Capital Allowances Act 2001

Part 1 U.K. Introduction

Chapter 1 U.K. Capital allowances: general

1 Capital allowances U.K.

(1) This Act provides for allowances in respect of capital expenditure (and for charges in connection with those allowances).

(2) The allowances for which this Act provides are those under—

(a) Part 2 (plant and machinery allowances);

F1 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F2 (ba) Part 3A (business premises renovation allowances)]

F3 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4 (ca) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d) Part 5 (mineral extraction allowances);

(e) Part 6 (research and development allowances);

(f) Part 7 (know-how allowances);

(g) Part 8 (patent allowances);

(h) Part 9 (dredging allowances);

(i) Part 10 (assured tenancy allowances).

(3) This Act also provides for allowances in respect of contributions to expenditure incurred on plant or machineryF5 ... for the purposes of a mineral extraction trade or on dredging (see Part 11).

[F6 (4) But a person is not entitled to any allowance or liable to any charge under this Act in calculating the profits of a trade, profession or vocation of the person in relation to which an election under section 25A of ITTOIA 2005 (cash basis for small businesses) has effect, other than an allowance in respect of expenditure incurred on the provision of a car (or a charge in connection with such an allowance).

(5) In subsection (4) “car” has the same meaning as in Part 2 (see section 268A).]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 1(2)(b) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 27 para. 30(1) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 27 para. 2(a)

F2 S. 1(2)(ba) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 92 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2005 (c. 7), Sch. 6 para. 2; S.I. 2007/949, art. 2

F3 S. 1(2)(c) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 27 para. 30(1) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 27 para. 2(a)

F4 S. 1(2)(ca) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 39 para. 40 of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 39 para. 38(2) (with Sch. 39 paras. 41, 42)

F5 Words in s. 1(3) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 27 para. 30(1) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 27 para. 2(b)

F6 S. 1(4)(5) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 4 paras. 56, 57 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), Sch. 4 para. 46

2 General means of giving effect to capital allowances U.K.

(1) Allowances and charges are to be given effect—

(a) for income tax purposes, in calculating income for a chargeable period, and

(b) for corporation tax purposes, in calculating profits for a chargeable period.

(2) For the meaning of “chargeable period”, see section 6.

(3) Subsection (1) needs to be read with the following provisions about giving effect to allowances and charges—

• sections 247 to [F7 262A] (plant and machinery allowances);

• F8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• [F9 sections 360Z and 360Z1 (business premises renovation allowances)]

• F10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• F11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• section 432 (mineral extraction allowances);

• section 450 (research and development allowances);

• section 463 (know-how allowances);

• sections 478 to 480 (patent allowances);

• section 489 (dredging allowances);

• section 529 (assured tenancy allowances).

(4) In subsection (1)(b) “profits” has the same meaning as in [F12 Part 2 of CTA 2009 (see section 2(2) of that Act)].

Textual Amendments

F7 Word in s. 2(3) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 25 para. 9 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 25 para. 2

F8 Words in s. 2(3) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 27 para. 30(1) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 27 para. 3(a)

F9 Words in s. 2(3) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 92 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2005 (c. 7), Sch. 6 para. 3; S.I. 2007/949, art. 2

F10 Words in s. 2(3) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 27 para. 30(1) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 27 para. 3(b)

F11 S. 2(3) entry omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 39 para. 40 of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 39 para. 38(3) (with Sch. 39 paras. 41, 42)

F12 Words in s. 2(4) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 1329(1) of the amending Act) by Corporation Tax Act 2009 (c. 4), s. 1329(1), Sch. 1 para. 475 (with Sch. 2 Pts. 1, 2)

3 Claims for capital allowances U.K.

(1) No allowance is to be made under this Act[F13 , and no first-year tax credit is to be paid under Schedule A1,] unless a claim for it is made.

(2) The claim must be included in a tax return.

[F14 (2A) Any claim for an allowance under Part 3A (business premises renovation allowances) must be separately identified as such in the return.]

[F15 (2B) Any claim for a first-year tax credit under Schedule A1 must be separately identified as such in the return.]

(3) In this Act “tax return” means—

(a) for income tax purposes, a return required to be made under TMA 1970, and

(b) for corporation tax purposes, a company tax return required to be made under Schedule 18 to FA 1998 (company tax returns, assessments and related matters).

(4) Subsection (2) does not apply for income tax purposes to a claim for an allowance under—

(a) section 258 (claim for allowance in respect of special leasing of plant or machinery),

F16 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c) section 479 (claim for patent allowance in respect of non-trading expenditure),

which is instead subject to section 42 of TMA 1970 (procedure for making claims and claims not included in returns).

(5) Subsection (2) does not apply for corporation tax purposes to a claim for an allowance under—

(a) section 260(3)(b) (claim to carry back allowance in respect of special leasing of plant or machinery), or

F17 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

which is instead subject to paragraphs 54 to 60 of Schedule 18 to FA 1998 (general provisions as to claims).

(6) This section is subject to section 42(6) and (7) of TMA 1970 (special provisions relating to partnerships).

Textual Amendments

F13 Words in s. 3(1) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 25 para. 9 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 25 para. 3(2)

F14 S. 3(2A) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 92 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2005 (c. 7), Sch. 6 para. 4; S.I. 2007/949, art. 2

F15 S. 3(2B) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 25 para. 9 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 25 para. 3(3)

F16 S. 3(4)(b) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 27 para. 30(1) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 27 para. 4

F17 S. 3(5)(b) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 27 para. 30(1) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), Sch. 27 para. 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 3(1) excluded (19.7.2006) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 120(7)

C2 S. 3(1) excluded by SI 2006/964 reg. 69Z1(8) (as inserted (6.4.2008) by The Authorised Investment Funds (Tax) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/705), regs. 1, 5)

C3 S. 3(1) excluded (1.4.2010) (with effect in accordance with s. 1184(1) of the amending Act) by Corporation Tax Act 2010 (c. 4), ss. 599(8), 1184(1) (with Sch. 2)

4 Capital expenditure U.K.

(1) In this Act “capital expenditure” and “capital sums” are used in the sense given in this section.

(2) “Capital expenditure” and “capital sums” do not include, in relation to a person incurring the expenditure or paying the sums—

(a) any expenditure or sum that may be deducted in calculating the profits or gains of a trade, profession or vocation or property business carried on by the person, or

[F18 (b) any expenditure or sum that may be allowed as a deduction under a relevant provision from the taxable earnings from an employment or office held by the person.]

[F19 (2A) In subsection (2)—

“relevant provision” means any of the following—

(a) section 262;

(b) section 232 of ITEPA 2003 (giving effect to mileage allowance relief);

(c) Chapters 2 to 6 of Part 5 of that Act (general deductions allowed from earnings); and

[F20 (d) sections 188 to 194of FA 2004 (contributions under registered pension schemes), and]

“taxable earnings” has the meaning given by section 10 of ITEPA 2003. ]

(3) “Capital expenditure” and “capital sums” do not include, in relation to a recipient of the expenditure or sums—

(a) any amounts that are to be added in calculating the profits or gains of a trade, profession or vocation or property business carried on by the recipient, or

(b) any amounts that are [F21 earnings] of an employment or office held by the recipient.

(4) “Capital expenditure” and “capital sums” do not include, in relation to—

(a) a person incurring the expenditure or paying the sums, or

(b) a recipient of the expenditure or sums,

any expenditure or sum in the case of which a deduction of income tax falls or may fall to be made under [F22 Chapter 6 of Part 15 of ITA 2007 (deduction from annual payments or patent royalties) or under section 906 of that Act (certain royalties etc where usual place of abode of owner is abroad)].

F23 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F18 S. 4(2)(b) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 723(1)(a)(b) of the amending Act) by Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1), s. 723, Sch. 6 para. 247(2) (with Sch. 7)

F19 S. 4(2A) inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 723(1)(a)(b) of the amending Act) by Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1), s. 723, Sch. 6 para. 247(3) (with Sch. 7)

F20 Words in s. 4(2A) substituted (6.4.2006) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), s. 284(1), Sch. 35 para. 48 (with Sch. 36)

F21 Word in s. 4(3) substituted (with effect in accordance with s. 723(1)(a)(b) of the amending Act) by Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1), s. 723, Sch. 6 para. 247(4) (with Sch. 7)

F22 Words in s. 4(4) substituted (6.4.2007) by Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3), s. 1034(1), Sch. 1 para. 397(2) (with Sch. 2)

F23 S. 4(5) repealed (6.4.2007) by Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3), s. 1034(1), Sch. 1 para. 397(3), Sch. 3 Pt. 1 (with Sch. 2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 S. 4 applied (with effect in accordance with s. 883(1) of the amending Act) by Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (c. 5), ss. 608, (with Sch. 2)

C5 S. 4 applied by 1988 c. 1, s. 349ZA(5) (as inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 883(1) of the amending Act) by Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (c. 5), Sch. 1 para. 149 (with Sch. 2))

C6 S. 4 applied (6.4.2007) by Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3), ss. 910(5), 1034(1) (with Sch. 2)

C7 S. 4 applied (with effect in accordance with s. 1329(1) of the amending Act) by Corporation Tax Act 2009 (c. 4), ss. 931, 1329(1) (with Sch. 2 Pts. 1, 2)

5 When capital expenditure is incurred U.K.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the general rule is that an amount of capital expenditure is to be treated as incurred as soon as there is an unconditional obligation to pay it.

(2) The general rule applies even if the whole or a part of the expenditure is not required to be paid until a later date.

(3) There are the following exceptions to the general rule.

(4) If under an agreement—

(a) the capital expenditure is expenditure on the provision of an asset,

(b) an unconditional obligation to pay an amount of the expenditure comes into being as a result of the giving of a certificate or any other event,

(c) the giving of the certificate, or other event, occurs within the period of one month after the end of a chargeable period, and

(d) at or before the end of that chargeable period, the asset has become the property of, or is otherwise under the agreement attributed to, the person subject to the unconditional obligation to pay,

the expenditure is to be treated as incurred immediately before the end of that chargeable period.

(5) If under an agreement an amount of capital expenditure is not required to be paid until a date more than 4 months after the unconditional obligation to pay has come into being, the amount is to be treated as incurred on that date.

(6) If under an agreement—

(a) there is an unconditional obligation to pay an amount of capital expenditure on a date earlier than accords with normal commercial usage, and

(b) the sole or main benefit which might have been expected to be obtained thereby is that the amount would be treated, under the general rule, as incurred in an earlier chargeable period,

the amount is to be treated as incurred on the date on or before which it is required to be paid.

(7) This section—

(a) is subject to any provision of this Act which has the effect that expenditure is to be treated as incurred on a date later than would result from the application of this section, and

(b) does not apply to expenditure treated as incurred as a result of a person incurring an additional VAT liability.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C8 S. 5 applied by Corporation Tax Act 2010 (c. 4), s. 356JA (as inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 15 paras. 6(1), 9(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 15 para. 3)

C9 S. 5 applied by Corporation Tax Act 2010 (c. 4), s. 356JN(1) (as inserted (26.3.2015) by Finance Act 2015 (c. 11), Sch. 13 para. 2)

C10 S. 5 applied by Corporation Tax Act 2010 (c. 4), s. 332K(1) (as inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 12 paras. 5, 7, 8 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2015 (c. 11), Sch. 12 para. 2)

C11 S. 5(1)-(5) applied (with modifications) by 1998 c. 48, s. 42(8B) (as inserted (2.12.2004 retrospective) by Finance Act 2005 (c. 7) , Sch. 3 para. 9(4) (5) (with Sch. 3 para. 9(6) (8) (9) ))

6 Meaning of “chargeable period” U.K.

(1) In this Act “chargeable period” means—

(a) for income tax purposes, a period of account, or

(b) for corporation tax purposes, an accounting period of a company.

(2) “Period of account” means—

(a) in the case of a person entitled to an allowance or liable to a charge in calculating the profits of his trade, profession or vocation, a period for which accounts are drawn up for the purposes of the trade, profession or vocation, and

(b) in the case of any other person entitled to an allowance or liable to a charge, a tax year.

(3) Subsection (2)(a) is subject to subsections (4) to (6).

(4) If—

(a) two periods of account overlap, or

(b) one period of account includes another,

the period common to both is to be treated as part of the first period of account only.

(5) If there is a gap between two periods of account, the gap is to be treated as part of the first period of account.

(6) If a period of account would (apart from this subsection) be longer than 18 months, that period must be treated as divided into separate periods of account—

(a) the first beginning with the start date of the original period, and

(b) each subsequent one beginning with an anniversary of that date,

so as to ensure that none of the periods of account is longer than 12 months.

[F24 CHAPTER 1A U.K. Trades attracting Northern Ireland rate of corporation tax

Textual Amendments

F24 Pt. 1 Ch. 1A inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 5 of the amending Act) by Corporation Tax (Northern Ireland) Act 2015 (c. 21), Sch. 1 para. 2

6A “NIRE company” and “Northern Ireland SME company” U.K.

In this Act—

• “NIRE company” means a company that is a Northern Ireland company for the purposes of Part 8B of CTA 2010 by virtue of the large company condition in section 357KA of that Act;

• “Northern Ireland SME company” means a company that is a Northern Ireland company for the purposes of Part 8B of CTA 2010 by virtue of the SME condition in section 357KA of that Act.

6B “Northern Ireland firm” etc U.K.

(1) This section has effect for the purposes of this Act.

(2) “Northern Ireland firm” has the meaning given by section 357WA of CTA 2010.

(3) If section 357WC of CTA 2010 (Northern Ireland profits etc of firm determined under Chapter 6 of Part 8B of that Act) applies to a Northern Ireland firm for a chargeable period, the partnership is a “Northern Ireland Chapter 6 firm” for any purpose for which that section applies.

(4) If section 357WD of CTA 2010 (Northern Ireland profits etc of firm determined under Chapter 7 of Part 8B of that Act) applies to a Northern Ireland firm for a chargeable period, the partnership is a “Northern Ireland Chapter 7 firm” for any purpose for which that section applies.

6C “NI rate activity” U.K.

(1) In this Act “NI rate activity” means—

(a) a qualifying trade carried on by a Northern Ireland SME company, except to the extent that it is an excluded activity,

(b) a qualifying trade, other than an excluded financial trade, carried on by a NIRE company, to the extent that the trade—

(i) is carried on through a Northern Ireland regional establishment of the company, and

(ii) does not consist of an excluded activity,

(c) the back-office activities of an excluded financial trade carried on by a Northern Ireland SME company which has made an election for the purposes of section 357KB(2) of CTA 2010,

(d) the back-office activities of an excluded financial trade carried on by a NIRE company which has made an election for the purposes of section 357KB(2) of CTA 2010, to the extent that those activities are carried on through the Northern Ireland regional establishment of the company,

(e) a qualifying partnership trade carried on by a Northern Ireland Chapter 6 firm, except to the extent that it is an excluded activity,

(f) a qualifying partnership trade, other than an excluded financial trade, carried on by a Northern Ireland Chapter 7 firm, to the extent that the trade—

(i) is carried on through a Northern Ireland regional establishment of the partnership, and

(ii) does not consist of an excluded activity,

(g) the back-office activities of an excluded financial trade carried on by a Northern Ireland Chapter 6 firm which has made an election for the purposes of section 357WB(2) of CTA 2010, or

(h) the back-office activities of an excluded financial trade carried on by a Northern Ireland Chapter 7 firm which has made an election for the purposes of section 357WB(2) of CTA 2010, to the extent that those activities are carried on through the Northern Ireland regional establishment of the partnership.

(2) In subsection (1)—

• “back-office activities” has the same meaning as in Part 8B of CTA 2010 (see section 357XI of that Act);

• “excluded financial trade” means a trade that is an excluded trade for the purposes of Part 8B of CTA 2010 merely because it falls within one or more of the following provisions of that Act—

  (a)

  section 357XB (lending and investment),

  (b)

  section 357XC (investment management), or

  (c)

  section 357XE (re-insurance trade);

• “Northern Ireland regional establishment” has the same meaning as in Part 8B of CTA 2010 (see Chapter 5 of that Part as read, in relation to a partnership, with section 357WA(4) of that Act);

• “qualifying partnership trade” has the same meaning as in Part 8B of CTA 2010 (see section 357WB of that Act);

• “qualifying trade” has the same meaning as in Part 8B of CTA 2010 (see section 357KB of that Act).

6D NI rate activity treated as separate trade U.K.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the NI rate activity carried on by a Northern Ireland SME company or a NIRE company is to be treated as a separate trade, distinct from any other activities carried on by the company as part of the trade.

(2) For the purposes of the corporate partner calculation, the NI rate activity carried on by a Northern Ireland firm is to be treated as a separate trade, distinct from any other activities carried on by the firm as part of the trade.

(3) In this Act “the corporate partner calculation”, in relation to a trade carried on by a Northern Ireland firm, means the determination of the allowances and charges to which effect is to be given under this Act in determining under subsection (3) or (4) of section 1259 of CTA 2009 (calculation of firm's profits and losses) the amount of the profits of the trade chargeable to corporation tax.

6E Giving effect to allowances and charges: NI rate activity cases U.K.

(1) This section applies if a Northern Ireland SME company or a NIRE company is entitled or liable to—

(a) an allowance or charge under Part 2 (plant and machinery allowances) where the qualifying activity is a trade,

(b) an allowance or charge under Part 3A (business premises renovation allowances),

(c) an allowance or charge under Part 5 (mineral extraction allowances),

(d) an allowance or charge under Part 6 (research and development), or

(e) an allowance under Part 9 (dredging allowances).

(2) For the purposes of the corporate partner calculation, this section also applies if a Northern Ireland firm is entitled or liable to an allowance or charge falling within any of subsection (1)(a) to (e).

(3) The allowance or charge is to be given effect in calculating the profits of the trade, by treating—

(a) the allowance as an expense of the trade, and

(b) the charge as a receipt of the trade.

(4) If the allowance or charge relates to an NI rate activity, it is treated for the purposes of Part 8B of CTA 2010 (trading profits taxable at the Northern Ireland rate) as forming part of the Northern Ireland profits or Northern Ireland losses of the trade.

(5) If the allowance or charge relates to a main rate activity, it is treated for the purposes of Part 8B of CTA 2010 as forming part of the mainstream profits or mainstream losses of the trade.

(6) In this section—

(a) “the trade” means the trade carried on by the company or partnership (disregarding for this purpose section 6D), and

(b) “main rate activity” means so much of the trade as is not an NI rate activity.]

Chapter 2 U.K. Exclusion of double relief

7 No double allowances U.K.

(1) If an allowance is made under any Part of this Act to a person in respect of capital expenditure, no allowance is to be made to him under any other Part in respect of—

(a) that expenditure, or

(b) the provision of any asset to which that expenditure related.

(2) This section does not apply in relation to Parts 7 and 8 (know-how and patent allowances).

8 No double relief through pooling under Part 2 (plant and machinery allowances) U.K.

(1) Subsection (2) applies if, under Part 2—

(a) any capital expenditure has been allocated to a pool, and

(b) an allowance or charge has been made to or on any person in respect of the pool.

(2) The person to or on whom the allowance or charge has been made is not entitled to an allowance under any Part other than Part 2 in respect of—

(a) the expenditure allocated to the pool, or

(b) the provision of any asset to which the allocated expenditure related.

(3) Subsection (4) applies if under any Part other than Part 2 an allowance has been made to a person in respect of any capital expenditure.

(4) The person to whom the allowance has been made is not entitled to allocate to any pool—

(a) that expenditure, or

(b) any expenditure on the provision of any asset to which the expenditure mentioned in paragraph (a) related.

(5) This section does not apply in relation to Parts 7 and 8 (know-how and patent allowances).

9 Interaction between fixtures claims and other claims U.K.

(1) A person is not entitled to make a fixtures claim in respect of any capital expenditure relating to an asset if—

(a) any person entitled to do so has at any previous time claimed an allowance under any Part other than Part 2, and

(b) the claim was for an allowance in respect of capital expenditure relating, in whole or part, to the asset.

(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent a person making a fixtures claim in respect of capital expenditure if—

(a) the only previous claim was under Part 3[F25 , 3A] or 6 (industrial buildings and research and development allowances), and

(b) section 186(2)[F26 , 186A(2)] or 187(2) (limit on amount of expenditure that may be taken into account) applies to that expenditure.

(3) If a person entitled to do so has made a fixtures claim in respect of capital expenditure relating to an asset, no one is entitled to an allowance on a later claim under any Part other than Part 2 in respect of any capital expenditure relating to the asset.

(4) A person makes a fixtures claim in respect of expenditure if he makes a claim (in the sense given in section 202(3)) under Chapter 14 of Part 2 in respect of the expenditure as expenditure on the provision of a fixture.

Textual Amendments

F25 Words in s. 9(2)(a) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 10 para. 12 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 10 para. 7(a)

F26 Words in s. 9(2)(b) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 10 para. 12 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 10 para. 7(b)

10 Interpretation U.K.

(1) In this Chapter “capital expenditure” includes any contribution to capital expenditure.

(2) For the purposes of this Chapter—

(a) expenditure relates to an asset only if it relates to its provision, and

(b) the provision of an asset includes its construction or acquisition.