Finance Act 1998

103 Restriction of relief on certain interest and dividends

(1) For section 798 of the Taxes Act 1988 there shall be substituted the following section—

“798 Restriction of relief on certain interest and dividends

(1) This section applies where—

(a) in any chargeable period the profits of a trade carried on by a qualifying taxpayer include an amount computed in accordance with section 795 in respect of foreign interest or foreign dividends;

(b) the taxpayer is entitled in accordance with this Chapter to credit for foreign tax on the foreign interest or foreign dividends; and

(c) in the case of foreign dividends, the foreign tax mentioned in paragraph (b) above is or includes underlying tax.

(2) The amount of the credit for foreign tax referred to in subsection (1)(b) above which, in accordance with this Chapter, is to be allowed against income tax or corporation tax—

(a) shall be limited by treating the amount of the foreign interest or foreign dividends (as increased or reduced under section 798A) as reduced (or further reduced) for the purposes of this Chapter by an amount equal to the taxpayer’s financial expenditure in relation to the interest or dividends (as determined in accordance with section 798B); and

(b) so far as the credit relates to foreign tax on interest or foreign tax on dividends which is not underlying tax, shall not exceed 15 per cent. of the interest or dividends, computed without regard to paragraph (a) above or to any increase or reduction under section 798A.

(3) In this section and sections 798A and 798B—

• “interest”, in relation to a loan, includes any introductory or other fee or charge which is payable in accordance with the terms on which the loan is made or is otherwise payable in connection with the making of the loan;

• “foreign dividends” means dividends payable out of or in respect of the stocks, funds, shares or securities of a body of persons not resident in the United Kingdom;

• “foreign interest” means interest payable by a person not resident in the United Kingdom or by a government or public or local authority in a country outside the United Kingdom.

(4) In this section and section 798B “qualifying taxpayer” means, subject to subsection (5) below, a person carrying on a trade which includes the receipt of interest or dividends and is not an insurance business.

(5) Where a company which is connected or associated with a qualifying taxpayer is acting in accordance with a scheme or arrangement the purpose, or one of the main purposes, of which is to prevent or restrict the application of this section to the taxpayer—

(a) the company shall be treated for the purposes of this section as a qualifying taxpayer; and

(b) any foreign interest or foreign dividends received in pursuance of the scheme or arrangement shall be treated for those purposes as profits of a trade carried on by the company.

(6) For the purposes of this section and section 798B—

(a) section 839 applies; and

(b) subsection (10) of section 783 applies as it applies for the purposes of that section.”

(2) This section and sections 104 and 105 do not have effect in relation to foreign interest or foreign dividends paid before 1st January 1999 in pursuance of arrangements which were entered into before, and are not altered on or after, 17th March 1998.

(3) Subject to subsection (2) above, this section and sections 104 and 105 have effect in relation to foreign interest or foreign dividends paid on or after 17th March 1998.