Finance Act 2007

1 (1) In ITA 2007, before section 104 (and the italic cross-heading before it) insert— U.K.

“Limit on amount of sideways relief and capital gains relief U.K.

103C Limit on reliefs in any tax year not to exceed cap for tax year

(1) This section applies if an individual carries on one or more trades—

(a) as a non-active partner in a firm during a tax year, or

(b) as a limited partner in a firm at a time in that tax year,

and the individual makes a loss in any of those trades (an “affected loss”) in that tax year.

(2) There is a restriction on the amount of sideways relief and capital gains relief which (after applying the restrictions under the other provisions of this Chapter) may be given to the individual for any affected loss (but see subsections (6) and (7)).

(3) The restriction is that the total amount of the sideways relief and capital gains relief given to the individual for all the affected losses must not exceed the cap for that tax year.

(4) The cap for any tax year is £25,000.

(5) The Treasury may by order amend the sum for the time being specified in subsection (4).

(6) The restriction under this section does not apply to so much of any affected loss as derives from qualifying film expenditure (see section 103D).

(7) The restriction under this section does not affect the giving of sideways relief for a loss made in a trade against the profits of that trade.

(8) In this section “trade” does not include a trade which consists of the underwriting business of a member of Lloyd's (within the meaning of section 184 of FA 1993).”

(2) The amendment made by sub-paragraph (1) has effect in relation to any loss made by an individual in a trade in the tax year 2007-08 or any subsequent tax year.

(3) But, in the case of a loss made by an individual in a trade in a tax year the basis period for which begins before 2nd March 2007 (a “straddling basis period”), the amount of that loss for the purposes of section 103C of ITA 2007 is—

(a) the amount of sideways relief and capital gains relief which (after applying the restrictions under the other provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 4 of that Act) may be given to the individual for that loss, less

(b) the amount (if any) of the pre-announcement loss.

(4) “The pre-announcement loss” is determined as follows.

(5) Calculate the profits or losses of the straddling basis period, but without regard to capital allowances and qualifying film expenditure (within the meaning of section 103D of ITA 2007).

(6) If that calculation produces a loss and the individual has made a contribution of an amount as capital to the firm or LLP in question—

(a) on or before the start of the straddling basis period, or

(b) after the start of that period but before 2nd March 2007,

apportion the loss produced by that calculation to the part of the straddling basis period which begins with the relevant date and falls before 2nd March 2007 in proportion to the number of days in that part.

(7) Calculate so much of the loss of the straddling basis period as derives from relevant pre-announcement capital expenditure.

(8) The pre-announcement loss is the sum of—

(a) the amount of the loss apportioned under sub-paragraph (6) (if any), and

(b) so much of the loss of the straddling basis period (if any) as derives from relevant pre-announcement capital expenditure.

(9) In sub-paragraph (6) “the relevant date” means—

(a) in any case where a contribution was made on or before the start of the straddling basis period, the start of that period, and

(b) in any other case, the date on which the contribution was made or, if more than one contribution was made, the date on which the first contribution was made.

(10) For the purposes of this paragraph the amount of the loss of the straddling basis period that derives from relevant pre-announcement capital expenditure is determined on a just and reasonable basis.

(11) In this paragraph “relevant pre-announcement capital expenditure” means—

(a) any capital allowance in respect of expenditure paid before 2nd March 2007, and

(b) any capital allowance in respect of expenditure paid on or after that date pursuant to an unconditional obligation in a contract made before that date,

and for this purpose “an unconditional obligation” means an obligation which may not be varied or extinguished by the exercise of any right conferred on the firm or LLP in question (whether or not under the contract).

(12) For the purposes of this paragraph—

(a) an amount of money is not to be taken as contributed as capital to a firm or LLP until the money is paid to the firm or LLP, and

(b) a right or other asset is not to be taken as contributed as capital to a firm or LLP until it is transferred to the firm or LLP.

(13) Section 62 of ITA 2007 (partners: losses of a tax year etc) applies for the purposes of this paragraph as it applies for the purposes of Chapter 3 of Part 4 of that Act.