Capital Allowances Act 2001

New sections 578A and 578B (expenditure on car hire) U.K.

52 After section 578 insert—

“578A Expenditure on car hire

(1) This section provides for a reduction in the amounts—

(a) allowable as deductions in computing profits chargeable to tax under Case I or II of Schedule D,

(b) which can be included as expenses of management of an investment company (as defined by section 130), or

(c) allowable as deductions from emoluments chargeable to tax under Schedule E,

for expenditure on the hiring of a car to which this section applies.

(2) This section applies to the hiring of a car—

(a) which is not a qualifying hire car, and

(b) the retail price of which when new exceeds £12,000.

“Car” and “qualifying hire car” are defined by section 578B.

(3) The amount which would, apart from this section, be allowable or capable of being included must be reduced by multiplying it by the fraction—

where P is the retail price of the car when new.

(4) If an amount has been reduced under subsection (3) and subsequently—

(a) there is a rebate (however described) of the rentals, or

(b) there occurs in connection with the rentals a transaction that falls within section 94 (debts deducted and subsequently released),

the amount otherwise taxable in respect of the rebate or transaction must be reduced by multiplying it by the fraction in subsection (3) above.

578B Expenditure on car hire: supplementary

(1) In section 578A “car” means a mechanically propelled road vehicle other than one—

(a) of a construction primarily suited for the conveyance of goods or burden of any description, or

(b) of a type not commonly used as a private vehicle and unsuitable for such use.

References to a car accordingly include a motor cycle.

(2) For the purposes of section 578A, a car is a qualifying hire car if—

(a) it is hired under a hire-purchase agreement (within the meaning of section 784(6)) under which there is an option to purchase exercisable on the payment of a sum equal to not more than 1 per cent. of the retail price of the car when new, or

(b) it is a qualifying hire car for the purposes of Part 2 of the Capital Allowances Act (under section 82 of that Act).

(3) In section 578A and this section “new” means unused and not second-hand.

(4) The power under section 74(4) of the Capital Allowances Act to increase or further increase the sums of money specified in Chapter 8 of Part 2 of that Act includes the power to increase or further increase the sum of money specified in section 578A(2)(b) or (3).”