Finance Act 2003

87 Interest on unpaid tax U.K.

(1) Interest is payable on the amount of any unpaid tax from the end of the period of 30 days after the relevant date until the tax is paid.

[F1 (1A) But where the relevant date is determined by subsection (3)(aa), (aaa), (ab) or (c), and a return is required to be delivered before the end of the period of 14 days after that relevant date, interest is instead payable on the amount of any unpaid tax from the end of that period until the tax is paid.]

(2) The Inland Revenue may by regulations amend subsection (1) [F2 or (1A)] so as to make interest run from the end of such shorter period after the relevant date as may be prescribed or, if the regulations so provide, from that date.

(3) For the purposes of this section “the relevant date” is—

[F3 (za) in the case of an amount payable because relief is withdrawn under any of paragraphs 5G to [F4 5L] of Schedule 4A (higher rate for certain transactions), the date which is the relevant date for the purposes of section 81(1A);]

[F5 (zb) in the case of an amount payable because relief is withdrawn under any of paragraphs 6D, 6F, 6G, 6H and 6I of Schedule 4A, the date which is the date of the disqualifying event for the purposes of section 81ZA (see subsection (3) of that section);]

(a) in the case of an amount payable because relief is withdrawn under—

[F6 (ia) Schedule 6A (relief for certain acquisitions of residential property),]

(i) Part 1 of Schedule 7 (group relief),

(ii) Part 2 of that Schedule (reconstruction or acquisition relief), F7 ...

[F8 (iia) paragraph 5, 7 or 8 of Schedule 7A (PAIF seeding relief),

(iib) paragraph 13, 17 or 18 of Schedule 7A (COACS seeding relief), or]

(iii) Schedule 8 (charities relief),

the date of the disqualifying event;

F9 (aza) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F10 (azaa) in the case of an amount payable because relief is withdrawn under Part 3 of Schedule 6C (relief for [F11 special tax sites]), other than in a case to which paragraph 11 of that Schedule (alternative finance arrangements) applies, the date which is the relevant date for the purposes of section 81(1A);

(azab) in the case of an amount payable because relief is withdrawn under Part 3 of Schedule 6C (relief for [F12 special tax sites]) in a case to which paragraph 11 of that Schedule (alternative finance arrangements) applies, the date which is the date of the disqualifying event for the purposes of section 81ZA (see subsection (3) of that section);]

[F13 (azb) in the case of an amount payable under paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 7A (PAIF seeding relief: portfolio test), the first time mentioned in paragraph 6(3)(a) or (b) at which the portfolio test was not met;

(azc) in the case of an amount payable under paragraph 14(1) of Schedule 7A (COACS seeding relief: genuine diversity of ownership condition) because the genuine diversity of ownership condition was not met at a time mentioned in paragraph 14(1)(b) or (c), the first time mentioned in paragraph 14(1)(b) or (c) at which that condition was not met;

(azd) in the case of an amount payable under paragraph 16(3) of Schedule 7A (COACS seeding relief: portfolio test), the first time mentioned in paragraph 16(3)(a) or (b) at which the portfolio test was not met;]

[F14 (aa) in the case of an amount payable under section 81A in respect of an earlier transaction because of the effect of a later linked transaction, the effective date of the later transaction;]

[F15 (aaa) in the case of an amount payable under paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 17A (leases that continue after a fixed term) by reason of the continuation of a lease for a period (or further period) under paragraph 3(2) or (6) of that Schedule, the final day of the period (or further period),]

[F16 (ab) in the case of an amount payable under paragraph F17 ... 4(3) of Schedule 17A (F17 ... treatment of leases for an indefinite term), the day on which the lease becomes treated as being for a longer fixed term;]

(b) in the case of a deferred payment under section 90, the date when the deferred payment is due;

(c) in any other case, the effective date of the transaction.

(4) In subsection (3)(a) “the disqualifying event” [F18 has the same meaning as in section 81(4).]

(5) Subsection (3)(c) applies in a case within section 51 (contingent, uncertain or unascertained consideration) if payment is not deferred under section 90, with the result that interest on any tax payable under section 80 (adjustment where contingency ceases or consideration is ascertained) runs from the effective date of the transaction.

(6) If an amount is lodged with the Inland Revenue in respect of the tax, the amount on which interest is payable is reduced by that amount.

(7) Interest is calculated at the rate applicable under section 178 of the Finance Act 1989 (c. 26) (power of Treasury to prescribe rates of interest).

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 87(1A) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 46(10) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2019 (c. 1), s. 46(7)(a)

F2 Words in s. 87(2) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 46(10) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2019 (c. 1), s. 46(7)(b)

F3 S. 87(3)(za) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 46(10) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2019 (c. 1), s. 46(7)(c)

F4 Word in s. 87(3)(za) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 89(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), Sch. 17 para. 6(a)

F5 S. 87(3)(zb) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 89(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), Sch. 17 para. 6(b)

F6 S. 87(3)(a)(ia) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 39 para. 26 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), Sch. 39 para. 17(4)(a) (which amending provision re-enacts, subject to certain changes, a corresponding amendment made by the now revoked Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Land Tax (Variation of the Finance Act 2003) (No. 2) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2816), see Sch. 39 para. 14)

F7 Word in s. 87(3)(a)(ii) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 16 para. 15 of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2016 (c. 24), Sch. 16 para. 9(2)(a)(i)

F8 S. 87(3)(a)(iia)(iib) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 16 para. 15 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2016 (c. 24), Sch. 16 para. 9(2)(a)(ii)

F9 S. 87(3)(aza) omitted (with effect in accordance with s. 7(3) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance (No. 2) Act 2024 (c. 12), s. 7(2)(a)(i) (with s. 7(4)-(10))

F10 S. 87(3)(azaa)(azab) inserted (10.6.2021) by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), Sch. 23 para. 7

F11 Words in s. 87(3)(azaa) substituted (11.7.2023) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (c. 30), Sch. 23 para. 7

F12 Words in s. 87(3)(azab) substituted (11.7.2023) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (c. 30), Sch. 23 para. 7

F13 S. 87(3)(azb)-(azd) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 16 para. 15 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2016 (c. 24), Sch. 16 para. 9(2)(b)

F14 S. 87(3)(aa) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 39 para. 26 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), Sch. 39 para. 19(3) (which amending provision re-enacts, subject to certain changes, a corresponding amendment made by the now revoked Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Land Tax (Variation of the Finance Act 2003) (No. 2) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2816), see Sch. 39 para. 14)

F15 S. 87(3)(aaa) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 41 para. 8(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 41 para. 4(a)

F16 S. 87(3)(ab) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 39 para. 26 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), Sch. 39 para. 22(5) (which amending provision re-enacts, subject to certain changes, a corresponding amendment made by the now revoked Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Land Tax (Variation of the Finance Act 2003) (No. 2) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2816), see Sch. 39 para. 14)

F17 Words in s. 87(3)(ab) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 41 para. 8(3) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 41 para. 4(b)

F18 Words in s. 87(4) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 16 para. 15 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2016 (c. 24), Sch. 16 para. 9(3)

Commencement Information

I1 Pt. 4 wholly in force at Royal Assent subject to Sch. 19, see s. 124, Sch. 19 para. 1(1)