If the partnership deed explicitly states a partner will receive commission on 'profit before tax', on which profit figure should the commission be calculated?

Correct answer: Profit before tax

The core rule is to follow the exact wording of the partnership deed. If the deed specifies 'profit before tax', the commission must be calculated on the profit amount before provision or deduction for income tax. Therefore option A is correct. Option B (profit after tax) is incorrect because it is the net profit after tax and would apply only if the deed expressly said 'after tax' or 'after charging tax'. Options C (only cash profit) and D (capital profit) are not applicable because the deed does not mention cash-basis or capital/profit type. Exam tip: always underline phrases like 'before tax', 'after tax' or 'after charging' in the deed — those words determine the base for commission or profit-sharing.