Finance Act 2003

21 (1) In the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (c. 12), after section 211 insert— U.K.

“211ZA Transfers of business: transfer of unused losses

(1) This section applies where—

(a) an insurance business transfer scheme has effect to transfer business consisting of or including basic life assurance and general annuity business from one person (“the transferor”) to another (“the transferee”) or more than one others (“the transferees”), and

(b) the transferor has relevant unused losses.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) above the transferor has relevant unused losses if—

(a) BLAGAB allowable losses accrue to the transferor in the accounting period ending with the day of the transfer or have so accrued in any earlier accounting period, and

(b) they are not deducted from chargeable gains accruing to the transferor in that accounting period and have not been deducted from chargeable gains so accruing in any previous accounting period.

(3) Subject as follows—

(a) for the purposes of ascertaining the transferor’s total profits for any accounting period after that in which the transfer takes place, the relevant unused losses are deemed not to have accrued to the transferor, but

(b) (instead) they are treated as accruing to the transferee (in accordance with subsection (4) below).

(4) The losses treated as accruing to the transferee under subsection (3)(b) above shall be deemed to be BLAGAB allowable losses accruing to the transferee in the accounting period of the transferee in which the transfer takes place.

(5) But those losses are not allowable as a deduction from chargeable gains accruing before the transfer takes place.

(6) For the purposes of section 210A (ring-fencing of losses), the shareholders' share of those losses is to be taken to be the same proportion as would be the shareholders' share of them if they had remained losses of the transferor.

(7) If only part of the transferor’s basic life assurance and general annuity business is transferred, subsection (3) above applies as if the references to the relevant unused losses were to such part of the relevant unused losses as is appropriate.

(8) If the transfer is to more than one others, subsection (3)(b) above applies as if the reference to the relevant unused losses being treated as accruing to the transferee were to such part of the relevant unused losses as is appropriate being treated as accruing to each of the transferees.

(9) Any question arising as to the operation of subsection (7) or (8) above shall be determined by the Special Commissioners who shall determine the question in the same manner as they determine appeals; but both the transferor and the transferee (or the one of the transferees concerned) shall be entitled to appear and be heard or to make representations in writing.

(10) In this section “BLAGAB allowable losses” means allowable losses referable to the transferor’s basic life assurance and general annuity business.”.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) has effect in relation to insurance business transfer schemes taking place on or after 1st January 2003.