall be exempt income.

23 Exempt scholarships 
Any scholarship granted to an individual to meet the cost of the individual’s 
education shall be exempt income, other than if the scholarship is paid directly 
or indirectly by an associate. 
 

24 Exempt maintenance payments 
Any amount received as maintenance shall be exempt income.

25 General principles of deductibility 
(1) Subject to this Act, a person shall be allowed a deduction for — 
(a) any expenditure to the extent incurred in deriving gross income; 
(b) any balancing allowance under section 32; 
(c) the cost of trading stock sold as determined under section 41; and 
(d) any loss on disposal of a business asset, other than an asset or 
intangible dealt with under paragraph (b) or (c), computed as the 
cost of the asset at the time of disposal reduced by the consideration 
received on disposal. 
(2) Subject to this Act, if the expenditure referred to in subsection (1) — 
(a) is incurred in acquiring a depreciable asset or an intangible; or 
(b) is preliminary expenditure, 
the expenditure shall be deducted in accordance with section 27, 28, 29, 
30 or 33. 
(3) Unless the Act provides otherwise, the rules in Division 5 of this Part shall 
apply in determining when an amount is incurred for the purposes of 
this Act. 

26 Deductions not allowed 
(1) No deduction shall be allowed for any — 
(a) expenditure or loss to the extent to which it is of a domestic or 
private nature; 
(b) expenditure or loss to the extent incurred in deriving employment 
income; 
(c) capital withdrawn, or sum employed or intended to be employed 
as capital; 
(d) expenditure or loss of a capital nature except as provided in this 
Division; 
(e) amount carried to a reserve fund or capitalised in any way; 
(f) expenditure or loss to the extent recoverable under a policy of 
insurance or contract of indemnity;
(g) income tax payable in Tonga or elsewhere, including any penalty, 
additional tax, or interest payable in respect of income tax due; 
(h) fine or penalty imposed for violation of any law, rule, or 
regulation; or 
(i) bribe, kickback, or similar amount. 
(2) A person required to withhold tax under section 80 in respect of an 
amount paid to a non-resident person shall not be allowed a deduction for 
the amount paid until the tax has been paid to the Chief Commissioner. 

27. General principles of depreciation 
(1) In this section — 
“depreciable asset” means any tangible movable property or structural 
improvement to immovable property, owned by a person that — 
(a) has a useful life exceeding one year; 
(b) is likely to lose value as a result of normal wear and tear, or 
obsolescence; and 
(c) is used wholly or partly by the person in deriving taxable business 
income; and 
“structural improvement”, in relation to immovable property, includes 
any building, road, driveway, car park, pipeline, bridge, tunnel, airport 
runway, canal, dock, wharf, retaining wall, fence, power lines, water or 
sewerage pipes, drainage, landscaping, or dam. 
(2) A person shall be allowed a deduction (referred to as a “depreciation 
deduction”) for the amount by which the value of the person’s depreciable 
assets has declined during a fiscal year by reason of wear and tear from 
use in deriving taxable business income. 
(3) Subject to subsection (4), a person may elect for the depreciation 
deduction allowed under subsection (2) to be computed according to the 
straight-line method under section 28 or the diminishing value method 
under section 29 and an election so made shall apply to all depreciable 
assets owned by the person. 
(4) The straight-line method only shall apply to a depreciable asset that is a 
structural improvement to immovable property. 
(5) The cost of a structural improvement to immovable property does not 
include the cost of the land. 
(6) A person may apply, in writing, to the Chief Commissioner for a change 
in the method of depreciation and the Chief Commissioner may, by notice 
in writing to the applicant, approve the application subject to such 
conditions as the Chief Commissioner may specify in the notice. 
(7) If a depreciable asset is used in a fiscal year partly in deriving taxable 
business income and partly for another use, the depreciation deduction for 
that year shall be the fair proportional part of the amount that would be 
allowed if the asset were wholly used to derive taxable business income. 
(8) If a depreciable asset is not used for the whole of the fiscal year in 
deriving taxable business income, the depreciation deduction for the year 
shall be computed according to the following formula — 
A x B/C 
where — 
A is the depreciation deduction computed under section 28 or 
29 after taking into account subsection (7); 
B is the number of days in the fiscal year the asset is used or 
available for use in deriving taxable business income; and 
C is the number of days in the fiscal year. 

28. Straight-line depreciation 
(1) The depreciation deduction allowed to a person for a fiscal year in respect 
of a depreciable asset under the straight-line method shall be computed by 
applying the rate specified in the Second Schedule against the cost of 
the asset. 
(2) The total deductions allowed, or that would be allowed but for section 
27(7), to a person under this section in respect of a depreciable asset for 
the current fiscal year and all previous fiscal years shall not exceed the 
cost of the asset.

29. Diminishing value depreciation 
The depreciation deduction allowed to a person for a fiscal year in respect of a 
depreciable asset under the diminishing value method shall be computed by 
applying the rate specified in the Second Schedule against the written down 
value of the asset at the beginning of the year.

30. Amortisation of intangibles.
(1) In this section, “cost” means — 
(a) in relation to an intangible referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of the 
definition of “intangible” in section 2, the total expenditure incurred 
in acquiring, creating, improving, or renewing the intangible; or 
(b) in relation to an intangible referred to in paragraph (c) of the 
definition of “intangible” in section 2, the amount of the 
expenditure. 
(2) A person shall be allowed a deduction (referred to as an “amortisation 
deduction”) computed in accordance with this section for the cost of an 
intangible wholly or partly used by the person in a fiscal year in deriving 
taxable business income. 
(3) Subject to this section, the amortisation deduction of a person for a fiscal 
year shall be computed according to the following formula — 
A 
— 
B 
where — 
A is the cost of the intangible; and 
B is the useful life of the intangible in whole years. 
(4) An intangible — 
(a) with a useful life of more than ten years; or 
(b) that does not have an ascertainable useful life, 
shall be treated as having a useful life of ten years. 
(5) If an intangible is used in a fiscal year partly in deriving taxable business 
income and partly for another use, the amortisation deduction for that year 
shall be the fair proportional part of the amount that would be allowed if 
the intangible were wholly used to derive taxable business income. 
(6) If an intangible is not used for the whole of a fiscal year in deriving 
taxable business income, the amortisation deduction for the year shall be 
computed according to the following formula — 
A x B/C 
where — 
A is the amortisation deduction computed under subsection (3) 
or (5), as the case may be; 
B is the number of days in the fiscal year the intangible is used 
or available for use in deriving taxable business income; and 
C is the number of days in the fiscal year. 
(7) The total amortisation deductions allowed, or that would be allowed but 
for subsection (5), to a person under this section in the current fiscal year 
and all previous fiscal years in respect of an intangible shall not exceed 
the cost of the intangible. 
 

31 Written down value of depreciable assets and intangibles 
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the written down value of a depreciable asset or 
intangible of a person at the beginning of a fiscal year shall be — 
(a) if the asset or intangible was acquired during the year, the cost of 
the asset; or 
(b) in any other case, the cost of the asset or intangible as reduced by 
the total depreciation or amortisation deductions allowed to the 
person in respect of the asset or intangible in previous fiscal years. 
(2) If section 27(7) applies to a depreciable asset or section 30(5) applies to 
an intangible for a fiscal year, the written down value of the asset or 
intangible shall be computed on the basis that the asset has been used 
solely to derive taxable business income.

32. Disposal of a depreciable asset or intangible 
If a person disposes of a depreciable asset or an intangible in a fiscal year, there 
shall be no depreciation or amortisation deduction for that year and — 
(a) if the consideration received exceeds the written down value of the 
asset or intangible at the beginning of the year, the excess (referred 
to as a “balancing charge”) shall be business income included in the 
gross income of the person for that year; or 
(b) if the consideration received is less than the written down value of 
the asset or intangible at the beginning of the year, the difference 
(referred to as a “balancing allowance”) shall be allowed as a 
deduction in computing the chargeable income of the person for 
that year. 

33. Amortisation of preliminary expenditure 
(1) In this section, “preliminary expenditure” means any expenditure incurred 
before the commencement of a business if the income to be derived by the 
business will be wholly and exclusively included in gross income, other 
than expenditure incurred in acquiring land, a depreciable asset or an 
intangible. 
(2) A person shall be allowed a deduction for preliminary expenditure in the 
fiscal year in which the expenditure is incurred and in the following three 
fiscal years. 
(3) The amount of the deduction allowed in each fiscal year shall be 25% of 
the expenditure.

34. Interest.
A person shall be allowed a deduction for any interest incurred by the person in 
a fiscal year to the extent to which the person has used the proceeds or benefit of 
the debt or other instrument or agreement giving rise to the interest to derive 
income included in gross income. 

35 Contribution to approved retirement fund 
(1) Subject to subsection (2), an employer shall be allowed a deduction for a 
contribution made in a fiscal year to a retirement fund only if — 
(a) the fund is an approved retirement fund; and 
(b) the contribution is made in respect of an employee who is a resident 
individual. 
(2) The amount of the deduction allowed under subsection (1) shall not 
exceed 20% of the employment income paid by the employer to the 
employee for the year.

36. Bad debts 
(1) A person shall be allowed a deduction for a bad debt written off in a fiscal 
year if the following conditions are satisfied — 
(a) the amount of the debt — 
(i) was previously included in the gross income of the person; or 
(ii) is money lent by the person in the normal course of business 
for the purposes of deriving taxable business income; 
(b) the debt or part of the debt is written off in the accounts of the 
person in the fiscal year; and 
(c) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the debt is 
irrecoverable. 
(2) The amount of the deduction allowed under this section for a fiscal year 
shall not exceed the amount of the debt written off in the accounts of the 
person for that year.

37 Carry forward of business losses 
(1) If a person has a business loss for a fiscal year, the amount of the loss 
shall be carried forward to the following fiscal year and allowed as a 
deduction in computing the chargeable income of the person for that 
following year. 
(2) If a business loss is not wholly deducted under subsection (1), the excess 
shall be carried forward to the next following fiscal year and deducted as 
specified in subsection (1) in that year, and so on until the loss is fully 
deducted. 
(3) A person has a business loss for a fiscal year if the total amount of 
deductions allowed to the person in deriving taxable business income for 
the year (other than the deduction allowed under this section) exceeds the 
total amount of that income, and the amount of the excess shall be the 
amount of the business loss. 

38. Method of accounting for income tax 
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person shall — 
(a) account for business income and expenditures — 
(i) in the case of a company, on an accrual basis; or 
(ii) in any other case, on a cash or accrual basis, provided the 
same basis is used for both business income and 
expenditures; and 
(b) account for any other income and expenditures on a cash basis. 
(2) The Chief Commissioner may specify that any class of persons shall 
account for income tax purposes on a cash or accrual basis. 
(3) Subject to this Act, a person shall use generally accepted accounting 
principles in accounting for income tax. 
(4) A person may apply, in writing, for a change in the person’s method of 
accounting and the Chief Commissioner may, by notice in writing, 
approve the application but only if satisfied that the change is necessary to 
properly compute the chargeable income of the person. 
(5) Subject to subsection (6), if a person’s method of accounting changes, the 
person shall make adjustments in the fiscal year of change to items of 
income, deduction, or credit, or to any other items affected by the change 
so that no item is omitted and no item is taken into account more than 
once. 
(6) If an amount is added to the chargeable income of a person solely by 
reason of the adjustments required under subsection (5), one-third of the 
amount shall be included in the fiscal year in which the change occurs and 
the balance shall be included equally in the following two fiscal years. 
 

39. Cash-basis accounting.
A person accounting for income tax purposes on a cash basis shall derive an 
amount when it is received and shall incur an expenditure when it is paid. 

40. Accrual-basis accounting.
(1) A person accounting for income tax purposes on an accrual basis shall 
derive an amount when it is due to the person and shall incur an 
expenditure when it is payable by the person. 
(2) Subject to this Act, an amount is due to a person at the time the person 
becomes entitled to receive it even if the time for discharge of the 
entitlement is postponed or the amount is payable by instalments. 
(3) Subject to this Act, an amount is payable by a person when all the events 
that determine liability have occurred and the amount of the liability can 
be determined with reasonable accuracy, but not before economic 
performance occurs. 
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), economic performance shall occur — 
(a) in the case of the acquisition of services or assets, at the time the 
services are provided or assets delivered; 
(b) in the case of the use of assets, at the time the assets are used; and 
(c) in any other case, at the time payment is made in full satisfaction of 
the liability. 
(5) If — 
(a) a person has been allowed a deduction for any expenditure incurred 
in deriving gross income; and 
(b) the person has not paid the liability or a part of the liability to which 
the deduction relates within one year of the end of the fiscal year in 
which the deduction was allowed, 
the unpaid amount of the liability shall be included in the gross income of 
the person for the first fiscal year following the end of the 
one-year period. 
(6) An amount to which subsection (5) applies has the same character as the 
income to which the deduction relates. 
(7) If the amount of an unpaid liability is included in gross income under 
subsection (5) and the person subsequently pays the liability or a part of 
the liability, the person shall be allowed a deduction for the amount paid 
in the fiscal year in which the payment is made. 
 

41. Trading stock. 
(1) In this section — 
“absorption-cost method” means the generally accepted accounting 
principle under which the cost of an item of trading stock is the sum of 
direct material costs, direct labour costs, and factory overhead costs; 
“average-cost method” means the generally accepted accounting 
principle under which the valuation of trading stock is based on a 
weighted average cost of items of trading stock on hand; 
“direct labour costs” means labour costs directly related to the 
manufacture or production of trading stock; 
“direct material costs” means the cost of materials that become an 
integral part of the trading stock manufactured or produced, or which are 
consumed in the manufacturing or production process; 
“factory overhead costs” means the total costs of manufacturing or 
producing trading stock, other than direct labour and direct material costs; 
“first-in-first-out method” means the generally accepted accounting 
principle under which the valuation of trading stock is based on the 
assumption that trading stock is sold in the order of its acquisition; 
“prime-cost method” means the generally accepted accounting principle 
under which the cost of trading stock is the sum of direct material costs, 
direct labour costs, and variable factory overhead costs; and 
“variable factory overhead costs” means those factory overhead costs 
that vary directly with changes in the volume of trading stock 
manufactured or produced. 
(2) A person shall be allowed a deduction for the cost of trading stock 
disposed of by the person in a fiscal year. 
(3) The cost of trading stock disposed of by a person in a fiscal year shall be 
computed in accordance with the following formula — 
(A + B)- C 
where — 
A is the opening value of the trading stock of the person for the 
year; 
B is the cost of trading stock acquired by the person in the year; 
and 
C is the closing value of trading stock for the year. 
(4) The opening value of trading stock of a person for a fiscal year shall be — 
(a) the closing value of the trading stock of the person for the previous 
fiscal year; or 
(b) if the person commenced business in the year, the value of any 
trading stock acquired by the person prior to the commencement of 
the business. 
(5) The value referred to in subsection (4)(b) shall be the lesser of — 
(a) cost of the trading stock; or 
(b) the fair market value of trading stock determined at the time the 
trading stock is brought into the business. 
(6) The closing value of the trading stock of a person for a fiscal year shall be 
the lower of cost or fair market value of the trading stock of the person on 
hand at the end of the year. 
(7) A person accounting for income tax purposes on a cash basis may 
compute the person’s cost of trading stock under the prime-cost method or 
absorption-cost method, and a person accounting for income tax purposes 
on an accrual basis shall compute the person’s cost of trading stock under 
the absorption-cost method. 
(8) If particular items of trading stock are not readily identifiable, a person 
may account for that trading stock on the first-in-first-out method or the 
average-cost method but, once chosen, a stock valuation method may be 
changed only with the written permission of the Chief Commissioner and 
in accordance with any conditions that the Chief Commissioner 
may impose. 

42 Long-term contracts 
(1) In this section — 
“long-term contract” means a contract for manufacture, installation, or 
construction, or, in relation to each, the performance of related services, 
which is not completed within the fiscal year in which work under the 
contract commenced, other than a contract estimated to be completed 
within six months of the date on which work under the contract 
commenced; and 
“percentage of completion method” means the generally accepted 
accounting principle under which income and expenditures arising under a 
long-term contract are recognised by reference to the stage of completion 
of the contract, as modified by subsection (3). 
(2) A person accounting for income tax purposes on an accrual basis shall 
compute the income arising under a long-term contract under the 
percentage of completion method. 
(3) The percentage of completion of a long-term contract in a fiscal year shall 
be determined by comparing the total costs allocated to the contract and
incurred before the end of the year with the estimated total contract costs 
as determined at the commencement of the contract. 
(4) Where, in the fiscal year in which a long-term contract is completed, there 
is a final year loss, the Chief Commissioner may allow the loss to be 
carried back to the preceding fiscal years and applied against the amount 
included in business income in those years commencing with the year in 
which the contract was completed. 
(5) A person has a final year loss under a long-term contract if both the 
following conditions are satisfied — 
(a) the total chargeable income estimated to be made under the contract 
for the purposes of the percentage of completion method exceeds 
the total actual chargeable income, if any, under the contract; and 
(b) the amount of the excess under paragraph (a) exceeds the amount 
otherwise included in gross income under subsection (2) for the 
fiscal year in which the contract was completed, 
and the amount of the excess under paragraph (b) shall be the amount of 
the final year loss.

43 Financial leases 
(1) In this section — 
“blended loan” means a loan under which payments by the borrower 
represent in part a payment of interest and in part a repayment of principal 
where the interest part is calculated on the principal outstanding at the 
time of each payment; 
“financial lease” means — 
(a) a hire purchase agreement; or 
(b) any lease that is treated under international accounting standards as 
a financial lease and is so accounted for by the lessor in its financial 
accounts; 
“hire purchase agreement” means an agreement for — 
(a) hire of goods with an option to purchase; or 
(b) the purchase of goods by instalments (whether stated as rent, hire or 
otherwise), other than an agreement under which property in the 
goods passes at the commencement of the lease; 
“lease term” includes any additional period of the lease under an option 
to renew; 
“lessee” includes a hiree under a hire purchase agreement; and 
“lessor” includes a hirer under a hire purchase agreement. 
(2) This section applies to an asset that is leased or hired under a financial 
lease. 
(3) If this section applies, this Act shall apply on the basis that — 
(a) the lessee is the owner of the asset; 
(b) the lessee acquired the asset at the commencement of the lease, 
except in cases where the lessee already was the owner of the asset; 
and 
(c) the lessor has made a blended loan to the lessee at the 
commencement of the lease and each lease payment is in part 
repayment of principal and in part payment of interest under that 
loan. 
(4) The cost of the asset treated as owned by the lessee under subsection 
(3)(a) shall be — 
(a) if the lessor and lessee are not associates and an amount is stated as 
the cost or value of the asset in the lease agreement, that amount; or 
(b) if the lessor and lessor are associates, the fair market value of the 
asset at the commencement of the lease. 
(5) The amount of the loan referred to in subsection (3)(c) shall be the amount 
determined under subsection (4) as the cost of the asset. 
(6) The interest part of each payment made under the loan shall be computed 
by reference to the interest rate implicit in the lease agreement. 

44. Disposal and acquisition of assets. 
(1) In this section, “personal asset” means an asset held wholly for personal 
or domestic use. 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this section establishes when an 
asset is disposed of or acquired for the purposes of this Act. 
(3) A person shall be treated as having made a disposal of an asset at the time 
the person parts with the ownership of the asset, including when the 
asset is — 
(a) sold, exchanged, transferred, or distributed; or 
(b) cancelled, redeemed, relinquished, destroyed, lost, expired, or 
surrendered. 
(4) A disposal includes the disposal of a part of an asset. 
(5) The transmission of an asset by succession or under a will shall be treated 
as a disposal of the asset by the deceased at the time the asset 
is transmitted. 
(6) The application of a business asset to personal or domestic use shall be 
treated as a disposal of the asset by the owner at the time the asset is 
so applied. 
(7) A person acquires an asset at the time the person begins to own the asset, 
including at the time the person is granted any right. 
(8) The application of a personal asset to business use shall be treated as an 
acquisition of the asset by the owner at the time the asset is so used.

45 Cost 
(1) In this section, “hedging agreement” means an agreement entered into 
for the purpose of eliminating or reducing the risk of adverse financial 
consequences that may arise from a foreign currency exchange rate 
fluctuation in relation to another agreement. 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this section establishes the cost 
of an asset for the purposes of this Act. 
(3) Subject to this section, the cost of an asset purchased by a person shall be 
the sum of the following amounts — 
(a) the total consideration given by the person for the asset, including 
the fair market value of any consideration in kind determined at the 
time the asset is acquired; 
(b) any incidental expenditure incurred by the person in acquiring or 
disposing of the asset; and 
(c) any expenditure incurred by the person to alter or improve the asset. 
(4) Subject to this section, the cost of an asset produced or constructed by a 
person shall be the total of the costs incurred by the person in producing 
or constructing the asset plus any expenditure referred to in subsection 
(3)(b) and (c) incurred by the person. 
(5) No amount shall be included in the cost of an asset under subsection 
(3)(b) and (c) to the extent to which it has been allowed as a deduction 
under this Act. 
(6) If an asset has been acquired by a person and the price is denominated in a 
foreign currency, any increase or decrease in the price of the asset as 
expressed in Tongan pa’anga from the time of acquisition until the time at 
which the purchase price is paid is added to or deducted from the cost of 
the asset, as the case may be. 
(7) In determining whether the liability of a person has increased or decreased 
for the purposes of subsection (6), account shall be taken of the person’s 
position under any hedging agreement relating to the purchase price or 
the loan. 
(8) If a person disposes of a part of an asset, the cost of the asset shall be 
apportioned between the part of the asset retained and the part disposed of 
in accordance with their respective fair market values determined at the 
time the person acquired the asset. 
(9) The cost of an asset does not include the amount of any grant, subsidy, 
rebate, commission, or other assistance received or receivable by a person 
in respect of the acquisition of the asset, except to the extent to which the 
amount is included in the gross income of a person. 
(10) The reference to “other assistance” in subsection (9) does not include a 
loan repayable with or without interest.

46 Determination of cost in special cases 
(1) The cost of an asset treated as acquired under section 44(8) shall be the 
fair market value of the asset determined at the date it is applied to 
business use. 
(2) If the acquisition of an asset by a person is the derivation of an amount 
included in gross income, the cost of the asset shall be the amount 
included plus any amount paid by the person for the asset. 
(3) If the acquisition of an asset by a person is the derivation of exempt 
income, the cost of the asset shall be the exempt amount plus any amount 
paid by the person for the asset. 

47. Consideration received 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this section establishes the 
amount of consideration received on disposal of an asset for the purposes 
of this Act. 
(2) The consideration received by a person on disposal of an asset shall be the 
total amount received by the person for the asset, including the fair market 
value of any consideration received in kind determined at the time of 
disposal. 
(3) If an asset has been lost or destroyed by a person, the consideration 
received for the asset includes any compensation, indemnity, or damages 
received by the person as a result of the loss or destruction, including 
amounts received as a consequence of — 
(a) an insurance policy, indemnity, or other agreement;
(b) a settlement; or 
(c) a judicial decision. 
(4) The consideration received for an asset treated as disposed of under 
section 44(6) shall be the fair market value of the asset determined at the 
time it is applied to personal or domestic use. 
(5) If two or more assets are disposed of by a person in a single transaction 
and the consideration received for each asset is not specified, the total 
consideration received by the person shall be apportioned among the 
assets disposed of in proportion to their respective fair market values 
determined at the time of the transaction.

48. Non-arm’s length transaction 
For the purposes of this Act, if an asset is disposed of in a non-arm’s length 
transaction — 
(a) the person disposing of the asset shall be treated as having received 
consideration equal to the fair market value of the asset determined 
at the time the asset is disposed of; and 
(b) the person acquiring the asset shall be treated as having a cost equal 
to the amount determined under paragraph (a). 

49. Gain or loss not recognised 
(1) For the purposes of this Act and subject to subsection (2), no gain or loss 
shall be taken to arise on the disposal of an asset — 
(a) between spouses as part of a divorce settlement or under an 
agreement to live apart; 
(b) by reason of the transmission of the asset on the death of a person 
to an executor or beneficiary; or 
(c) by reason of the compulsory acquisition of the asset under any law 
if the consideration received for the disposal is reinvested by the 
recipient in an asset of a like kind (referred to as a “replacement 
asset”) within one year of the disposal. 
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person acquiring the asset (including a 
replacement asset) is a non-resident person at the time of the acquisition. 
(3) If subsection (1)(a) or (b) applies, the person acquiring the asset shall be 
treated as acquiring an asset of the same character as the person disposing 
of the asset and —
a) in the case of a depreciable asset or intangible, acquiring the asset 
or intangible for a cost equal to the written down value of the asset 
at the time of the disposal as determined under section 31; and 
(b) in any other case, acquiring the asset for a cost equal to the cost of 
the asset for the person disposing of the asset at the time of the 
disposal. 
(4) A person’s cost of a replacement asset or intangible referred to in 
subsection (1)(c) shall be — 
(a) if the asset compulsorily acquired is a depreciable asset or 
intangible, the written down value of the asset or intangible at the 
time it is compulsorily acquired; or 
(b) in any other case, the cost of the asset or intangible at the time it is 
compulsorily acquired, 
plus the amount by which any consideration given by the person for the 
replacement asset exceeds the consideration received by the person for the 
asset or intangible compulsorily acquired. 

50. Income of joint owners.
(1) For the purposes of this Act, if property is jointly owned by two or more 
persons, any income or expenditures relating to the property are 
apportioned among the owners according to their respective interests in 
the property. 
(2) If the interests of the owners of jointly owned property cannot be 
ascertained, the owners of the property are treated as having an equal 
interest in the property. 

51. Apportionment of deductions.
(1) Subject to this Act, expenditure relating to — 
(a) the derivation of more than one class of income; or 
(b) the derivation of a class of income and to some other purpose, 
shall be apportioned on any reasonable basis taking account of the relative 
nature and size of the activities or purposes to which it relates. 
(2) The following are treated as a “class of income” — 
(a) taxable business income; 
(b) any other income included in gross income; and 
(c) exempt income. 
 

52. Recovered expenditure.
If a person has been allowed a deduction for any expenditure or loss incurred, or 
bad debt written off, in a fiscal year in the computation of the chargeable income 
of the person for the year and, subsequently, the person has received, in cash or 
in kind, any amount as a reimbursement or recovery of, or an indemnity for the 
expenditure, loss, or debt, the amount received shall be — 
(a) included in the gross income of the person in the fiscal year in 
which it is received; and 
(b) treated as income of the same character as the income to which the 
deduction related. 

53. Cessation of source of income. 
If — 
(a) any amount is derived by a person in a fiscal year from any 
business, activity, investment, or other source that had ceased 
before the amount was derived; and 
(b) had the amount been derived before the business, activity, 
investment, or other source ceased it would have been included in 
the gross income of the person, 
this Act shall apply to the amount on the basis that the business, activity, 
investment, or other source had not ceased at the time the amount 
was derived. 

54. Currency translation. 
(1) An amount taken into account under this Act shall be expressed in Tongan 
pa’anga. 
(2) If an amount is in a currency other than Tongan pa’anga, the amount shall 
be translated to Tongan pa’anga at the National Reserve Bank of Tonga 
mid-exchange rate applying between the foreign currency and Tongan 
pa’anga on the date the amount is taken into account for the purposes of 
this Act. 
 

55. Taxation of individuals.
The chargeable income of each individual shall be computed separately.

56. Taxation of trusts. 
(1) In this section, “chargeable trust income”, in relation to a fiscal year, 
means — 
(a) in the case of a resident trust, the gross income of the trust for the 
year reduced by the sum of the following — 
(i) any part of that amount to which subsection (3) applies for 
the year; and 
(ii) the total deductions allowed to the trust for the year under 
this Act, other than amounts to which subsection (4) applies; 
or 
(b) in the case of a non-resident trust, the total amount of Tongansource income derived by the trust for the year included in gross 
income reduced by the sum of the following — 
(i) any part of that amount to which subsection (3) applies for 
the year and in respect of which the beneficiary has paid tax; 
and 
(ii) the total deductions allowed to the trust for the year under 
this Act that relate to the derivation of such income, other 
than amounts to which subsection (4) applies. 
(2) Income derived by the trustee of a trust during a fiscal year shall be taxed, 
in that year, either to the trustee or the beneficiary of the trust in 
accordance with this section. 
(3) An amount derived by a trustee of a trust shall be treated as derived by a 
beneficiary of the trust (other than a beneficiary under a legal disability) if 
the beneficiary has a vested right to the income. 
(4) A beneficiary shall be allowed a deduction in accordance with this Act for 
any expenditure or loss incurred by the trustee in deriving income referred 
to in subsection (3) that is included in the gross income of the beneficiary. 
(5) Income to which subsection (3) applies — 
(a) retains its character and geographic source in the hands of the 
beneficiary; and 
(b) is treated as derived by the beneficiary at the time the amount was 
derived by the trustee. 
(6) The trustee of a trust shall be liable for tax for a fiscal year on the 
chargeable trust income of the trust for the year. 
(7) The gross income of a resident beneficiary includes a distribution received 
by the beneficiary to the extent to which the distribution is foreign-source 
income not dealt with under subsection (3). 

57. Taxation of companies.
(1) A company shall be liable for tax separately from its members. 
(2) A social club, trade association, mutual insurance company, or other 
similar membership organisation shall be liable for tax under this Act in 
respect of its dealings with members. 
(3) The total deductions allowed to a company referred to in subsection (2) 
for a fiscal year in respect of the supply of goods or services to members 
shall not exceed the gross income derived from the members (including 
membership contributions) for the year. 
(4) If any expenditure is not deducted in a fiscal year as a result of subsection 
(3), the expenditure shall be carried forward and treated as incurred in the 
following year and deducted in accordance with this section in that year, 
and so on until the expenditure is fully deducted. 

58. Change in control of entity.
(1) In this section, — 
“carry forward loss” means an interest deduction carried forward under 
section 34, a business loss carried forward under section 37 or 57(4), or a 
foreign business loss carried forward under section 63; 
“entity” means a trust or company; 
“ownership interest” means an interest of a beneficiary in a trust or 
membership interest in a company; and 
“underlying ownership” in relation to an entity, means an ownership 
interest in the entity held, directly or indirectly through an interposed 
entity or entities, by an individual or by a person not ultimately owned by 
individuals.
(2) If there is a change of 50% or more in the underlying ownership of an 
entity, any carry forward loss incurred for a fiscal year before the change 
shall not be allowed as a deduction in a fiscal year after the change, unless 
the entity — 
(a) carries on the same business after the change as it carried on before 
the change until the loss has been fully deducted; and 
(b) does not, until the loss has been fully deducted, engage in any new 
business or investment after the change if the principal purpose of 
the entity or the owners of the entity is to utilise the loss so as to 
reduce the income tax payable on the income arising from the new 
business or investment.

59. Short-term insurance business.
The chargeable income of a company carrying on a short-term insurance 
business shall be computed in accordance with the Regulations. 

60. Geographic source of income.
(1) Employment income shall be Tongan-source income to the extent to 
which the income — 
(a) is received from employment exercised in Tonga, wherever paid; or 
(b) is paid by, or on behalf of, the Government, wherever the 
employment is exercised. 
(2) Business income derived by a resident person shall be Tongan-source 
income to the extent to which the income is derived from any business 
carried on in Tonga. 
(3) Business income derived by a non-resident person shall be Tongan-source 
income to the extent to which it is directly or indirectly attributable to — 
(a) a permanent establishment of the non-resident person in Tonga;
(b) sales in Tonga of goods or merchandise of the same or similar kind 
as those sold by the person through a permanent establishment in 
Tonga; or 
(c) any other business activity carried on in Tonga of the same or 
similar kind as that carried on by the person through a permanent 
establishment in Tonga. 
(4) If the business of a non-resident person comprises the rendering of 
independent services, the Tongan-source business income of the person 
shall include, in addition to any amounts treated as Tongan-source income 
under subsection (3), any remuneration — 
(a) paid by a resident person, except remuneration for services utilised 
in a business carried on by the resident person outside Tonga 
through a permanent establishment; or 
(b) that is deductible expenditure of a permanent establishment in 
Tonga of a non-resident person. 
(5) Any gain from the disposal of an asset shall be Tongan-source income to 
the extent that the asset has been used in deriving business income that is 
treated as Tongan-source income under this section. 
(6) A dividend shall be Tongan-source income if it is paid by a resident 
company. 
(7) Interest shall be Tongan-source income if it is — 
(a) paid by a resident person, except when the debt or other instrument 
or agreement giving rise to the interest is utilised in a business 
carried on by the person outside Tonga through a permanent 
establishment; or 
(b) deductible expenditure of a permanent establishment in Tonga of a 
non-resident person. 
(8) A royalty shall be Tongan-source income if it is — 
(a) paid by a resident person, except when the right, property, or supply 
giving rise to the royalty is utilised in a business carried on by the 
person outside Tonga through a permanent establishment; or 
(b) deductible expenditure of a permanent establishment in Tonga of a 
non-resident person. 
(9) Rent shall be Tongan-source income if it is derived from — 
(a) the lease of land in Tonga; or 
(b) the lease of a building or other structural improvement to land in 
Tonga. 
(10) A pension, charge, annuity, management fee, or insurance premium shall 
be Tongan-source income if it is paid by a resident person or is deductible
expenditure of a permanent establishment in Tonga of a non-resident 
person. 
(11) A natural resource amount shall be Tongan-source income if it relates to 
the taking of minerals or a living or non-living resource from land in, or 
territorial waters of, Tonga. 
(12) An amount of any kind not mentioned in the preceding subsections shall 
be Tongan-source income if it is paid by a resident person or is deductible 
expenditure of a permanent establishment in Tonga of a non-resident 
person. 
(13) If an amount may come within subsection (2) or (3) and another 
subsection, other than subsection (12), this section shall apply — 
(a) by first determining whether the amount is Tongan-source income 
under that other subsection; and 
(b) if the amount is not Tongan-source income under that other 
subsection, then determining whether it is Tongan-source income 
under subsection (2) or (3). 
(14) An amount shall be foreign-source income to the extent it is not Tongansource income. 

61. Foreign-source employment income of resident individuals.
(1) Any foreign-source employment income that is received by a resident 
individual shall be exempt income if the individual has paid foreign 
income tax in respect of the income. 
(2) A resident individual shall be treated as having paid foreign income tax in 
respect of foreign-source employment income if tax has been withheld 
from the income by the individual’s employer.

62 Foreign tax credit 
(1) In this section — 
“average rate of Tongan income tax” in relation to a resident person for 
a fiscal year, means the percentage that the income tax payable by the 
person under this Act (before the allowance of any tax credit under this 
Act) is of the chargeable income of the person for the year; 
“foreign income tax” includes a foreign withholding tax, but does not 
include any penalty, additional tax, or interest payable in respect of any 
foreign income tax;
“net foreign-source income” in relation to a resident person for a fiscal 
year, means the total taxable foreign-source income of the person for the 
year, as reduced by any deductions allowed to the person under this Act 
for the year that — 
(a) relate exclusively to the derivation of the foreign-source income; 
and 
(b) are apportioned to the derivation of foreign-source income in 
accordance with section 51 on the basis that foreign-source income 
is a separate class of income; and 
“taxable foreign-source income” means foreign source income included 
in gross income. 
(2) If a resident person derives taxable foreign-source income in respect of 
which the person has paid foreign income tax, the person shall be allowed 
a tax credit (referred to as a “foreign tax credit”) of an amount equal to the 
lesser of — 
(a) the foreign income tax paid; or 
(b) the Tongan income tax payable in respect of the income. 
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), the Tongan income tax payable in 
respect of taxable foreign-source income derived by a resident person in a 
fiscal year shall be computed by applying the average rate of Tongan 
income tax applicable to the person for the year against the net foreignsource income of the person for the year. 
(4) The foreign tax credit of a resident person for a fiscal year shall be 
computed separately for foreign-source business income and the other 
foreign-source income of the person. 
(5) Where subsection (4) applies, deductions shall be apportioned for the 
purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of “net foreign-source income” 
in accordance with section 51 on the basis that foreign-source business 
income and other foreign-source income are separate classes of income. 
(6) A foreign tax credit shall be allowed under this section only if the foreign 
income tax is paid within two years after the end of the fiscal year in 
which the foreign-source income to which the tax relates was derived by 
the resident person. 
(7) A foreign tax credit allowed under this section shall be applied in 
accordance with section 5(3). 
(8) Any foreign tax credit or part of a foreign tax credit allowed under this 
section for a fiscal year that is not credited under section 5(3) shall not be 
refunded, carried back to the preceding fiscal year, or carried forward to 
the following fiscal year. 
 

63. Foreign losses. 
(1) In this section, 
“foreign business loss”, for a fiscal year, is the excess of deductions 
allowed to the person in deriving taxable foreign-source business income 
for the year over the amount of that foreign-source business income; 
“taxable foreign-source business income”, in relation to a resident 
person, means foreign-source business income included in the gross 
income of the person; and 
“taxable foreign-source non-business income”, in relation to a resident 
person, means foreign-source income (other than foreign-source business 
income) included in the gross income of the person. 
(2) Any amount that a resident person is allowed as a deduction under this 
Act in deriving taxable foreign-source business income shall be deductible 
only against that income. 
(3) If a resident person has a foreign business loss for a fiscal year, the 
amount of the loss shall be carried forward to the following fiscal year and 
allowed as a deduction against the person’s foreign-source business 
income derived in that following year. 
(4) If a foreign business loss is not wholly deducted in a fiscal year under 
subsection (3), the undeducted amount shall be carried forward to the next 
following fiscal year and applied as specified in subsection (3) in that 
year, and so on until the loss is fully deducted. 
(5) Any amount that a resident person is allowed as a deduction under this 
Act in deriving taxable foreign-source non-business income shall be 
deductible only against that income. 
(6) If the total amount of deductions referred to in subsection (5) for a fiscal 
year exceeds the person’s taxable foreign-source non-business income for 
the year, the amount of the excess shall not be carried forward to the 
following fiscal year

64. Taxation of non-residents with Tongan permanent establishments.
(1) Subject to this section, this Act applies to a non-resident person with a 
permanent establishment in Tonga on the basis that the permanent 
establishment is a separate person engaged in the same or similar 
activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing independently 
with that non-resident person.
(2) The gross income of a permanent establishment in Tonga of a nonresident person for a fiscal year is the total Tongan-source income of the 
person for the year as determined under section 60. 
(3) Subject to subsection (4), no deduction is allowed for amounts paid or 
payable by the permanent establishment to its head office or to another 
permanent establishment of the non-resident person as — 
(a) royalties, fees, or other similar payments for the use of any tangible 
or intangible asset; 
(b) compensation for any services, including management services, 
performed for the permanent establishment; or 
(c) interest on moneys lent to the permanent establishment, except in 
connection with a banking business. 
(4) Nothing in subsection (3) prevents a deduction for an amount paid or 
payable by a permanent establishment as a reimbursement of actual 
expenditures incurred by the non-resident person to third parties if the 
reimbursement is otherwise deductible under this Act. 

65. Foreign-source income of non-resident persons. 
The foreign-source income of a non-resident person shall be exempt income.

66. Transactions between associates.
(1) The Chief Commissioner may, in respect of any transaction between 
persons who are associates, distribute, apportion, or allocate income, 
deductions, or tax credits between the persons as is necessary to reflect the 
income that the persons would have realised in an arm’s length 
transaction. 
(2) In making any adjustment under subsection (1), the Chief Commissioner 
may determine the geographic source of income and the nature of any 
income, payment, or loss as revenue, capital, or otherwise.

67. Tax avoidance schemes.
(1) In this section, “tax avoidance scheme” means any transaction if one of 
the main purposes of a person in entering into the transaction is the 
avoidance or reduction of any person’s liability to tax under this Act. 
(2) For the purposes of determining the liability to tax under this Act of any 
person, the Chief Commissioner may — 
(a) determine the character of a transaction or an element of a 
transaction that was entered into as part of a tax avoidance scheme; 
(b) disregard a transaction that does not have substantial economic 
effect; or 
(c) determine the character of a transaction if the form of the 
transaction does not reflect the substance.

68. Furnishing of income tax returns. 
(1) Subject to section 69, a taxpayer, other than a presumptive income 
taxpayer, shall lodge an income tax return for each fiscal year within two 
months after the end of the year. 
(2) An income tax return shall be lodged in the form and manner prescribed 
in the Regulations. 
(3) The Chief Commissioner may, by notice in writing, require a taxpayer or 
the taxpayer’s representative to lodge an income tax return by the date 
specified in the notice for a period of less than twelve months, if — 
(a) the taxpayer has died; 
(b) the taxpayer has become bankrupt or gone into liquidation; 
(c) the taxpayer is about to leave Tonga permanently; 
(d) the taxpayer is otherwise about to cease carrying on business in 
Tonga; or 
(e) the Chief Commissioner otherwise considers it appropriate to 
require such a return to be lodged. 

69. Income tax return not required.
A taxpayer shall not be required to lodge an income tax return under section 68 
for a fiscal year if the only income derived by the taxpayer during the year is — 
(a) employment income from which tax has been withheld under 
section 76; 
(b) interest income from which tax has been withheld under section 77;
(c) employment and interest income referred to in paragraphs (a) and 
(b); or 
(d) income to which section 6 or 7 applies. 

70. Income Tax assessments.
(1) If a taxpayer lodges an income tax return under section 68 for a fiscal 
year, the Chief Commissioner shall be treated as having made an 
assessment of the taxpayer’s chargeable income and income tax payable 
thereon, or business loss for the year equal to those respective amounts as 
specified in the return. 
(2) An income tax return lodged under section 68 shall be treated for all 
purposes of the Act and the Revenue Services Administration Act 2002 as 
a notice of the assessment served on the taxpayer by the Chief 
Commissioner on the day the return was lodged by the taxpayer. 
(3) If a taxpayer fails to lodge an income tax return under section 68 for a 
fiscal year, the Chief Commissioner may, based on any available 
information and according to the Chief Commissioner’s best judgement, 
make an assessment of the taxpayer’s chargeable income and income tax 
payable thereon, or business loss, for the year. 
(4) As soon as possible after making an assessment under subsection (3), the 
Chief Commissioner shall serve the taxpayer with a notice of the 
assessment stating — 
(a) the amount of chargeable income or business loss of the taxpayer; 
(b) the amount of any income tax and minimum income tax, if 
any, due; 
(c) the amount of tax paid, if any; 
(d) the amount of any penalty and interest payable in respect of the tax 
due; and 
(e) the time, place, and manner of objecting to the assessment. 

71. Amendment of assessments.
(1) Subject to this section, the Chief Commissioner may amend an assessment 
made or treated as made under section 70 by making such alterations or 
additions to the assessment as the Chief Commissioner considers 
necessary to ensure that a taxpayer is liable for the correct amount of 
income tax for the fiscal year to which the assessment relates. 
(2) The amendment of an assessment under subsection (1) may be made —
(a) in the case of fraud or wilful neglect by or on behalf of the 
taxpayer, at any time; or 
(b) in any other case, within five years of the date the Chief 
Commissioner served or is treated as having served notice of the 
assessment on the taxpayer. 
(3) The Chief Commissioner may require a taxpayer to lodge a revised return 
in accordance with section 3(2) of the Revenue Services Administration 
Act 2002. 
(4) A notice under section 3(2) of the Revenue Services Administration Act 
2002 requiring a taxpayer to lodge a revised return may be made — 
(a) in the case of fraud or wilful neglect by or on behalf of the 
taxpayer, at any time; or 
(b) in any other case, within five years from the date the taxpayer 
lodged the return. 
(5) A taxpayer may, on the taxpayer’s own motion, amend an assessment 
treated as made under section 70(1) by lodging a revised income tax 
return within five years of the date the original return was lodged. 
(6) If a taxpayer lodges a revised return in accordance with subsection (3) or 
(5), the Chief Commissioner shall be treated as having made an amended 
assessment of the taxpayer’s chargeable income and tax payable thereon, 
or business loss, as set out in the revised return. 
(7) The taxpayer’s revised return shall be treated for all purposes of this Act 
and the Revenue Services Administration Act 2002 as notice of the 
amended assessment served on the taxpayer by the Chief Commissioner 
on the day the revised return was lodged by the taxpayer. 
(8) If a notice of assessment (hereinafter referred to as the “original 
assessment”) has been amended under subsection (1) or (6), the Chief 
Commissioner may further amend the original assessment within the 
later of — 
(a) five years after the Chief Commissioner has served or is treated as 
having served notice of the original assessment on the taxpayer; or 
(b) one year after the Chief Commissioner has served or is treated as 
having served notice of the amended assessment on the taxpayer. 
(9) As soon as possible after making an amended assessment under this 
section, the Chief Commissioner shall serve the taxpayer with notice of 
the amended assessment stating — 
(a) the amended chargeable income or business loss of the taxpayer; 
(b) the amended amount of income tax or minimum income tax due; 
(c) the amount of income tax paid, if any; 
(d) the amount of any penalty and interest payable in respect of the 
income tax due; and 
(e) the time, place, and manner of objecting to the amended 
assessment. 
(10) An amended income tax assessment shall be treated in all respects as an 
income tax assessment for the purposes of this Act and the Revenue 
Services Administration Act 2002, other than subsection (1). 

72. Due date for payment of income tax.
Subject to this Act, the income tax payable by a taxpayer for a fiscal year shall 
be due by the due date for lodging the taxpayer’s income tax return for the year.

73. Collection of tax from non-resident ship owners or charterers. 
(1) Subject to subsection (3), before the departure of a ship owned or 
chartered by a non-resident person from a port in Tonga — 
(a) the master of the ship shall lodge with the Chief Commissioner a 
return showing the gross amount specified in section 7(2) in respect 
of the ship; and 
(b) the Chief Commissioner shall determine the amount of income tax 
due under section 7 in respect of the ship and, as soon as possible, 
notify the master, in writing, of the amount due. 
(2) The master of a ship shall be liable for the tax notified under subsection 
(1)(b) and the provisions of this Act and the Revenue Services 
Administration Act 2002 apply to such tax as if it were income tax due 
under an assessment. 
(3) If the Chief Commissioner is satisfied that the master of a ship which is 
owned or chartered by a non-resident person is unable to lodge the return 
required under subsection (1) before the departure of the ship from Tonga, 
the Chief Commissioner may allow the return to be lodged within 30 days 
after departure of the ship provided that the master of the ship has made 
satisfactory arrangements for the payment of the tax due under section 7 
in respect of the ship. 
(4) The Commissioner shall not grant a port clearance for a ship owned or 
chartered by a non-resident person until satisfied that any tax due under 
section 7 in respect of the ship has been paid or that arrangements for its 
payment have been made to the satisfaction of the Chief Commissioner. 
(5) This section does not relieve the owner or charterer of the ship who is a 
non-resident person from liability to pay any amount due under this 
section that is not paid by the master of the ship. 

74. Collection of tax from non-resident aircraft owners or charterers.
(1) An owner or charterer of an aircraft liable for tax under section 7 shall 
lodge a return with the Chief Commissioner for each calendar month 
within 28 days after end of each month. 
(2) The return shall be in the prescribed form and lodged in the 
prescribed manner. 
(3) Where a taxpayer lodges a return under subsection (1), the Chief 
Commissioner is treated as having made an assessment of the gross 
amount specified in section 7(2) for the month and the tax payable 
thereon, and to have served notice of the assessment on the day the return 
was lodged. 
(4) The tax payable by the non-resident person under section 7 shall be 
collected monthly and shall be due on the due date for furnishing the 
return for each month. 
(5) Sections 70(3) and (4), and 71 apply for the purposes of this section. 
(6) If the tax referred to in subsection (4) is not paid within three months of 
the due date, the Chief Commissioner may issue to the Ministry of Civil 
Aviation a certificate specifying the name of the non-resident person and 
the amount of tax due, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation shall refuse 
clearance from any airport in Tonga to any aircraft owned or chartered by 
the person until the tax due has been paid.

75. Security.
The Chief Commissioner may, for the purposes of securing payment of any tax 
that is or may become due under this Act, require a person to give security in 
such amount and in such manner as the Chief Commissioner thinks fit. 

76. Withholding of tax from employment income.
(1) An employer shall withhold tax from a payment of employment income to 
an employee as prescribed in the Regulations. 
(2) The obligation of an employer to withhold tax under subsection (1) 
(a) shall not be reduced or extinguished because the employer has a 
right, or is otherwise obliged, to withhold any other amount from a 
payment of employment income; and 
(b) shall apply notwithstanding any law that provides that the 
employment income of an employee is not to be reduced or subject 
to attachment.

77. Withholding of tax from interest.
A resident company or permanent establishment in Tonga of a non-resident 
company paying interest to a resident person, other than a financial institution, 
shall withhold tax from the gross amount of the interest paid at the rate of 10%.

78. Withholding of tax from income from land.
If rent has been paid to the Minister of Lands in accordance with the Land Act 
for the lease of land, the Minister shall withhold tax from the gross amount paid 
at the rate of 3%.

79. Withholding of tax from payments to non-resident persons.
(1) In this section, “rent” does not include an amount to which section 78 
applies. 
(2) A person paying a Tongan-source royalty, interest, technical services fee, 
dividend, natural resource amount, rent, management fee, or insurance 
premium to a non-resident person shall withhold tax from the gross 
amount paid at the rate of — 
(a) in the case of an insurance premium, 5%; 
(b) in the case of rent, 7.5%; or 
(c) in any other case, 15%. 
(3) A person paying an amount of Tongan-source business income to a nonresident person rendering independent services shall withhold tax from the 
gross amount paid at the rate of 10%

80 No withholding from exempt income.
A person shall not withhold tax from an amount that is exempt income of 
the recipient. 
 

81. Time of withholding.
A person required to withhold tax under this Division from an amount paid by 
the person shall withhold the tax at the earlier of — 
(a) the time the amount is credited to the account of the recipient; or 
(b) the time the amount is actually paid.

82. Payment of tax withheld.
Tax required to be withheld by a person under this Division shall be paid to the 
Chief Commissioner within 28 days after the end of the month in which the 
person was required to withhold the tax.

83 Failure to pay tax withheld 
(1) If a person — 
(a) fails to withhold tax as required under this Division; or 
(b) having withheld tax fails to pay the tax to the Chief Commissioner 
as required under section 82, 
the person shall be personally liable to pay the amount of tax to the Chief 
Commissioner. 
(2) A person personally liable for an amount of tax under subsection (1) as a 
result of failing to withhold the tax shall be entitled to recover the tax 
from the recipient of the payment. 

84. Recovery of withholding tax.
(1) If a person fails to withhold tax as required under this Division, the Chief 
Commissioner may recover the tax from the recipient of the payment 
provided the total amount recovered does not exceed the tax that should 
have been withheld. 
(2) Notwithstanding the recovery of any tax under subsection (1), the person 
who failed to withhold the tax shall continue to be liable for — 
(a) any other legal action in relation to the failure; 
(b) the imposition of interest and penalty for the failure; and 
(c) the disallowing of a deduction for the expenditure to which the 
failure relates under section 26(2).

85. Tax withholding certificate.
(1) A person withholding tax under this Division shall give to the recipient of 
the payment a tax withholding certificate as prescribed in the Regulations. 
(2) A person required to lodge an income tax return for a fiscal year shall 
attach to the return any tax withholding certificate as prescribed in the 
Regulations. 

86. Withholding tax statements.
(1) In this section, “fiscal year” means the period of twelve months ending on 
30th June. 
(2) A person withholding tax under this Division shall, within two months 
after the end of the fiscal year or within such further time as the Chief 
Commissioner may allow by notice in writing, lodge with the Chief 
Commissioner a withholding tax statement as prescribed in the 
Regulations. 
(3) In addition to the annual withholding tax statement required to be lodged 
under subsection (1), a person withholding tax may be required to furnish 
statements on a monthly, quarterly, or six monthly basis as may be 
prescribed in the Regulations. 

87. Priority of tax withheld.
(1) Tax withheld from a payment under this Division — 
(a) shall be held by the person in trust for the Government; and 
(b) shall not be subject to attachment in respect of any debt or liability 
of the person. 
(2) In the event of the liquidation or bankruptcy of a person who has withheld 
tax under this Division, any amount withheld shall not form part of the 
estate of the person in liquidation or bankruptcy and the Chief 
Commissioner has first claim for that amount before any distribution of 
property is made. 
(3) An amount that a person is required to withhold from a payment under 
this Division shall be — 
(a) a first charge on the payment; and 
(b) deducted prior to any other amount that the person may be required 
to deduct from the payment by virtue of an order of any Court or 
under any other law.

88. Indemnity.
A person who has withheld tax from a payment under this Division and remitted 
the tax to the Chief Commissioner shall be indemnified against any claim by the 
recipient for payment of the withheld amount.

89. Credit for tax withheld.
(1) For the purposes of this Act, if tax has been withheld under this Division 
from income derived by a person, the amount of income included in the 
gross income of that person shall be the amount derived before the 
withholding of the tax. 
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), if tax has been withheld under this 
Division from income derived by a person, the person shall be allowed a 
tax credit for that tax against the tax due by the person on the chargeable 
income of the person for the fiscal year in which the tax was withheld. 
(3) No tax credit shall be allowed if the tax withheld is a final tax on the 
income under section 9 or 90. 
(4) A tax credit allowed under this section shall be applied in accordance with 
section 5(3). 
(5) A tax credit or part of a tax credit allowed under this section for a fiscal 
year that is not credited under section 5(3) for the year shall be treated as 
overpaid tax and dealt with in accordance with section 92.

90. Withholding tax as a final tax.
(1) This section applies to tax withheld under — 
(a) section 76 if section 69 applies; 
(b) section 77 if the interest is paid by a financial institution and is 
derived by an individual; or 
(c) section 78 if the amount is derived by a non-resident. 
(2) If this section applies, the tax withheld shall be a final tax on the income 
in respect of which the tax has been withheld and — 
(a) the income shall not be included in — 
(i) gross income in computing the chargeable income of the 
person who derives it for any fiscal year; or 
(ii) turnover in computing the minimum income tax liability of 
the person who derived it for any fiscal year; 
(b) no deduction shall be allowable under this Act for any expenditure 
incurred in deriving the income;
(c) the income shall not be reduced by any loss; 
(d) the tax withheld shall not be reduced by any tax credits allowed 
under this Act; and 
(e) there shall be no refund of the tax withheld. 

91. Instalments of income tax.
(1) A taxpayer shall pay instalments of income tax for a fiscal year. 
(2) Instalments shall be payable for the period of three calendar months 
ending on last day of the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth months of the 
fiscal year of a taxpayer. 
(3) Instalments of income tax shall be due on the 28th day after the end of the 
period to which they relate. 
(4) Instalments of income tax paid by a taxpayer in a fiscal year shall be — 
(a) credited against the taxpayer’s income tax liability on chargeable 
income for that year in accordance with section 5(3); 
(b) any excess shall be credited against the taxpayer’s minimum 
income tax liability for that year; and 
(c) any further excess shall be treated as overpaid tax and dealt with in 
accordance with section 92. 
(5) The Chief Commissioner may make regulations for the collection of 
Income Tax by instalment. 

92. Refunds.
(1) Subject to this Act, a taxpayer who has paid tax in excess of the amount 
for which the taxpayer is properly chargeable under this Act may apply to 
the Chief Commissioner for a refund of the excess. 
(2) An application for a refund under subsection (1) shall be lodged in the 
form and manner prescribed in the Regulations within 5 years of the date 
on which the tax was paid. 
(3) If the Chief Commissioner is satisfied that tax has been overpaid, the 
Chief Commissioner shall (a) apply the amount overpaid in reduction of any other tax due, 
including an instalment of tax due, by the taxpayer under this 
Act; and 
(b) refund the remainder, if any, to the taxpayer. 
(4) The Chief Commissioner shall serve the taxpayer with notice, in writing, 
of the decision on the application for a refund within 45 days of the 
application being lodged with the Chief Commissioner. 

93. Regulations.
(1) The Chief Commissioner may, with the consent of Cabinet, make 
regulations for — 
(a) matters prescribed to be made by regulation under this Act; or 
(b) the application and administration of this Act. 
(2) Without limiting the general effect of subsection (1), regulations made 
under that subsection may — 
(a) contain provisions of a saving or transitional nature consequent 
upon the making of this Act; or 
(b) prescribe penalties for the contravention of the regulations. 
(3) Transitional regulations made within 6 months after the commencement 
of this Act may provide that they take effect from the date on which the 
Act comes into force but only if this is to the benefit of taxpayers. 

94. Repeal and Transitional.
(1) The Income Tax Act (Cap. 68) is hereby repealed. 
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and subject to the Revenue Services 
Administration Act 2002, the Income Tax Act (Cap. 68) shall continue to 
apply to any fiscal year of a taxpayer ending before the commencement of 
the taxpayer’s first fiscal year under this Act. 
(3) Subject to subsection (4), sections 27 to 29, 31 and 32 shall apply to a 
depreciable asset acquired by a taxpayer before commencement of the 
taxpayer’s first fiscal year under the Act on the basis that the written down 
value of the asset at the beginning of that year shall be the cost of the asset 
less the total deductions allowed under section 6(2)(a) of the Income Tax 
Act (Cap. 68). 
(4) If section 27(7) applies to a depreciable asset referred to in subsection (3), 
the written down value of the asset at the commencement of the 
taxpayer’s first fiscal year under the Act shall be computed on the basis 
that the asset was used solely to derive income subject to tax under section 
4(a) of the Income Tax Act (Cap. 68). 
(5) Section 30 shall not apply to an intangible acquired by a taxpayer before 
the commencement of the taxpayer’s first fiscal year under the Act. 
(6) Section 33 shall not apply to preliminary expenditure incurred by a 
taxpayer before the commencement of the taxpayer’s first fiscal year 
under the Act. 
(7) Section 34 shall apply in respect of a debt or other instrument or 
agreement giving rise to interest whenever incurred by a taxpayer. 
(8) Where a debt — 
(a) is written off by a taxpayer as a bad debt in a fiscal year; and 
(b) the debt arose before the commencement of the taxpayer’s first 
fiscal year under the Act, the reference in section 36(1)(a) to the 
amount of the debt being previously included in the gross income of 
a taxpayer shall include an amount included in assessable income 
under section 4 of the Income Tax Act (Cap. 68). 
(9) If, at the commencement of a taxpayer’s first fiscal year under the Act, the 
taxpayer has a business loss carried forward under section 41(3) of the 
Income Tax Act (Cap. 68) the amount of the loss shall be allowed as a 
deduction under section 37. 
(10) Section 43 shall not apply to a financial lease entered into before the 
commencement of this Act. 
(11) A reference in section 52 to a deduction allowed for any expenditure or 
loss incurred, or bad debt written off in a fiscal year shall include any 
expenditure, loss, or bad debt deducted under the Income Tax Act 
(Cap. 68). 
(12) Income that would be exempt income under section 11(p) of the Income 
Tax Act (Cap. 68) shall continue to be exempt if it is derived before 
1 July 2007. 
(13) Self-assessment under section 70 shall not apply to a taxpayer whose 
annual turnover is less than $100,000, unless the Chief Commissioner has 
specified by notice in the Gazette that the section shall apply to such 
taxpayer. 
(14) Where self-assessment does not apply to a taxpayer by virtue of 
subsection (13), the Chief Commissioner shall, based on the taxpayer’s 
income tax return for a fiscal year and on any other information available,
make an assessment of the chargeable income or the business loss of a 
taxpayer and any tax payable thereon for the year. 
Passed in the Legislative Assembly this - - - - - - day of - - - - - - - 2007.

VALUATION OF EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 
1. In this Schedule — 
“benchmark rate” means the National Reserve Bank of Tonga rediscount 
rate at the commencement of the fiscal year; and 
“services” includes the making available of any facility. 
2. The value of any benefit-in-kind included in the employment income of 
an employee under section 13(1)(b) shall be determined in accordance 
with this Schedule. 
3. This Schedule shall not apply to any allowance or reimbursement referred 
to in section 13(1)(c) or (d). 
4. If, in a fiscal year, a motor vehicle is provided by an employer to an 
employee wholly for the private use of the employee, the value of the 
benefit for the year shall be the amount computed in accordance with the 
following formula — 
(20% of A ) - B 
where — 
A is the cost to the employer of acquiring the motor vehicle or, 
if the vehicle is leased by the employer, the fair market value 
of the vehicle at the commencement of the lease; and 
B is any payment made by the employee for the use of the 
motor vehicle or for its running costs. 
5. If, in a fiscal year, a motor vehicle is provided to an employee partly for 
private use and partly for use in employment, the value of the benefit for 
the year shall be the amount computed in accordance with the formula in 
paragraph (4) reduced by the proportion of that amount representing use 
in employment. 
6. If a motor vehicle referred to in paragraph 4 or 5 is not provided for the 
whole of the year, the value of the benefit computed under those 
paragraphs, as the case may be, shall be based on the proportion of the 
year that the vehicle was provided. 
7. If, in a fiscal year, the services of a housekeeper, driver, gardener or other 
domestic assistant is provided by an employer to an employee, the value 
of the benefit for the year shall be the total employment income paid to 
the domestic assistant in that year for services rendered to the employee, 
as reduced by any payment made by the employee for such services. 
8. If, in a fiscal year, a loan is made by an employer to an employee, the 
value of the benefit for the year shall be the difference between the 
interest paid by the employee on the loan for the year, if any, and the 
interest which would have been paid by the employee on the loan for the 
year if the loan had been made at the benchmark rate for that year. 
9. For the purposes of this Act other than paragraph 8, if the employee uses a 
loan referred to in paragraph 8 wholly or partly for the acquisition of 
property producing amounts included in gross income, the employee shall 
be treated as having paid an amount as interest equal to the benchmark 
rate on the loan or that part of the loan used to acquire the property. 
10. If, in a fiscal year, an obligation of an employee to pay or repay an 
amount owing by the employee to the employer is waived by the 
employer, the value of the benefit shall be the amount so waived. 
11. If, in a fiscal year, an obligation of an employee to repay an amount owed 
by the employee to another person is paid by the employer, the value of 
the benefit shall be the amount so paid. 
12. If, in a fiscal year, property is transferred or services are provided by an 
employer to an employee, the value of the benefit shall be the fair market 
value of the property or services determined at the time the property is 
transferred or the services are provided, as reduced by any payment made 
by the employee for the property or services. 
13. If, in a fiscal year, accommodation or housing is provided by an employer 
to an employee, the value of the benefit shall be — 
(a) when the employer or an associate owns the accommodation or 
housing, the fair market rent of the accommodation or housing; or 
(b) in any other case, the rent paid by the employer for the 
accommodation or housing, 
as reduced by any payment made by the employee for the accommodation 
or housing. 
14. If, in a fiscal year, an employer has provided an employee with a benefit 
not covered by paragraphs (4) to (13), the value of the benefit shall be the 
fair market value of the benefit determined at the time it is provided, as 
reduced by any payment made by the employee for the benefit.