Electricity Act 1989

Extinguishment of liabilities: restriction of tax losses E+W+S

9 (1) Section 400(1) of the 1988 Act (write-off of government investment: restriction of tax losses) shall not have effect by virtue of section 80(1) of this Act; but in the case of any such extinguishment (whether or not it is a case as regards which the said section 400(1) would, but for the foregoing provisions of this sub-paragraph, have effect) the Secretary of State may, with the consent of the Treasury, from time to time, direct that such amount (“amount” including nil) as is specified in the direction shall be set off against the sucessor company’s tax losses as at the end of the accounting period ending last before the date of the direction. E+W+S

(2) In any direction under sub-paragraph (1) above it may further be provided that the balance of tax losses remaining after the set off shall be aggregated with the balance of another successor company’s (or other successor companies’) tax losses remaining after a direction underr that sub-paragraph in respect of that other company (or directions in respect of those other companies) and the losses so aggregated apportioned between the companies in such manner as may be specified in the direction which makes such further provision.

(3) No direction shall be given under sub-paragraph (1) above in relation to a successor company as a time when the company has ceased to be wholly owned by the Crown.

(4) For the purpose of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) above, a successor company’s tax losses at the end of the accounting period mentioned in the said sub-paragraph (1) are those referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (2) of the said section 400; and subsections (3) and (4) of that section shall have effect in relation to any set off under sub-paragraph (1) above as if—

(a) any reference to subsection (1) of that section were a reference to sub-paragraph (1) above; and

(b) the reference in subsection (4) of that section to the write-off date were a reference to the date of the direction under sub-paragraph (1) above.

(5) Subsection (6) of the said section 400 shall apply in relation to any such extinguishment as is mentioned in sub-pargaraph (1) above as if the reference to the body in question were a reference to the company whose liabilities are so extinguished.

(6) The trade carried on by a company whose liabilities are extinguished by virtue of section 80(1) of this Act shall, if the company’s tax losses are aggregated and apportioned by virtue of sub-pargaraph (2) above, be treated for the purposes of giving any relief under the Corporation Tax Acts in respect of the losses so apportioned as being, and having at all times been, the trade carried on by the successor companies to which the losses are apportioned.

(7) In this paragraph “accounting period” has the same meaning as in the 1988 Act.