Finance Act 1993

Interpretation: assets, liabilities and contracts U.K.

F1 153 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 153 repealed (1.10.2002 with effect as mentioned in s. 79(3) of the amending Act) by 2002 c. 23, ss. 79(1)(b), 141, Sch. 40 Pt. 3(10) Note 2 (with Sch. 23 paras. 25, 26)

154 Definitions connected with assets. U.K.

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a company becomes entitled to an asset when it becomes unconditionally entitled to it.

(2) In determining whether or not a company is unconditionally entitled to an asset, any transfer by way of security of the asset or of any interest or right in or over the asset shall be ignored.

(3) Where a company agrees to acquire an asset by transfer it becomes entitled to it when the contract is made and not on a later transfer made pursuant to the contract; but the preceding provisions of this subsection do not apply where the agreement is by way of a currency contract.

(4) Where a company agrees to dispose of an asset by transfer it ceases to be entitled to it when the contract is made and not on a later transfer made pursuant to the contract.

(5) If a contract is conditional (whether on the exercise of an option or otherwise) for the purposes of subsections (3) and (4) above it is made when the condition is satisfied.

[F2 (5A) The question whether a company becomes unconditionally entitled at a particular time to an asset falling within section 153(1)(a) above shall be determined without reference to the fact that there is or is not a later time when, or before which, the whole or any part of the debt is required to be paid.

(5B) Where an asset falling within section 153(1)(a) above consists of a right to interest—

(a) a company becomes unconditionally entitled to the asset at the time when or (as the case may be) before which the interest is required to be paid to the company, and

(b) subsection (5A) above shall not apply.]

(6) Where a company ceases to be entitled to an asset and at a later time becomes entitled to the same asset, with effect from the later time the asset shall be treated as if it were a different asset.

(7) In a case where—

(a) at different times a company becomes entitled to rights to settlement under debts on securities, and

(b) the rights are of the same kind,

the rights shall be treated as different assets and not part of the same asset.

(8) Whether a transaction involves a company becoming entitled to—

(a) one asset consisting of a right to settlement under a debt on a security, or

(b) a number of such assets,

shall be determined according to the facts of the case concerned.

(9) For the purpose of deciding whether rights to settlement under debts on securities of a particular kind are held by a company, rights of that kind acquired earlier shall be treated as disposed of before rights of that kind acquired later; and references here to acquisition and disposal are references to becoming entitled and ceasing to be entitled.

(10) For the purpose of deciding whether shares of a particular kind are held by a company, shares of that kind acquired earlier shall be treated as disposed of before shares of that kind acquired later; and references here to acquisition and disposal are references to becoming entitled and ceasing to be entitled.

(11) In a case where—

(a) a rule is used for the purpose mentioned in subsection (9) or (10) above when the company’s accounts are prepared,

(b) the rule differs from that contained in the subsection, and

(c) the accounts are prepared in accordance with [F3 generally accepted accounting practice],

the rule used when the accounts are prepared (and not the rule in the subsection) shall be used for the purpose.

(12) In a case where—

(a) a company would (apart from this subsection) become entitled to an asset at a particular time (the later time) by virtue of the preceding provisions of this section,

(b) the asset falls within section 153(1)(a) above,

(c) the time at which the company, in drawing up its accounts, regards itself as becoming entitled to the asset is a time (the earlier time) earlier than the later time, and

(d) the accounts are drawn up in accordance with [F3 generally accepted accounting practice],

the company shall be taken to have become entitled to the asset at the earlier time and not at the later time.

[F4 (12A) So much of any asset as consists in a right to receive interest as respects which any sums fall to be brought into account for the purposes of Chapter II of Part IV of the Finance Act 1996 (loan relationships) shall be taken to be an asset to which the company became entitled at the following time (instead of the time for which subsection (12) above provides), that is to say—

(a) where the sums fall to be brought into account for the purposes of that Chapter in accordance with an authorised accruals basis of accounting, the time when the interest is taken for those purposes to have accrued, and

(b) where the sums fall to be brought into account for the purposes of that Chapter in accordance with an authorised mark to market basis of accounting, the time when the interest is taken for those purposes to have become due and payable.]

(13) Where subsection (12) above applies, as regards any time beginning with the earlier time and ending immediately before the later time the nominal amount of the debt shall be taken to be—

(a) such amount as the company treats as the nominal amount in its accounts, or

(b) such amount as it would so treat in accordance with [F3 generally accepted accounting practice] (if that amount is different from the amount found under paragraph (a) above).

[F5 (13A) In a case where—

(a) a company would (apart from this subsection) become entitled to an asset at a particular time (the earlier time) by virtue of subsections (1) to (11) above,

(b) the asset falls within section 153(1)(a) above and the debt concerned is a debt on a security, or the asset is a share,

(c) the time at which the company, in drawing up its accounts, regards itself as becoming entitled to the asset is a time (the later time) later than the earlier time, and

(d) the accounts are drawn up in accordance with [F6 generally accepted accounting practice],

the company shall be taken to become entitled to the asset at the later time and not at the earlier time.

(13B) In a case where—

(a) a company would (apart from this subsection) cease to be entitled to an asset at a particular time (the earlier time) by virtue of subsections (1) to (11) above,

(b) the asset falls within section 153(1)(a) above and the debt concerned is a debt on a security, or the asset is a share,

(c) the time at which the company, in drawing up its accounts, regards itself as ceasing to be entitled to the asset is a time (the later time) later than the earlier time, and

(d) the accounts are drawn up in accordance with [F6 generally accepted accounting practice],

the company shall be taken to cease to be entitled to the asset at the later time and not at the earlier time.]

(14) A company holds an asset at a particular time if it is entitled to it at that time.

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 154(5A)(5B) inserted (3.5.1994) by 1994 c. 9, s. 114(1)

F3 Words in s. 154(11)(c)(12)(d)(13)(b) substituted (24.7.2002) by 2002 c. 23, s. 103(4)(b)

F4 S. 154(12A) inserted (29.4.1996) by 1996 c. 8, s. 104, Sch. 14 para. 71 (with ss. 80-105)

F5 S. 154(13A)(13B) inserted (3.5.1994) by 1994 c. 9, s. 114(2)

F6 Words in s. 154(13A)(d)(13B)(d) substituted (24.7.2002) by 2002 c. 23, s. 103(4)(b)

155 Definitions connected with liabilities. U.K.

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a company becomes subject to a liability falling within section 153(2)(a) above when it becomes unconditionally subject to it.

(2) Where a company agrees to acquire a liability falling within section 153(2)(a) above by transfer it becomes subject to it when the contract is made and not on a later transfer made pursuant to the contract.

(3) Where a company agrees to dispose of a liability falling within section 153(2)(a) above by transfer it ceases to be subject to it when the contract is made and not on a later transfer made pursuant to the contract.

(4) If a contract is conditional (whether on the exercise of an option or otherwise) for the purposes of subsections (2) and (3) above it is made when the condition is satisfied.

[F7 (4A) The question whether a company becomes unconditionally subject at a particular time to a liability falling within section 153(2)(a) above shall be determined without reference to the fact that there is or is not a later time when, or before which, the whole or any part of the debt is required to be paid.

(4B) Where a liability falling within section 153(2)(a) above consists of a duty to pay interest—

(a) a company becomes unconditionally subject to the liability at the time when or (as the case may be) before which the company is required to pay the interest, and

(b) subsection (4A) above shall not apply.]

(5) Where a company ceases to be subject to a liability falling within section 153(2)(a) above and at a later time becomes subject to the same liability, with effect from the later time the liability shall be treated as if it were a different liability.

(6) A company becomes subject to a liability falling within section 153(2)(b) above at the time with effect from which it makes the provision.

(7) A company ceases to be subject to a liability falling within section 153(2)(b) above at the time with effect from which it deletes the provision or (if different) the time with effect from which it would delete the provision under [F8 generally accepted accounting practice].

(8) Where a company makes a provision falling within section 153(2)(b) above and later changes the amount, the company shall be treated as—

(a) deleting (with effect from the time when the change becomes effective) the provision representing the amount before the change, and

(b) making (with effect from that time) a new provision representing the amount as changed;

and so on for further changes.

(9) A company ceases to be subject to a liability falling within section 153(2)(c) above when it becomes entitled to the right concerned, unless it ceases to be subject to the liability earlier apart from this subsection.

(10) A company ceases to be subject to a liability falling within section 153(2)(d) above when it becomes entitled to the share or shares, unless it ceases to be subject to the liability earlier apart from this subsection.

(11) In a case where—

(a) a company would (apart from this subsection) become subject to a liability at a particular time (the later time) by virtue of the preceding provisions of this section,

(b) the liability falls within section 153(2)(a) above,

(c) the time at which the company, in drawing up its accounts, regards itself as becoming subject to the liability is a time (the earlier time) earlier than the later time, and

(d) the accounts are drawn up in accordance with [F8 generally accepted accounting practice],

the company shall be taken to have become subject to the liability at the earlier time and not at the later time.

[F9 (11A) So much of any liability consisting in a liability to pay interest as respects which debits fall to be brought into account for the purposes of Chapter II of Part IV of the Finance Act 1996 (loan relationships) shall be taken to be a liability to which the company became subject at the following time (instead of at the time for which subsection (11) above provides), that is to say—

(a) where the debits fall to be brought into account for the purposes of that Chapter in accordance with an authorised accruals basis of accounting, the time when the interest is taken for those purposes to have accrued, and

(b) where the debits fall to be brought into account for the purposes of that Chapter in accordance with an authorised mark to market basis of accounting, the time when the interest is taken for those purposes to have become due and payable.]

(12) Where subsection (11) above applies, as regards any time beginning with the earlier time and ending immediately before the later time the nominal amount of the debt shall be taken to be—

(a) such amount as the company treats as the nominal amount in its accounts, or

(b) such amount as it would so treat in accordance with [F8 generally accepted accounting practice] (if that amount is different from the amount found under paragraph (a) above).

(13) A company owes a liability at a particular time if it is subject to it at that time.

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 155(4A)(4B) inserted (3.5.1994) by 1994 c. 9, s. 114(3)

F8 Words in s. 155(7)(11)(d)(12)(b) substituted (24.7.2002) by 2002 c. 23, s. 103(4)(b)

F9 S. 155(11A) inserted (29.4.1996) by 1996 c. 8, s. 104, Sch. 14 para. 72 (with ss. 80-105)

156 Assets and liabilities: other matters. U.K.

(1) Each of the following questions shall be determined according to the facts of the case concerned—

(a) whether a transaction (or series of transactions) involves the creation of one asset consisting of a right to settlement under a debt or a number of assets consisting of a number of such rights;

(b) whether a transaction (or series of transactions) involves the creation of one liability consisting of a duty to settle under a debt or a number of liabilities consisting of a number of such duties;

(c) whether a transaction (or series of transactions) involves the creation of both an asset (or assets) held and a liability (or liabilities) owed by the same company.

(2) Subsection (3) below applies where—

(a) a company, in drawing up its accounts, regards itself as becoming entitled or subject to an asset or liability at a particular time,

(b) the company, in drawing up its accounts, regards itself as ceasing to be entitled or subject to the asset or liability at a later time,

(c) at the time mentioned in paragraph (a) above it could reasonably be expected that the company would become entitled or subject to such an asset or liability,

(d) the asset or liability does not in fact come into existence before the later time but (if it did) it would fall within section 153(1)(a) or (2)(a) above, and

(e) the accounts are drawn up in accordance with [F10 generally accepted accounting practice].

(3) The company shall be taken to—

(a) become entitled or subject to such an asset or liability at the time it regards itself as becoming so entitled or subject, and

(b) cease to be entitled or subject to such an asset or liability at the time it regards itself as ceasing to be so entitled or subject.

(4) Where subsection (3) above applies, as regards any time beginning with the time mentioned in subsection (3)(a) and ending with the time mentioned in subsection (3)(b) the nominal amount of the debt shall be taken to be—

(a) such amount as the company treats as the nominal amount in its accounts, or

(b) such amount as it would so treat in accordance with [F10 generally accepted accounting practice] (if that amount is different from the amount found under paragraph (a) above).

Textual Amendments

F10 Words in s. 156(2)(e)(4)(b) substituted (24.7.2002) by 2002 c. 23, s. 103(4)(b)

F11 157 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F11 S. 157 repealed (24.7.2002 with effect as mentioned in s. 79(3) of the amending Act) by 2002 c. 23, ss. 79(1)(b), 141, Sch. 40 Pt. 3(10) Note 2 (with Sch. 23 paras. 25, 26)