Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992

197 Disposals of interests in oil fields etc: ring fence provisions

(1) This section applies where in pursuance of a transfer by a participator in an oil field of the whole or part of his interest in the field, there is—

(a) a disposal of an interest in oil to be won from the oil field; or

(b) a disposal of an asset used in connection with the field;

and section 12 of the [1975 c. 22.] Oil Taxation Act 1975 (interpretation of Part I of that Act) applies for the interpretation of this subsection and the reference to the transfer by a participator in an oil field of the whole or part of his interest in the field shall be construed in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 17 to the [1980 c. 48.] Finance Act 1980.

(2) In this section “material disposal” means—

(a) a disposal falling within paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above; or

(b) the sale of an asset referred to in section 178(3) or 179(3) where the asset was acquired by the chargeable company (within the meaning of that section) on a disposal falling within one of those paragraphs.

(3) For any chargeable period in which a chargeable gain or allowable loss accrues to any person (“the chargeable person”) on a material disposal (whether taking place in that period or not), subject to subsection (6) below there shall be aggregated—

(a) the chargeable gains accruing to him in that period on such disposals, and

(b) the allowable losses accruing to him in that period on such disposals,

and the lesser of the 2 aggregates shall be deducted from the other to give an aggregate gain or, as the case may be, an aggregate loss for that chargeable period.

(4) For the purposes of tax in respect of chargeable gains—

(a) the several chargeable gains and allowable losses falling within paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) above shall be left out of account; and

(b) the aggregate gain or aggregate loss referred to in that subsection shall be treated as a single chargeable gain or allowable loss accruing to the chargeable person in the chargeable period concerned on the notional disposal of an asset; and

(c) if in any chargeable period there is an aggregate loss, then, except as provided by subsection (5) below, it shall not be allowable as a deduction against any chargeable gain arising in that or any later period, other than an aggregate gain treated as accruing in a later period by virtue of paragraph (b) above (so that the aggregate gain of that later period shall be reduced or extinguished accordingly); and

(d) if in any chargeable period there is an aggregate gain, no loss shall be deducted from it except in accordance with paragraph (c) above; and

(e) without prejudice to any indexation allowance which was taken into account in determining an aggregate gain or aggregate loss under subsection (3) above, no further indexation allowance shall be allowed on a notional disposal referred to in paragraph (b) above.

(5) In any case where—

(a) by virtue of subsection (4)(b) above, an aggregate loss is treated as accruing to the chargeable person in any chargeable period, and

(b) before the expiry of the period of 2 years beginning at the end of the chargeable period concerned, the chargeable person makes a claim under this subsection,

the whole, or such portion as is specified in the claim, of the aggregate loss shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as an allowable loss arising in that chargeable period otherwise than on a material disposal.

(6) In any case where a loss accrues to the chargeable person on a material disposal made to a person who is connected with him—

(a) the loss shall be excluded from those referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (3) above and, accordingly, shall not be aggregated under that subsection; and

(b) except as provided by subsection (7) below, section 18 shall apply in relation to the loss as if, in subsection (3) of that section, any reference to a disposal were a reference to a disposal which is a material disposal; and

(c) to the extent that the loss is set against a chargeable gain by virtue of paragraph (b) above, the gain shall be excluded from those referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (3) above and, accordingly, shall not be aggregated under that subsection.

(7) In any case where—

(a) the losses accruing to the chargeable person in any chargeable period on material disposals to a connected person exceed the gains accruing to him in that chargeable period on material disposals made to that person at a time when they are connected persons, and

(b) before the expiry of the period of 2 years beginning at the end of the chargeable period concerned, the chargeable person makes a claim under this subsection,

the whole, or such part as is specified in the claim, of the excess referred to in paragraph (a) above shall be treated for the purposes of section 18 as if it were a loss accruing on a disposal in that chargeable period, being a disposal which is not a material disposal and which is made by the chargeable person to the connected person referred to in paragraph (a) above.

(8) Where a claim is made under subsection (5) or subsection (7) above, all such adjustments shall be made whether by way of discharge or repayment of tax or otherwise, as may be required in consequence of the operation of that subsection.