The long-awaited final judgment on the husband and wife tax battle between Geoff and Diana Jones (Arctic Systems) against HM Revenue & Customs will be decided upon at the House of Lords next Wednesday.

The case, which has run since the Jones' appeared in front of the special commissioners in September 2004, will finally conclude at the Lords before they go into recess.

The case has resolved around the way the couple split their salary and dividend between them within the structure of their company Arctic Systems.

Chris Bryce, director of the Professional Contractors' Group, which has backed the Jones' in their battle, said he was pleased the decision would be made before the Lords appeal sittings went into recess until the winter.

Tax expert Anne Redston has previously said that even if the Lords decided the Jones' arrangement was set up in advance they might still add that the couple were exempt of tax under gift exemption rules.

The result will be heard at 09.45am. Follow Accountancy Age for the result as it happens.

Further reading:

Arctic Sytems special report