Value Added Tax Act 1994

3 (1) An election under paragraph 2 above shall have effect—

(a) subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, from the beginning of the day on which the election is made or of any later day specified in the election; or

(b) where the election was made before 1st November 1989, from the beginning of 1st August 1989 or of any later day so specified.

(2) An election under paragraph 2 above shall have effect in relation to any land specified, or of a description specified, in the election.

(3) Where such an election is made in relation to, or to part of, a building (or planned building), it shall have effect in relation to the whole of the building and all the land within its curtilage and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph buildings linked internally or by a covered walkway, and parades, precincts and complexes divided into separate units, shall be taken to be a single building (if they otherwise would not be).

(4) Where such an election is made in relation to agricultural land (including a building on agricultural land), it shall have effect in relation to any other agricultural land if that other land is not separated from it by—

(a) land which is not agricultural land; or

(b) agricultural land in separate ownership.

(5) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (4) above—

(a) land shall be taken not to be separated from other land if it is separated from it only by a road, railway, river or something similar; and

(b) land is in separate ownership from land in relation to which an election is made if the person by whom the election is made had no interest in, right over or licence to occupy it and, where that person is a body corporate, no relevant associate has any such interest, right or licence.

(6) An election under paragraph 2 above shall be irrevocable and, except where it is an election of a description specified in a notice published by the Commissioners, shall not have effect unless—

(a) in a case to which sub-paragraph (9) below applies, the Commissioners have given the permission required under that sub-paragraph;

(b) in any other case, written notification of the election is given to the Commissioners not later than the end of the period of 30 days beginning with the day on which the election is made, or not later than the end of such longer period beginning with that day as the Commissioners may in any particular case allow, together with such information as the Commissioners may require.

(7) In paragraph 2 above and this paragraph “relevant associate”, in relation to a body corporate by which an election under paragraph 2 above has been made in relation to any building or land, means a body corporate which under section 43—

(a) was treated as a member of the same group as the body corporate by which the election was made at the time when the election first had effect;

(b) has been so treated at any later time when the body corporate by which the election was made had an interest in, right over or licence to occupy the building or land (or any part of it); or

(c) has been treated as a member of the same group as a body corporate within paragraph (a) or (b) above or this paragraph at a time when that body corporate had an interest in, right over or licence to occupy the building or land (or any part of it).

(8) In paragraph 2 above “registered housing association” means a registered housing association within the meaning of the [1985 c. 69.] Housing Associations Act 1985 or Part VII of the [S.I.1981/156 (N.I.3).] Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

(9) Where a person who wishes to make an election in relation to any land (the relevant land) to have effect on or after 1st January 1992, has made, makes or intends to make, an exempt grant in relation to the relevant land at any time between 1st August 1989 and before the beginning of the day from which he wishes an election in relation to the relevant land to have effect, he shall not make an election in relation to the relevant land unless he obtains the prior written permission of the Commissioners, who shall only give such permission if they are satisfied having regard to all the circumstances of the case and in particular to—

(a) the total value of exempt grants in relation to the relevant land made or to be made before the day from which the person wishes his election to have effect;

(b) the expected total value of grants relating to the relevant land that would be taxable if the election were to have effect; and

(c) the total amount of input tax which has been incurred on or after 1st August 1989 or is likely to be incurred in relation to the relevant land,

that there would be secured a fair and reasonable attribution of the input tax mentioned in paragraph (c) above to grants in relation to the relevant land which, if the election were to have effect, would be taxable.