Finance Act 2007

[F1 3B (1) In paragraph 3A “avoidance arrangements” means, subject to sub-paragraph (3), arrangements which fall within sub-paragraph (2). U.K.

(2) Arrangements fall within this sub-paragraph if, having regard to all the circumstances, it would be reasonable to conclude that the obtaining of a tax advantage was the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of the arrangements.

(3) Arrangements are not avoidance arrangements for the purposes of paragraph 3A if (although they fall within sub-paragraph (2))—

(a) they are arrangements which accord with established practice, and

(b) HMRC had, at the time the arrangements were entered into, indicated its acceptance of that practice.

(4) If, at any time, any of Conditions A to E is met in relation to particular arrangements—

(a) for the purposes of this Schedule the arrangements are to be taken to fall within (and always to have fallen within) sub-paragraph (2), and

(b) in relation to the arrangements, sub-paragraph (3) (and the reference to it in sub-paragraph (1)) are to be treated as omitted.

This does not prevent arrangements from falling within sub-paragraph (2) other than by reason of one or more of Conditions A to E being met.

(5) Conditions A to E are as follows—

(a) Condition A is that the arrangements are DOTAS arrangements within the meaning given by section 219(5) and (6) of FA 2014;

(b) Condition B is that the arrangements are disclosable VAT arrangements or disclosable indirect tax arrangements for the purposes of Schedule 18 to FA 2016 (see paragraphs 8A to 9A of that Schedule);

(c) Condition C is that both of the following apply—

(i) P has been given a notice under a provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (6) stating that a tax advantage arising from the arrangements is to be counteracted, and

(ii) that tax advantage has been counteracted under section 209 of FA 2013;

(d) Condition D is that a follower notice under section 204 of FA 2014 has been given to P by reference to the arrangements (and not withdrawn) and—

(i) the necessary corrective action for the purposes of section 208 of FA 2014 has been taken in respect of the denied advantage, or

(ii) the denied advantage has been counteracted otherwise than as mentioned in sub-paragraph (i);

(e) Condition E is that a tax advantage asserted by reference to the arrangements has been counteracted (by an assessment, an amendment of a return or claim, or otherwise) on the basis that an avoidance-related rule applies in relation to P's affairs.

(6) The provisions referred to in sub-paragraph (5)(c)(i) are—

(a) paragraph 12 of Schedule 43 to FA 2013 (general anti-abuse rule: notice of final decision);

(b) paragraph 8 or 9 of Schedule 43A to that Act (pooled or bound arrangements: notice of final decision);

(c) paragraph 8 of Schedule 43B to that Act (generic referrals: notice of final decision).

(7) In sub-paragraph (5)(d) the reference to giving a follower notice to P includes giving a partnership follower notice in respect of a partnership return in relation to which P is a relevant partner; and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph—

(a) “relevant partner” has the meaning given by paragraph 2(5) of Schedule 31 to FA 2014;

(b) a partnership follower notice is given “in respect of” the partnership return mentioned in paragraph 2(2)(a) or (b) of that Schedule.

(8) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (5)(d) it does not matter whether the denied advantage has been dealt with—

(a) wholly as mentioned in one or other of sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of sub-paragraph (5)(d), or

(b) partly as mentioned in one of those sub-paragraphs and partly as mentioned in the other;

and “the denied advantage” has the same meaning as in Chapter 2 of Part 4 of FA 2014 (see section 208(3) of and paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 31 to that Act).

(9) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (5)(e) a tax advantage has been “asserted by reference to” the arrangements if a return, claim or appeal has been made by P on the basis that the tax advantage results from the arrangements.

(10) In this paragraph—

• “arrangements” has the same meaning as in paragraph 3A;

• “avoidance-related rule” has the same meaning as in Part 4 of Schedule 18 to FA 2016 (see paragraph 25 of that Schedule);

• a “tax advantage” includes—

  (a)

  relief or increased relief from tax,

  (b)

  repayment or increased repayment of tax,

  (c)

  avoidance or reduction of a charge to tax or an assessment to tax,

  (d)

  avoidance of a possible assessment to tax,

  (e)

  deferral of a payment of tax or advancement of a repayment of tax,

  (f)

  avoidance of an obligation to deduct or account for tax, and

  (g)

  in relation to VAT, anything which is a tax advantage for the purposes of Schedule 18 to FA 2016 under paragraph 5 of that Schedule.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 24 paras. 3A, 3B and cross-heading inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 64(5)(6) of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), s. 64(2)