Finance Act 1994

203 Conditions for such a change

After section 62 of the Taxes Act 1988 there shall be inserted the following section—

“62A Conditions for such a change

(1) This section applies in relation to an accounting change if the following are fulfilled, namely—

(a) the first and second conditions mentioned below, and

(b) either the third or the fourth condition so mentioned.

(2) The first condition is that the first accounting period ending with the new date does not exceed 18 months.

(3) The second condition is that notice of the accounting change is given to an officer of the Board on or before the 31st January next following the year of assessment.

(4) The third condition is that no accounting change as respects which section 62(2) has applied has been made or treated as made in any of the five years immediately preceding the year of assessment.

(5) The fourth condition is that—

(a) the notice required by the second condition sets out the reasons for which the change is made; and

(b) either the officer is satisfied that the change is made for bona fide commercial reasons or he does not, within 60 days of receiving the notice, give notice to the person carrying on the trade, profession or vocation that he is not so satisfied.

(6) An appeal may be brought against the giving of a notice under subsection (5)(b) above within the period of 30 days beginning with the date on which the notice is given.

(7) Subject to subsection (8) below, the provisions of the Management Act relating to appeals shall have effect in relation to an appeal under subsection (6) above as they have effect in relation to an appeal against an assessment to tax.

(8) On an appeal under subsection (6) above section 50(6) to (8) of the Management Act shall not apply but the Commissioners may—

(a) if they are satisfied that the change is made for bona fide commercial reasons, set the notice under subsection (5)(b) above aside; or

(b) if they are not so satisfied, confirm that notice.

(9) Obtaining a tax advantage shall not be regarded as a bona fide commercial reason for the purposes of subsections (5) and (8) above.

(10) In this section—

(a) “accounting period” means a period for which accounts are made up, and

(b) expressions which are also used in section 62 have the same meanings as in that section.”