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

Chapter I U.K. Companies

Companies leaving groups U.K.

179 Company ceasing to be member of group: post-appointed day cases. U.K.

[F1 (1)This section applies where—

(a) a company (“company A”) acquires an asset from another company (“company B”) at a time when company B is a member of a group,

(b) the conditions in subsection (1A) below are met, and

(c) company A ceases to be a member of that group within the period of six years after the time of the acquisition.

References in this section to a company ceasing to be a member of a group of companies do not apply to cases where a company ceases to be a member of a group in consequence of another member of the group ceasing to exist.

(1A) The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) above are—

(a) that company A is resident in the United Kingdom at the time it acquires the asset, or the asset is a chargeable asset in relation to that company immediately after that time, and

(b) that company B is resident in the United Kingdom at the time of that acquisition, or the asset is a chargeable asset in relation to that company immediately before that time.

For this purpose an asset is a “chargeable asset” in relation to a company at any time if, were the asset to be disposed of by the company at that time, any gain accruing to the company would be a chargeable gain and would by virtue of section [F2 10B] form part of its chargeable profits for corporation tax purposes.]

[F3 (1B) Where, as part of the process of a merger to form an SE in circumstances in which section 140E applies, a company which is a member of a group (“Group 1”) ceases to exist and in consequence of that cessation—

(a) assets are transferred to the SE, or

(b) shares in one or more companies which were also members of the group are transferred to the SE,

a company which has ceased to exist, or the shares in which have been transferred to the SE, shall not be treated for the purposes of this section as having left Group 1.

(1C) If subsection (1B) applies in relation to a company then for the purposes of this section—

(a) the SE and a company which has ceased to exist in consequence of the merger to form the SE shall be treated as the same entity, and

(b) if the SE is a member of a group (“Group 2”) following its formation (whether or not as the principal company of the group) a company which was a member of Group 1 and became a member of Group 2 in consequence of the formation of the SE shall be treated, for the purposes of this section, as if Group 1 and Group 2 were the same.]

(2) Where 2 or more associated companies cease to be members of the group at the same time, subsection (1) above shall not have effect as respects an acquisition by one from another of those associated companies.

[F4 (2A) Where—

(a) a company [F5 (“company A”)] that has ceased to be a member of a group of companies (“the first group”) acquired an asset from another company [F6 (“company B”)] which was a member of that group at the time of the acquisition,

(b) subsection (2) above applies in the case of [F7 company A’s] ceasing to be a member of the first group so that subsection (1) above does not have effect as respects the acquisition of that asset,

(c) [F8 company A] subsequently ceases to be a member of another group of companies (“the second group”), and

(d) there is a connection between the two groups,

subsection (1) above shall have effect in relation to [F9 company A’s] ceasing to be a member of the second group as if it had been the second group of which both companies had been members at the time of the acquisition.

(2B) For the purposes of subsection (2A) above there is a connection between the first group and the second group if, at the time when [F10 company A] ceases to be a member of the second group, the company which is the principal company of that group is under the control of—

(a) the company which is the principal company of the first group or, if that group no longer exists, which was the principal company of that group when [F10 company A] ceased to be a member of it;

(b) any [F11 person or persons who control the company mentioned in paragraph (a) above or who have had it under their] control at any time in the period since [F10 company A] ceased to be a member of the first group; or

(c) any [F12 person or persons who have, at any time in that period, had under their] control either—

(i) a company which would have [F13 been a person falling] within paragraph (b) above if it had continued to exist, or

(ii) a company which would have [F13 been a person falling] within this paragraph (whether by reference to a company which would have [F13 been a person falling] within that paragraph or to a company or series of companies falling within this sub-paragraph).]

[F14 (2C) This section shall not have effect as respects any asset if, before the time when [F10 company A] ceases to be a member of the group or, as the case may be, the second group, an event has already occurred by virtue of which the company falls by virtue of section 101A(3) to be treated as having sold and immediately reacquired the asset at the time specified in subsection (3) below.]

[F15 (2D) This section shall not have effect as respects any asset if, before the time when [F10 company A] ceases to be a member of the group or, as the case may be, the second group, an event has already occurred by virtue of which the company falls by virtue of section 101C(3) to be treated as having sold and immediately reacquired the asset at the time specified in subsection (3) below.]

(3) If, when [F10 company A] ceases to be a member of the group, [F10 company A], or an associated company also leaving the group, owns, otherwise than as trading stock—

(a) the asset, or

(b) property to which a chargeable gain has been carried forward from the asset on a replacement of business assets,

then, subject to subsection (4) below, [F10 company A] shall be treated for all the purposes of this Act as if immediately after its acquisition of the asset it had sold, and immediately reacquired, the asset at market value at that time.

(4) Any chargeable gain or allowable loss [F16 accruing] to [F17 company A] on the sale referred to in subsection (3) above shall be treated as accruing to [F17 company A] [F18 at whichever is the later of the following, that is to say—

(a) the time immediately after the beginning of the accounting period of that company in which or, as the case may be, at the end of which the company ceases to be a member of the group; and

(b) the time when under subsection (3) above it is treated as having reacquired the asset;

[F19 and sections 403A and 403B of the Taxes Act (limits on group relief) shall have effect accordingly as if the actual circumstances were as they are treated as having been].]

(5) Where, apart from subsection (6) below, a company ceasing to be a member of a group by reason only of the fact that the principal company of the group becomes a member of another group would be treated by virtue of subsection (3) above as selling an asset at any time, subsections (6) to (8) below shall apply.

(6) The company in question shall not be treated as selling the asset at that time; but if—

(a) within 6 years of that time the company in question ceases at any time (“the relevant time”) to satisfy the following conditions, and

(b) at the relevant time, the company in question, or a company in the same group as that company, owns otherwise than as trading stock the asset or property to which a chargeable gain has been carried forward from the asset on a replacement of business assets,

the company in question shall be treated for all the purposes of this Act as if, immediately after its acquisition of the asset, it had sold and immediately reacquired the asset at the value that, at the time of acquisition, was its market value.

(7) Those conditions are—

(a) that the company is a 75 per cent. subsidiary of one or more members of the other group referred to in subsection (5) above, and

(b) that the company is an effective 51 per cent. subsidiary of one or more of those members.

(8) Any chargeable gain or allowable loss accruing to the company on that sale shall be treated as accruing at the relevant time.

(9) Where—

(a) by virtue of this section a company is treated as having sold an asset at any time, and

(b) if at that time the company had in fact sold the asset at market value at that time, then, by virtue of section 30, any allowable loss or chargeable gain accruing on the disposal would have been calculated as if the consideration for the disposal were increased by an amount,

subsections (3) and (6) above shall have effect as if the market value at that time had been that amount greater.

[F20 (9A) Section 416(2) to (6) of the Taxes Act (meaning of control) shall have effect for the purposes of subsection (2B) above as it has effect for the purposes of Part XI of that Act; but a person carrying on a business of banking shall not for the purposes of that subsection be regarded as having control of any company by reason only of having, or of the consequences of having exercised, any rights of that person in respect of loan capital or debt issued or incurred by the company for money lent by that person to the company in the ordinary course of that business.]

(10) For the purposes of this section—

(a) 2 or more companies are associated companies if, by themselves, they would form a group of companies,

(b) a chargeable gain is carried forward from an asset to other property on a replacement of business assets if, by one or more claims under sections 152 to 158, the chargeable gain accruing on a disposal of the asset is reduced, and as a result an amount falls to be deducted from the expenditure allowable in computing a gain accruing on the disposal of the other property,

(c) an asset acquired by [F21 company A] shall be treated as the same as an asset owned at a later time by that company or an associated company if the value of the second asset is derived in whole or in part from the first asset, and in particular where the second asset is a freehold, and the first asset was a leasehold and the lessee has acquired the reversion.

F22 (11) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F22 (12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(13) Where under this section [F23 company A] is to be treated as having disposed of, and reacquired, an asset, all such recomputations of liability in respect of other disposals, and all such adjustments of tax, whether by way of assessment or by way of discharge or repayment of tax, as may be required in consequence of the provisions of this section shall be carried out.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 179(1)(1A) substituted for s. 179(1) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(2) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F2 Word in s. 179(1A) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 155(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2003 (c. 14), Sch. 27 para. 2(3)

F3 S. 179(1B)(1C) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 64(5) of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2005 (c. 22), s. 64(4)

F4 S. 179(2A)(2B) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 49(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1995 (c. 4), s. 49(1)

F5 Words in s. 179(2A)(a) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(3)(a)(i) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F6 Words in s. 179(2A)(a) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(3)(a)(ii) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F7 Words in s. 179(2A)(b) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(3)(b) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F8 Words in s. 179(2A)(c) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(3)(c) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F9 Words in s. 179(2A) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(3)(d) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F10 Words in s. 179(2B)-(3) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(4) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F11 Words in s. 179(2B)(b) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 139(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 139(1)(a)

F12 Words in s. 179(2B)(c) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 139(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 139(1)(b)

F13 Words in s. 179(2B)(c) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 139(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 139(1)(c)

F14 S. 179(2C) inserted (with application in accordance with s. 133(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 133(2)

F15 S. 179(2D) inserted (with application in accordance with s. 135(5) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 135(3)

F16 Word in s. 179(4) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 44(3)(5) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2002 (c. 23), Sch. 8 para. 2

F17 Words in s. 179(4) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(4) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F18 Words in s. 179(4) substituted (27.7.1993 with effect as mentioned in s. 89(2)) by 1993 c. 34, s. 89(1)(2)

F19 Words in s. 179(4) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 para. 9 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 1997 (c. 58), Sch. 7 para. 8

F20 S. 179(9A) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 49(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1995 (c. 4), s. 49(2)

F21 Words in s. 179(10)(c) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(4) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F22 S. 179(11)(12) repealed (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(7), Sch. 40 Pt. II(12) Note 8 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(5), Sch. 40 Pt. II(12) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

F23 Words in s. 179(13) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 29 para. 4(6) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2000 (c. 17), Sch. 29 para. 4(4) (with Sch. 29 para. 46(5))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 179 excluded (27.7.1993) by 1993 c. 37, s. 12, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 4(1)

S. 179: modified (27.7.1993) by 1993 c. 37, s. 12, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 4(2); modified (27.7.1993) by 1993 c. 37, s. 12, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 51(2)

C2 S. 179 modified (retrospective to 11.1.1994) by Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), s. 252(3), Sch. 24 para. 8(1)-(3)

C3 S. 179 applied (retrospective to 11.1.1994) by Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), s. 252(3), Sch. 24 para. 8(5)

C4 S. 179 restricted (3.5.1994) by Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), s. 250(2)

C5 S. 179 modified (19.9.1994) by Coal industry Act 1994 (c. 21), s. 68(4), Sch. 4 para. 8(1)(2) (with Sch. 4 paras. 8(3), 14); S.I. 1994/2189, art. 2, Sch.

C6 S. 179 applied (19.9.1994) by Coal industry Act 1994 (c. 21), s. 68(4), Sch. 4 para. 8(4) (with Sch. 4 para. 14); S.I. 1994/2189, art. 2, Sch.

C7 S. 179 modified (8.11.1995) by Atomic Energy Authority Act 1995 (c. 37), Sch. 3 para. 5(1)(2) (with Sch. 3 para. 5(4))

C8 S. 179 modified (24.7.1996) by Broadcasting Act 1996 (c. 55), s. 149(1), Sch. 7 para. 6 (with Sch. 7 para. 9(1))

C9 Ss. 170-192 restricted (27.7.1999) by Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1999 (c. 20), Sch. 3 paras. 1, 4(1)

C10 S. 179 excluded (27.7.1999) by Commonwealth Development Corporation Act 1999 (c. 20), Sch. 3 paras. 1, 3(4), 4(2)

C11 S. 179 modified (12.1.2000) by Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29), s. 425(2), Sch. 33 paras. 3, 9; S.I. 1999/3434, art. 2

C12 Ss. 170-181 restricted (12.1.2000) by Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29), ss. 419(3), 425(2); S.I. 1999/3434, art. 2

C13 S. 179 modified (1.2.2001) by Transport Act 2000 (c. 38), s. 275(1), Sch. 7 paras. 8-10; S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1)

C14 S. 179 modified (15.1.2001) by Transport Act 2000 (c. 38), s. 275(1), Sch. 26 paras. 11, 20, 25, 32; S.I. 2000/3376, art. 2

C15 S. 179 modified (5.10.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), s. 198(2), Sch. 9 paras. 5, 19 (with s. 38(2)); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

C16 Ss. 170-181 modified (5.10.2004) by Energy Act 2004 (c. 20), s. 198(2), Sch. 9 para. 35(a) (with s. 38(2)); S.I. 2004/2575, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

C17 S. 179 modified (E.W.S.) (24.7.2005) by Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), s. 60(2), Sch. 10 para. 26; S.I. 2005/1909, art. 2, Sch.

Commencement Information

I1 s. 179: 30.9.1993 appointed for the purposes of s. 179 by S.I. 1992/3066, art. 2(2)(d)