Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (c. 12)

Part VI U.K. Companies, oil, insurance etc.

Chapter I U.K. Companies

[F1 Restrictions on buying losses or gains etc U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 184A-184F and cross-heading inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 70(6)-(8) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 70(2) (with s. 70(10)-(11))

184A Restrictions on buying losses: tax avoidance schemes U.K.

(1) This section applies for the purposes of corporation tax in respect of chargeable gains if—

(a) at any time (“the relevant time”) there is a qualifying change of ownership in relation to a company (“the relevant company”) (see section 184C),

(b) a loss (a “qualifying loss”) accrues to the relevant company or any other company on a disposal of a pre-change asset (see subsection (3)),

(c) the change of ownership occurs directly or indirectly in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, any arrangements the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of which is to secure a tax advantage (see section 184D), and

(d) the advantage involves the deduction of a qualifying loss from any chargeable gains (whether or not it also involves anything else).

(2) A qualifying loss accruing to a company is not to be deductible from chargeable gains accruing to the company F2 ... .

(3) In this section a “pre-change asset” means an asset which was held by the relevant company before the relevant time (but see also sections 184E and 184F).

(4) In this section “arrangements” includes any agreement, understanding, scheme, transaction or series of transactions (whether or not legally enforceable).

(5) For the purposes of this section it does not matter—

(a) whether a qualifying loss accrues before, after or at the relevant time,

(b) whether a qualifying loss accrues at a time when there are no chargeable gains from which it could be deducted (or could otherwise have been deducted), or

(c) whether the tax advantage is secured for the company to which a qualifying loss accrues or for any other company.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 184A(2) repealed (with effect in accordance with s. 32(7) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2007 (c. 11), s. 32(2), Sch. 27 Pt. 2(4)

184B Restrictions on buying gains: tax avoidance schemes U.K.

(1) This section applies for the purposes of corporation tax in respect of chargeable gains if—

(a) at any time (“the relevant time”) there is a qualifying change of ownership in relation to a company (“the relevant company”) (see section 184C),

(b) a gain (a “qualifying gain”) accrues to the relevant company or any other company on a disposal of a pre-change asset (see subsection (3)),

(c) the change of ownership occurs directly or indirectly in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, any arrangements the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of which is to secure a tax advantage, and

(d) the advantage involves the deduction of a loss from a qualifying gain (whether or not it also involves anything else).

(2) In the case of a qualifying gain accruing to a company, a loss accruing to the company is not to be deductible from the gain F3 ... .

(3) In this section a “pre-change asset” means an asset which was held by the relevant company before the relevant time (but see also sections 184E and 184F).

(4) In this section “arrangements” includes any agreement, understanding, scheme, transaction or series of transactions (whether or not legally enforceable).

(5) For the purposes of this section it does not matter—

(a) whether a qualifying gain accrues before, after or at the relevant time,

(b) whether a qualifying gain accrues at a time when there are no losses which could be deducted (or could otherwise have been deducted) from the gain, or

(c) whether the tax advantage is secured for the company to which a qualifying gain accrues or for any other company.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in s. 184B(2) repealed (with effect in accordance with s. 32(8) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2007 (c. 11), s. 32(3), Sch. 27 Pt. 2(4)

184C Sections 184A and 184B: meaning of “qualifying change of ownership” U.K.

(1) For the purposes of sections 184A and 184B, there is a qualifying change of ownership in relation to a company at any time if any one or more of the following occur at that time—

(a) the company joins a group of companies (see subsections (2) to (5)),

(b) the company ceases to be a member of a group of companies,

(c) the company becomes subject to different control (see subsections (6) to (9)).

(2) Whether a company is a member of a group of companies at any time is determined in accordance with section 170.

(3) But, apart from in the excepted case, nothing in section 170(10) or (10A) is to prevent all the companies of one group from being regarded as joining another group when the principal company of the first group becomes a member of the other group at any time.

(4) The excepted case is the case where—

(a) the persons owning the shares of the principal company of the first group immediately before that time are the same as the persons owning the shares of the principal company of the other group immediately after that time,

(b) the principal company of the other group was not the principal company of any group immediately before that time, and

(c) immediately after that time the principal company of the other group had assets consisting entirely (or almost entirely) of shares of the principal company of the first group.

(5) For this purpose, references to shares of a company are to the shares comprised in the issued share capital of the company.

(6) The general rule is that a company becomes subject to different control at any time if any one or more of the following occur—

(a) a person has control of the company at that time (whether alone or together with one or more others) and the person did not previously have control of the company,

(b) a person has control of the company at that time together with one or more others and the person previously had control of the company alone,

(c) a person ceases to have control of the company at that time (whether the person had control alone or together with one or more others).

(7) The general rule is subject to the following exceptions.

(8) A company does not become subject to different control in any case where it joins a group of companies and the case is the excepted case mentioned above.

(9) A company (“the subsidiary”) does not become subject to different control at any time in any case where—

(a) immediately before that time the subsidiary is the 75 per cent. subsidiary of another company, and

(b) (although there is a change in the direct ownership of the subsidiary) that other company continues immediately after that time to own it as a 75 per cent. subsidiary.

184D Sections 184A and 184B: meaning of “tax advantage” U.K.

For the purposes of sections 184A and 184B, “tax advantage” means—

(a) relief or increased relief from corporation tax,

(b) repayment or increased repayment of corporation tax,

(c) the avoidance or reduction of a charge to corporation tax or an assessment to corporation tax, or

(d) the avoidance of a possible assessment to corporation tax.

184E Sections 184A and 184B: “pre-change assets”: basic rules U.K.

(1) If—

(a) a company other than the relevant company makes a disposal of an asset, and

(b) the asset has been disposed of at any time after the relevant time by a disposal to which section 171(1) does not apply (a “non-section 171(1) transfer”),

the asset ceases to be regarded as a pre-change asset for the purposes of sections 184A and 184B (but see also subsections (10) and (11)).

(2) But (without affecting the generality of the provision made by the following subsection) if, on a non-section 171(1) transfer,—

(a) an asset would cease to be regarded as a pre-change asset as a result of subsection (1), and

(b) the company making the non-section 171(1) transfer retains any interest in or over the asset,

that interest is to be regarded as a pre-change asset for the purposes of sections 184A and 184B.

(3) If—

(a) the relevant company or any other company holds an asset (“the new asset”) at or after the relevant time,

(b) the value of the new asset derives in whole or in part from a pre-change asset, and

(c) the new asset is not acquired by the company concerned as a result of a non-section 171(1) transfer,

the new asset is also to be regarded as a pre-change asset for the purposes of sections 184A and 184B.

(4) For this purpose the cases in which the value of an asset may be derived from any other asset include any case where—

(a) assets have been merged or divided,

(b) assets have changed their nature, or

(c) rights or interests in or over assets have been created or extinguished.

(5) If a pre-change asset is “the old asset” for the purposes of section 116 (reorganisations, conversions and reconstructions), “the new asset” for the purposes of that section is also to be regarded as a pre-change asset for the purposes of sections 184A and 184B.

(6) If a pre-change asset is the “original shares” for the purposes of sections 127 to 131 (reorganisation or reduction of share capital), the “new holding” for the purposes of those sections is also to be regarded as a pre-change asset for the purposes of sections 184A and 184B.

(7) The following subsection applies if, as a result of the application of a relevant deferral provision in the case of a disposal of a pre-change asset (“the original disposal”),—

(a) a gain or loss that would otherwise accrue to a company does not so accrue, or

(b) any part of any such gain is treated as forming part of a single chargeable gain which does not accrue to the company on the original disposal,

and a gain or loss does, wholly or partly in consequence of the application of that provision in the case of the original disposal, accrue to the company or any other company on a subsequent occasion.

(8) So much of the gain or loss accruing on the subsequent occasion as accrues in consequence of the application of the relevant deferral provision in the case of the original disposal is to be regarded for the purposes of sections 184A and 184B as accruing on a disposal of a pre-change asset (so far as it would not otherwise be so regarded).

(9) A “relevant deferral provision” means any of the following—

(a) section 139 (reconstruction involving transfer of business),

(b) section 140 (postponement of charge on transfer of assets to non-resident company),

(c) section 140A (transfer of a UK trade),

(d) section 140E (merger leaving assets within UK tax charge),

(e) sections 152 and 153 (replacement of business assets),

(f) section 187 (postponement of charge on deemed disposal under section 185).

(10) If—

(a) a pre-change asset of the relevant company is transferred to another company (“the transferee company”),

(b) any of sections 139, 140A and 140E apply to the companies in the case of the asset, and

(c) the transfer of the asset is made directly or indirectly in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, the arrangements mentioned in section 184A or 184B,

the asset is to be regarded as a “pre-change asset” in the hands of the transferee company for the purposes of sections 184A and 184B.

(11) In such a case, subsection (1) applies as if the reference in paragraph (a) of that subsection to the relevant company were to the transferee company.

184F Sections 184A and 184B: “pre-change assets”: pooling rules U.K.

(1) This section applies, in the case of any pre-change asset of the relevant company or any pre-change asset of any company which is acquired on a disposal to which section 171(1) applies, if—

(a) the pre-change asset consists of a holding of securities which falls as a result of any provision of Chapter 1 of Part 4 to be regarded as a single asset (“the pre-change pooled asset”), and

(b) as a result of any disposal or acquisition at any time after the relevant time, any securities (“the other securities”) would (but for this section) be regarded as forming part of the pre-change pooled asset.

(2) None of the other securities are to be regarded for the purposes of this Act as forming part of the pre-change pooled asset.

(3) But this does not prevent the other securities from being regarded, as a result of any provision of that Chapter, as forming part of or constituting a different, single asset (“the other pooled asset”).

(4) Securities of the same class as the other securities which are disposed of at or after the relevant time—

(a) are to be identified first with the other securities or securities forming part of the other pooled asset,

(b) are to be identified next with securities forming part of the pre-change pooled asset (if the number of securities disposed of exceeds the number identified in accordance with paragraph (a)), and

(c) subject to paragraphs (a) and (b), are to be identified in accordance with the provisions applicable apart from those paragraphs.

(5) The above identification rules apply even if some or all of the securities disposed of are otherwise identified—

(a) by the disposal, or

(b) by a transfer or delivery giving effect to it;

but where a company disposes of securities in one capacity, they are not to be identified with securities which it holds, or can dispose of, only in some other capacity.

(6) Chapter 1 of Part 4 has effect subject to this section.

(7) In this section—

• “pre-change asset” means an asset which is pre-change asset for the purposes of section 184A or 184B,

• “securities” does not include relevant securities as defined in section 108 but, subject to that, means—

  (a)

  shares or securities of a company, and

  (b)

  any other assets where they are of a nature to be dealt in without identifying the particular assets disposed of or acquired.

(8) For the purposes of this section, shares or securities of a company are not to be treated as being of the same class unless—

(a) they are so treated by the practice of a recognised stock exchange, or

(b) they would be so treated if dealt with on a recognised stock exchange.]

[F4 184G Avoidance involving losses: schemes converting income to capital U.K.

(1) This section applies for the purposes of corporation tax in respect of chargeable gains if conditions A to D are satisfied.

[F5 (2) Condition A is that a receipt or other amount arises to a company directly or indirectly in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, any arrangements.

(3) Condition B is that—

(a) that amount falls to be taken into account in calculating a chargeable gain (the “relevant gain”) which accrues to a company (“the relevant company”), and

(b) losses accrue (or have accrued) to the relevant company (whether before or after or as part of the arrangements).]

(4) Condition C is that, but for the arrangements, an amount would have fallen to be taken into account wholly or partly instead of [F6 the amount mentioned in subsection (2)] in calculating the income chargeable to corporation tax—

(a) of the relevant company, or

(b) of a company which, at any qualifying time, is a member of the same group as the relevant company.

(5) Condition D is that—

(a) the main purpose of the arrangements, or

(b) one of the main purposes of the arrangements,

is to secure a tax advantage that involves the deduction of any of the losses from the relevant gain (whether or not it also involves anything else).

(6) If the Board consider, on reasonable grounds, that conditions A to D are or may be satisfied, they may give the relevant company a notice in respect of the arrangements (but see also section 184I).

(7) If, when the notice is given, conditions A to D are satisfied, no loss accruing to the relevant company at any time is to be deductible from the relevant gain.

(8) A notice under this section must—

(a) specify the arrangements,

(b) specify the accounting period in which the relevant gain accrues, and

(c) inform the relevant company of the effect of this section.

(9) If relevant gains accrue in more than one accounting period, a single notice under this section may specify all the accounting periods concerned.

(10) In this section—

• “arrangements” includes any agreement, understanding, scheme, transaction or series of transactions (whether or not legally enforceable),

• “group”, in relation to companies, means a group determined in accordance with section 170,

• “qualifying time”, in relation to any arrangements, means any time which falls in the period—

  (a)

  beginning with the time at which the arrangements are made, and

  (b)

  ending with the time at which the matters (other than any tax advantage) intended to be secured by the arrangements are secured,

• “tax advantage” has the meaning given by section 184D.

Textual Amendments

F4 Ss. 184G-184I inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 71(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 71(1)

F5 S. 184G(2)(3) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 63(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), s. 63(1)(a)

F6 Words in s. 184G(4) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 63(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), s. 63(1)(b)

184H Avoidance involving losses: schemes securing deductions U.K.

(1) This section applies for the purposes of corporation tax in respect of chargeable gains if conditions A to D are satisfied.

(2) Condition A is that—

(a) a chargeable gain (the “relevant gain”) accrues to a company (“the relevant company”) directly or indirectly in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, any arrangements, and

(b) losses accrue (or have accrued) to the relevant company F7 ... (whether before or after or as part of the arrangements).

[F8 (3) Condition B is that the relevant company, or a company connected with the relevant company, becomes entitled to an income deduction directly or indirectly in consequence of, or otherwise in connection with, the arrangements.]

(4) Condition C is that the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of the arrangements is to secure a tax advantage that involves both—

[F9 (a) that income deduction, and]

(b) the deduction of any of the losses from the relevant gain,

whether or not it also involves anything else.

(5) Condition D is that the arrangements are not excluded arrangements. For this purpose arrangements are excluded arrangements if—

(a) the arrangements are made in respect of land or any estate or interest in land,

(b) the arrangements fall within [F10 section 835(1) or 836(1) of CTA 2010] (sale and lease-back: limitation on tax reliefs),

(c) the person to whom the payment mentioned in that subsection is payable is not a company connected with the relevant company, and

(d) the arrangements are made between persons dealing at arm's length.

(6) If the Board consider, on reasonable grounds, that conditions A to D are or may be satisfied, they may give the company a notice in respect of the arrangements (but see also section 184I).

(7) If, when the notice is given, conditions A to D are satisfied, no loss accruing to the company at any time is to be deductible from the relevant gain.

(8) A notice under this section must—

(a) specify the arrangements,

(b) specify the accounting period in which the relevant gain accrues, and

(c) inform the relevant company of the effect of this section.

(9) If relevant gains accrue in more than one accounting period, a single notice under this section may specify all the accounting periods concerned.

(10) In this section—

• “arrangements” includes any agreement, understanding, scheme, transaction or series of transactions (whether or not legally enforceable),

• [F11 “income deduction” means—

  (a)

  a deduction in calculating income for corporation tax purposes, or

  (b)

  a deduction from total profits,]

• “tax advantage” has the meaning given by section 184D.

(11) For the purposes of this section it does not matter whether the tax advantage is secured for the relevant company or for any other company.

Textual Amendments

F4 Ss. 184G-184I inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 71(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 71(1)

F7 Words in s. 184H(2)(b) omitted (with effect in accordance with s. 63(3) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), s. 63(2)(a)

F8 S. 184H(3) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 63(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), s. 63(2)(b)

F9 S. 184H(4)(a) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 63(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), s. 63(2)(c)

F10 Words in s. 184H(5)(b) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 1184(1) of the amending Act) by Corporation Tax Act 2010 (c. 4), s. 1184(1), Sch. 1 para. 245 (with Sch. 2)

F11 Words in s. 184H(10) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 63(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), s. 63(2)(d)

184I Notices under sections 184G and 184H U.K.

(1) Subsection (2) applies if—

(a) the Board give a notice under section 184G or 184H (a “relevant notice”) to a company that specifies an accounting period, and

(b) the notice is given before the company has made its company tax return for that accounting period.

(2) If the company makes its return for that period before the end of the applicable 90 day period (see subsection (12)), it may—

(a) make a return that disregards the notice, and

(b) at any time after making the return and before the end of the applicable 90 day period, amend the return for the purpose of complying with the provision referred to in the notice.

(3) If a company has made a company tax return for an accounting period, the Board may give the company a relevant notice in relation to that period only if a notice of enquiry has been given to the company in respect of its return for that period.

(4) After any enquiries into the return for that period have been completed [F12 in relation to any matters], the Board may give the company a relevant notice [F13 relating to those matters] only if requirements A and B are met.

(5) Requirement A is that at the time the enquiries [F14 referred to in subsection (4)] were completed, the Board could not have been reasonably expected, on the basis of information made available—

(a) to them before that time, or

(b) to an officer of theirs before that time,

to have been aware that the circumstances were such that a relevant notice could have been given to the company in relation to that period.

(6) For the purposes of requirement A, paragraph 44(2) and (3) of Schedule 18 to the Finance Act 1998 (information made available) applies as it applies for the purposes of paragraph 44(1).

(7) Requirement B is that—

(a) the company or any other person was requested to produce or provide information during an enquiry into the return for that period [F15 (so far as relating to the matters in question)], and

(b) if the request had been duly complied with, the Board could reasonably have been expected to give the company a relevant notice in relation to that period.

(8) If—

(a) a company makes a company tax return for an accounting period, and

(b) the company is subsequently given a relevant notice that specifies that period,

it may amend the return for the purpose of complying with the provision referred to in the notice at any time before the end of the applicable 90 day period.

(9) If the relevant notice is given to the company after it has been given a notice of enquiry in respect of its return for the period, no closure notice may be given in relation to its company tax return until—

(a) the end of the applicable 90 day period, or

(b) the earlier amendment of its company tax return for the purpose of complying with the provision referred to in the notice.

[F16 (9A) Subsection (9) does not apply to a partial closure notice which does not relate to any matter to which the relevant notice relates.]

(10) If the relevant notice is given to the company after any enquiries into the return for the period are completed, [F17 so far as relating to the matters to which the relevant notice relates,] no discovery assessment may be made as regards the chargeable gain to which the notice relates until—

(a) the end of the applicable 90 day period, or

(b) the earlier amendment of the company tax return for the purpose of complying with the provision referred to in the notice.

(11) Subsections (2)(b) and (8) do not prevent a company tax return for a period becoming incorrect if—

(a) a relevant notice is given to the company in relation to that period,

(b) the return is not amended in accordance with subsection (2)(b) or (8) for the purpose of complying with the provision referred to in the notice, and

(c) the return ought to have been so amended.

(12) In this section—

• “the applicable 90 day period”, in relation to a relevant notice, means the period of 90 days beginning with the day on which the notice is given,

• “closure notice” means a notice under paragraph 32 of Schedule 18 to the Finance Act 1998,

• “company tax return” means the return required to be delivered pursuant to a notice under paragraph 3 of that Schedule, as read with paragraph 4 of that Schedule,

• “discovery assessment” means an assessment under paragraph 41 of that Schedule,

• “notice of enquiry” means a notice under paragraph 24 of that Schedule.]

Textual Amendments

F4 Ss. 184G-184I inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 71(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 71(1)

F12 Words in s. 184I(4) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 15 para. 44 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), Sch. 15 para. 22(2)(a)

F13 Words in s. 184I(4) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 15 para. 44 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), Sch. 15 para. 22(2)(b)

F14 Words in s. 184I(5) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 15 para. 44 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), Sch. 15 para. 22(3)

F15 Words in s. 184I(7)(a) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 15 para. 44 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), Sch. 15 para. 22(4)

F16 S. 184I(9A) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 15 para. 44 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), Sch. 15 para. 22(5)

F17 Words in s. 184I(10) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 15 para. 44 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), Sch. 15 para. 22(6)