Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988

231 Tax credits for certain recipients of qualifying distributions. U.K.

M1 (1) Subject to sections 95(1)(b) [F1 , 247 and 441A], where a company resident in the United Kingdom makes a qualifying distribution and the person receiving the distribution is another such company or a person resident in the United Kingdom, not being a company, the recipient of the distribution shall be entitled to a tax credit equal to such proportion of the amount or value of the distribution as corresponds to the rate of advance corporation tax in force for the financial year in which the distribution is made.

(2) Subject to section 241(5), a company resident in the United Kingdom which is entitled to a tax credit in respect of a distribution may claim to have the amount of the credit paid to it if—

(a) the company is wholly exempt from corporation tax or is only not exempt in respect of trading income; or

(b) the distribution is one in relation to which express exemption is given (otherwise than by section 208), whether specifically or by virtue of a more general exemption from tax, under any provision of the Tax Acts.

(3) A person, not being a company resident in the United Kingdom, who is entitled to a tax credit in respect of a distribution may claim to have the credit set against the income tax chargeable on his income under section 3 or on his total income for the year of assessment in which the distribution is made and [F2 subject to subsections (3A) to (3D) below] where the credit exceeds that income tax, to have the excess paid to him.

[F3 (3A) Subject to subsection (3B) below, where F4 . . . , in any accounting period of a company at the end of which it is a close investment-holding company—

(a) arrangements relating to the distribution of the profits of the company exist or have existed the main purpose of which or one of the main purposes of which is to enable payments, or payments of a greater amount, to be made to any one or more individuals under subsection (3) above in respect of such an excess as is mentioned in that subsection, and

(b) by virtue of those arrangements, any eligible person—

(i) receives a qualifying distribution consisting of a payment made by the company on the redemption, repayment or purchase of its own shares, or

(ii) receives any other qualifying distribution in respect of shares in or securities of the company, where the amount or value of the distribution is greater than might in all the circumstances have been expected but for the arrangements,

the entitlement of the eligible person to have paid to him under subsection (3) above all or part of a tax credit in respect of any distribution made by the company in the period shall be restricted to such extent as [F5 is] just and reasonable.

(3B) Subsection (3A) above does not apply in relation to a tax credit in respect of a dividend paid by a company in any accounting period in respect of its ordinary share capital if—

(a) throughout the period, the company’s ordinary share capital consisted of only one class of shares, and

(b) no person waived his entitlement to any dividend which would have become payable by the company in the period or failed to receive any dividend which had become due and payable to him by the company in the period.

(3C) In subsection (3A) above—

• “arrangements” means arrangements of any kind whether in writing or not,

• “close investment-holding company” has the meaning given by section 13A, and

• “eligible person”, in relation to a qualifying distribution, means an individual resident in the United Kingdom who would (apart from subsection (3A) above) be entitled to have paid to him under subsection (3) above all or part of a tax credit in respect of the distribution.

(3D) In determining under subsection (3) above whether a person is entitled to have any excess of tax credit paid to him in a case where subsection (3A) above applies, tax credits shall be set against income tax in the order that results in the greatest payment in respect of the excess.]

(4) Where a distribution mentioned in subsection (1) above is, or falls to be treated as, or under any provision of the Tax Acts is deemed to be, the income of a person other than the recipient, that person shall be treated for the purposes of this section as receiving the distribution (and accordingly the question whether he is entitled to a tax credit in respect of it shall be determined by reference to where he, and not the actual recipient, is resident);and where any such distribution is income of a United Kingdom trust the trustees shall be entitled to a tax credit in respect of it if no other person falls to be treated for the purposes of this section as receiving the distributionF6 .

(5) In subsection (4)above “United Kingdom trust” means a trust administered under the law of any part of the United Kingdom, not being a trust the general administration of which is ordinarily carried on outside the United Kingdom and the trustees, or a majority of the trustees, of which are resident or ordinarily resident outside the United KingdomF6 .

Textual Amendments

F1 1990 s.42and Sch.7 para.2for accounting periods beginning on or after 1January 1990 (See para.10).

F2 1989 s.106in relation to distributions made by companies in accounting periods beginning after 31March 1989.

F3 1989 s.106in relation to distributions made by companies in accounting periods beginning after 31March 1989.

F4 Words in s. 231(3A) repealed (with effect in accordance with s. 134(2) of the repealing act) by Finance Act 1996 (c. 8), Sch. 20 para. 12(a), Sch. 41 Pt. 5(10), Note

F5 Word in s. 231(3A) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 134(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1996 (c. 8), Sch. 20 para. 12(b)

F6 Repealed by 1989 s.187and Sch.17 Part IVbut in accordance with 1989 ss.110and 111.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 See 1989 s.107and Sch.12—close companies.

C2 See—s.94—taxation of dealer's receipts on purchase by company of own shares.s.423et seq—close company income.s.448—overseas life assurance companies.

C3 See—s.812—certain non resident companies connected with unitary states.s.824—repayment supplement.

Marginal Citations

M1 Source—1972 s.86; 1972 s.110(1)