Finance Act 2002

Transfer of non-UK trade U.K.

87 (1) This paragraph applies where—

(a) an EU company resident in the United Kingdom (“the transferor”) transfers to an EU company resident in another member State (“the transferee”) the whole or part of a trade that, immediately before the time of the transfer, the transferor carried on in a member State other than the United Kingdom (“the other member State”) through a [F1 permanent establishment],

(b) the transfer—

(i) includes the whole of the assets of the transferor used for the purposes of the trade or part (or the whole of those assets other than cash), and

(ii) is wholly or partly in exchange for securities issued by the transferee to the transferor,

(c) the transfer includes intangible fixed assets—

(i) that are chargeable intangible assets in relation to the transferor immediately before the transfer, and

(ii) in the case of one or more of which the proceeds of realisation exceed the cost recognised for tax purposes, and

(d) the transferor makes a claim under this paragraph.

(2) Where tax would have been chargeable under the law of the other member State in respect of the transfer of those assets but for the Mergers Directive, Part 18 of the Taxes Act 1988 (double taxation relief), including any arrangements having effect by virtue of section 788 of that Act (bilateral relief), shall apply as if the amount of tax, calculated on the required basis, that would have been payable under that law in respect of the transfer of those assets but for that Directive, were tax payable under that law.

(3) For this purpose “the required basis” is that—

(a) so far as permitted under the law of the other member State, any losses arising on the transfer are set against any gains so arising, and

(b) any relief available to the transferor under that law has been duly claimed.

(4) In this paragraph—

• “EU company” means a body incorporated under the law of a member State;

• “the Mergers Directive” means the Directive of the Council of the European Communities dated 23rd July 1990 on the common system of taxation applicable to mergers, divisions, transfers of assets and exchanges of shares concerning companies of different member States (No. 90/434/EEC);

• “securities” includes shares.

(5) For the purposes of this paragraph a company is regarded as resident in another member State if it is within a charge to tax under the law of the State because it is regarded as resident for the purposes of the charge.

For this purpose a company shall be treated as not within a charge to tax under the law of a member State if it falls to be regarded for the purposes of any double taxation relief arrangements to which the State is a party as resident in a territory which is not within any of the member States.

(6) No claim may be made under this paragraph as regards a transfer in relation to which a claim is made under paragraph 86 (postponement of charge on transfer of assets to non-resident company).

(7) This paragraph applies only if the transfer of the trade or part—

(a) is effected for bona fide commercial reasons, and

(b) does not form part of a scheme or arrangements of which the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, is avoidance of liability to corporation tax, capital gains tax or income tax.

(8) The requirements of sub-paragraph (7) are treated as met where, before the transfer, the Inland Revenue have, on the application of the transferor, notified that company that they are satisfied that the requirements of that sub-paragraph will be met.

For the procedure on such an application, see paragraph 88.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 29 para. 87(1)(a) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 153(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2003 (c. 14), s. 153(1)(e)