- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).
The issuing company is a qualifying company in relation to the relevant shares if the requirements of this Chapter are met as to—
(a)trading (see section 181),
(b)the issuing company to carry on the qualifying business activity (see section 183),
(c)unquoted status (see section 184),
(d)control and independence (see section 185),
(e)gross assets (see section 186),
(f)qualifying subsidiaries (see section 187), and
(g)property managing subsidiaries (see section 188).
(1)The issuing company must meet the trading requirement throughout period B.
(2)The trading requirement is that—
(a)the company, ignoring any incidental purposes, exists wholly for the purpose of carrying on one or more qualifying trades, or
(b)the company is a parent company and the business of the group does not consist wholly or as to a substantial part in the carrying on of non-qualifying activities.
(3)If the company intends that one or more other companies should become its qualifying subsidiaries with a view to their carrying on one or more qualifying trades—
(a)the company is treated as a parent company for the purposes of subsection (2)(b), and
(b)the reference in subsection (2)(b) to the group includes the company and any existing or future company that will be its qualifying subsidiary after the intention in question is carried into effect.
This subsection does not apply at any time after the abandonment of that intention.
(4)For the purpose of subsection (2)(b) the business of the group means what would be the business of the group if the activities of the group companies taken together were regarded as one business.
(5)For the purpose of determining the business of a group, activities are ignored so far as they are activities carried on by a mainly trading subsidiary otherwise than for its main purpose.
(6)For the purposes of determining the business of a group, activities of a group company are ignored so far as they consist in—
(a)the holding of shares in or securities of a qualifying subsidiary of the parent company,
(b)the making of loans to another group company,
(c)the holding and managing of property used by a group company for the purpose of one or more qualifying trades carried on by a group company, or
(d)the holding and managing of property used by a group company for the purpose of research and development from which it is intended—
(i)that a qualifying trade to be carried on by a group company will be derived, or
(ii)that a qualifying trade carried on or to be carried on by a group company will benefit.
(7)Any reference in subsection (6)(d)(i) or (ii) to a group company includes a reference to any existing or future company which will be a group company at any future time.
(8)In this section—
“incidental purposes” means purposes having no significant effect (other than in relation to incidental matters) on the extent of the activities of the company in question,
“mainly trading subsidiary” means a qualifying subsidiary which, apart from incidental purposes, exists wholly for the purpose of carrying on one or more qualifying trades, and any reference to the main purpose of such a subsidiary is to be read accordingly, and
“non-qualifying activities” means—
excluded activities, and
activities (other than research and development) carried on otherwise than in the course of a trade.
(9)This section is supplemented by section 189 (meaning of “qualifying trade”) and sections 192 to 199 (excluded activities).
(1)A company is not regarded as ceasing to meet the trading requirement merely because of anything done in consequence of the company or any of its subsidiaries being in administration or receivership.
This has effect subject to subsections (2) and (3).
(2)Subsection (1) applies only if—
(a)the entry into administration or receivership, and
(b)everything done as a result of the company concerned being in administration or receivership,
is for genuine commercial reasons, and is not part of a scheme or arrangement the main purpose or one of the main purposes of which is the avoidance of tax.
(3)A company ceases to meet the trading requirement if before the end of period B—
(a)a resolution is passed, or an order is made, for the winding up of the company or any of its subsidiaries (or, in the case of a winding up otherwise than under the Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45) or the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/2405 (N.I. 19)), any other act is done for the like purpose), or
(b)the company or any of its subsidiaries is dissolved without winding up.
This is subject to subsection (4).
(4)Subsection (3) does not apply if the winding up or dissolution is for genuine commercial reasons, and is not part of a scheme or arrangement the main purpose or one of the main purposes of which is the avoidance of tax.
(1)The requirement of this section is met in relation to the issuing company if, at no time in period B, is any of the following—
(a)the relevant qualifying trade,
(b)relevant preparation work (if any), and
(c)relevant research and development (if any),
carried on by a person other than the issuing company or a qualifying 90% subsidiary of that company.
(2)Subsection (3) has effect for the purpose of determining whether the requirement of this section is met in relation to the issuing company in a case where relevant preparation work is carried out by that company or a qualifying 90% subsidiary of that company.
(3)The carrying on of the relevant qualifying trade by a company other than the issuing company or a subsidiary of that company is to be ignored if it takes place at any time in period B before the issuing company or any qualifying 90% subsidiary of that company begins to carry on that trade.
(4)The requirement of this section is not regarded as failing to be met in relation to the issuing company if, merely because of any act or event within subsection (5), the relevant qualifying trade—
(a)ceases to be carried on in period B by the issuing company or any qualifying 90% subsidiary of that company, and
(b)is subsequently carried on in that period by a person who is not at any time in period C connected with the issuing company.
(5)The following are acts and events within this subsection—
(a)anything done as a consequence of the issuing company or any other company being in administration or receivership, and
(b)the issuing company or any other company being wound up, or dissolved without being wound up.
(6)Subsection (4) applies only if—
(a)the entry into administration or receivership, and everything done as a consequence of the company concerned being in administration or receivership, or
(b)the winding up or dissolution,
is for genuine commercial reasons, and is not part of a scheme or arrangement the main purpose or one of the main purposes of which is the avoidance of tax.
(7)In this section—
“relevant preparation work” means preparations within section 179(2)(b) which are the subject of the qualifying business activity mentioned in section 174,
“the relevant qualifying trade” means the qualifying trade which is the subject of that qualifying business activity,
“relevant research and development” means—
research and development within section 179(4) which is the subject of that qualifying business activity, and
any other preparations for the carrying on of the qualifying trade which is the subject of that activity.
(1)At the beginning of period B—
(a)the issuing company must be an unquoted company,
(b)there must be no arrangements in existence for the issuing company to cease to be an unquoted company, and
(c)there must be no arrangements in existence for the issuing company to become a subsidiary of another company (“the new company”) by virtue of an exchange of shares, or shares and securities, if—
(i)section 247 applies in relation to the exchange, and
(ii)arrangements have been made with a view to the new company ceasing to be an unquoted company.
(2)In this section “unquoted company” means a company none of whose shares, stocks, debentures or other securities are marketed to the general public.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (2), shares, stocks, debentures or other securities are marketed to the general public if they are—
(a)listed on the Stock Exchange or a stock exchange that is a recognised stock exchange by virtue of an order made under section 1005,
(b)listed on a designated exchange in a country outside the United Kingdom, or
(c)dealt in outside the United Kingdom by such means as may be designated.
(4)In subsection (3)(b) and (c) “designated” means designated by an order made by the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs for the purposes of that provision.
(5)An order made for the purposes of subsection (3)(b) may designate an exchange by name, or by reference to any class or description of exchanges, including a class or description framed by reference to any authority or approval given in a country outside the United Kingdom.
(6)The arrangements referred to in subsection (1)(b) and (c)(ii) do not include arrangements in consequence of which any shares, stocks, debentures or other securities of the company are at any subsequent time—
(a)listed on a stock exchange that is a recognised stock exchange by virtue of an order made under section 1005, or
(b)listed on an exchange, or dealt in by any means, designated by an order made for the purposes of subsection (3)(b) or (c),
if the order was made after the beginning of period B.
(1)The control element of the requirement is that—
(a)the issuing company must not at any time in period B control (whether on its own or together with any person connected with it) any company which is not a qualifying subsidiary of the issuing company, and
(b)no arrangements must be in existence at any time in that period by virtue of which the issuing company could fail to meet paragraph (a) (whether during that period or otherwise).
(2)The independence element of the requirement is that—
(a)the issuing company must not at any time in period B—
(i)be a 51% subsidiary of another company, or
(ii)be under the control of another company (or of another company and any other person connected with that other company), without being a 51% subsidiary of that other company, and
(b)no arrangements must be in existence at any time in that period by virtue of which the issuing company could fail to meet paragraph (a) (whether during that period or otherwise).
(3)This section is subject to section 247(4) (exchange of shares).
(1)In the case of relevant shares issued by a single company, the value of the company’s assets—
(a)must not exceed £7 million immediately before the relevant share issue, and
(b)must not exceed £8 million immediately afterwards.
(2)In the case of relevant shares issued by a parent company, the value of the group assets—
(a)must not exceed £7 million immediately before the relevant share issue, and
(b)must not exceed £8 million immediately afterwards.
(3)In this section—
(a)the relevant share issue is the issue of shares in the company that includes the relevant shares, and
(b)the value of the group assets is the sum of the values of the gross assets of each of the members of the group, ignoring any that consist in rights against, or shares in or securities of, another member of the group.
Any subsidiary that the issuing company has at any time in period B must be a qualifying subsidiary of the company.
(1)Any property managing subsidiary that the issuing company has at any time in period B must be a qualifying 90% subsidiary of the company.
(2)“Property managing subsidiary” means a subsidiary of the company whose business consists wholly or mainly in the holding or managing of land or any property deriving its value from land.
(3)In subsection (2) references to property deriving its value from land include—
(a)any shareholding in a company deriving its value directly or indirectly from land,
(b)any partnership interest deriving its value directly or indirectly from land,
(c)any interest in settled property deriving its value directly or indirectly from land, and
(d)any option, consent or embargo affecting the disposition of land.
(1)For the purposes of this Part, a trade is a qualifying trade if—
(a)it is conducted on a commercial basis and with a view to the realisation of profits, and
(b)it does not at any time in period B consist wholly or as to a substantial part in the carrying on of excluded activities.
(2)References in this section and sections 192 to 198 to a trade are to be read without regard to the definition of “trade” in section 989.
(1)For the purposes of this Part, a company (“the subsidiary”) is a qualifying 90% subsidiary of another company (“the relevant company”) if the following conditions are met—
(a)the relevant company possesses at least 90% of the issued share capital of, and at least 90% of the voting power in, the subsidiary,
(b)the relevant company would—
(i)in the event of a winding up of the subsidiary, or
(ii)in any other circumstances,
be beneficially entitled to receive at least 90% of the assets of the subsidiary which would then be available for distribution to equity holders of the subsidiary,
(c)the relevant company is beneficially entitled to receive at least 90% of any profits of the subsidiary which are available for distribution to equity holders of the subsidiary,
(d)no person other than the relevant company has control of the subsidiary, and
(e)no arrangements are in existence by virtue of which any of the conditions in paragraphs (a) to (d) would cease to be met.
(2)Subsections (3), (4) and (5) of section 191 (conditions not regarded as ceasing to be met because of winding up, dissolution, administration, receivership or arrangements for disposal not having tax avoidance as main purpose) apply in relation to the conditions in subsection (1)—
(a)as they apply in relation to the conditions in subsection (2) of that section, but
(b)with the omission from subsection (5) of “or (as the case may be) by another subsidiary”.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (1)—
(a)the persons who are equity holders of the subsidiary, and
(b)the percentage of the assets of the subsidiary to which an equity holder would be entitled,
are to be determined in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 18 to ICTA.
(4)In making that determination—
(a)references in paragraph 3 of that Schedule to the first company are to be read as references to an equity holder, and
(b)references in that paragraph to a winding up are to be read as including references to any other circumstances in which assets of the subsidiary are available for distribution to its equity holders.
(1)For the purposes of this Part, a company (“the subsidiary”) is a qualifying subsidiary of another company (“the relevant company”) if the following conditions are met.
(2)The conditions are that—
(a)the subsidiary is a 51% subsidiary of the relevant company,
(b)no person other than the relevant company, or another of its subsidiaries, has control of the subsidiary, and
(c)no arrangements are in existence by virtue of which either of the conditions in paragraphs (a) and (b) would cease to be met.
(3)The conditions do not cease to be met merely because the subsidiary or any other company is wound up, or dissolved without winding up, if the winding up or dissolution—
(a)is for genuine commercial reasons, and
(b)is not part of a scheme or arrangement the main purpose or one of the main purposes of which is the avoidance of tax.
(4)The conditions do not cease to be met merely because of anything done as a consequence of the subsidiary or any other company being in administration or receivership, if—
(a)the entry into administration or receivership, and
(b)everything done as a consequence of the company concerned being in administration or receivership,
is for genuine commercial reasons, and is not part of a scheme or arrangement the main purpose or one of the main purposes of which is the avoidance of tax.
(5)The conditions do not cease to be met merely because arrangements are in existence for the disposal by the relevant company or (as the case may be) by another subsidiary of all its interest in the subsidiary, if the disposal—
(a)is to be for genuine commercial reasons, and
(b)is not to be part of a scheme or arrangement the main purpose or one of the main purposes of which is the avoidance of tax.
(1)The following are excluded activities for the purposes of sections 181 and 189—
(a)dealing in land, in commodities or futures or in shares, securities or other financial instruments,
(b)dealing in goods otherwise than in the course of an ordinary trade of wholesale or retail distribution,
(c)banking, insurance, money-lending, debt-factoring, hire-purchase financing or other financial activities,
(d)leasing (including letting ships on charter or other assets on hire),
(e)receiving royalties or licence fees,
(f)providing legal or accountancy services,
(g)property development,
(h)farming or market gardening,
(i)holding, managing or occupying woodlands, any other forestry activities or timber production,
(j)operating or managing hotels or comparable establishments or managing property used as an hotel or comparable establishment,
(k)operating or managing nursing homes or residential care homes or managing property used as a nursing home or residential care home, and
(l)any activities which are excluded activities under section 199 (provision of services or facilities for another business).
(2)Subsection (1) is supplemented by the following provisions—
(a)section 193 (wholesale and retail distribution),
(b)section 194 (leasing of ships),
(c)section 195 (receipt of royalties and licence fees),
(d)section 196 (property development),
(e)section 197 (hotels and comparable establishments), and
(f)section 198 (nursing homes and residential care homes).
(1)This section supplements section 192(1)(b).
(2)In this section—
(a)subsections (3) and (4) are for determining whether a trade is a trade of wholesale or retail distribution, and
(b)subsections (5) and (6) are for determining whether a trade of wholesale or retail distribution is an ordinary trade of wholesale or retail distribution.
(3)A trade of wholesale distribution is one in which goods are offered for sale and sold to persons for resale by them, or for processing and resale by them, to members of the general public for their use or consumption.
(4)A trade of retail distribution is one in which goods are offered or exposed for sale and sold to members of the general public for their use or consumption.
(5)A trade of wholesale or retail distribution is not an ordinary trade of wholesale or retail distribution if—
(a)it consists to a substantial extent—
(i)in dealing in goods of a kind which are collected or held as an investment, or
(ii)in that activity and any other excluded activity taken together, and
(b)a substantial proportion of those goods are held for a period which is significantly longer than the period for which the trader would reasonably be expected to hold them while trying to dispose of them at their market value.
(6)In determining whether a trade of wholesale or retail distribution is an ordinary trade of wholesale or retail distribution regard is to be had to the extent to which it has the following features—
(a)the goods are bought by the trader in quantities larger than those in which the trader sells them,
(b)the goods are bought and sold by the trader in different markets,
(c)the trader employs staff and incurs expenses in the trade in addition to the cost of the goods and, in the case of a trade carried on by a company, in addition to any remuneration paid to any person connected with it,
(d)there are purchases from or sales to persons who are connected with the trader,
(e)purchases are matched with forward sales or vice versa,
(f)the goods are held by the trader for longer than is normal for goods of the kind in question,
(g)the trade is carried on otherwise than at a place or places commonly used for wholesale or retail trade,
(h)the trader does not take physical possession of the goods.
(7)In subsection (6)—
(a)the features in paragraphs (a) to (c) are regarded as indications that the trade is an ordinary trade of wholesale or retail distribution, and
(b)those in paragraphs (d) to (h) are regarded as indications to the contrary.
(1)This section supplements section 192(1)(d) so far as it relates to the leasing of ships other than offshore installations or pleasure craft.
(2)In the following provisions “ship” accordingly means a ship other than an offshore installation or a pleasure craft.
(3)If the requirements of subsection (4) are met, a trade is not to be regarded as consisting in the carrying on of excluded activities within section 192(1)(d) as a result only of its consisting in letting ships on charter.
(4)The requirements of this subsection are that—
(a)every ship let on charter by the company carrying on the trade is beneficially owned by the company,
(b)every ship beneficially owned by the company is registered in the United Kingdom,
(c)throughout period B the company is solely responsible for arranging the marketing of the services of its ships, and
(d)the conditions mentioned in subsection (5) are met in relation to every letting on charter by the company.
(5)The conditions referred to in subsection (4)(d) are—
(a)the letting is for a period not exceeding 12 months and no provision is made at any time (whether in the charterparty or otherwise) for extending it beyond that period otherwise than at the option of the charterer,
(b)no provision for the grant of a new letting to end more than 12 months after the provision is made (whether in the charterparty or otherwise) is in force during the period of the letting otherwise than at the option of the charterer,
(c)the letting is by way of a bargain at arm’s length between the company and a person who is not connected with it,
(d)under the terms of the charter the company is responsible as principal—
(i)for taking, throughout the period of the charter, management decisions in relation to the ship, other than those of a kind generally regarded by persons engaged in trade of the kind in question as matters of husbandry, and
(ii)for defraying all expenses in connection with the ship throughout that period, or substantially all such expenses, other than those directly incidental to a particular voyage or to the employment of the ship during that period, and
(e)no arrangements exist by virtue of which a person other than the company may be appointed to be responsible for the matters mentioned in paragraph (d) on behalf of the company.
(6)If in the case of the company carrying on the trade (“the letting company”) the charterer is also a company and—
(a)the charterer is a qualifying subsidiary of the letting company, or
(b)the letting company is a qualifying subsidiary of the charterer, or
(c)both companies are qualifying subsidiaries of a third company,
subsection (5) has effect with the omission of paragraph (c).
(7)If any of the requirements of subsection (4) is not met in relation to any lettings of ships, the trade is not, as a result, to be treated as consisting in the carrying on of excluded activities if—
(a)those lettings, and
(b)any other excluded activities
do not, taken together, amount to a substantial part of the trade.
(8)In this section “pleasure craft” means any ship of a kind primarily used for sport or recreation.
(1)This section supplements section 192(1)(e) (receipt of royalties and licence fees).
(2)If the requirement of subsection (3) is met, a trade is not to be regarded as consisting in the carrying on of excluded activities within section 192(1)(e) as a result only of its consisting to a substantial extent in the receiving of royalties or licence fees.
(3)The requirement of this subsection is that the royalties or licence fees (or all but for a part that is not a substantial part in terms of value) are attributable to the exploitation of relevant intangible assets.
(4)For this purpose an intangible asset is a “relevant intangible asset” if the whole or greater part (in terms of value) of it has been created—
(a)by the company carrying on the trade, or
(b)by a company which at all times during which it created the intangible asset was—
(i)the holding company of the company carrying on the trade, or
(ii)a qualifying subsidiary of that holding company.
(5)In the case of an intangible asset that is intellectual property, references to the creation of an asset by a company are to its creation in circumstances in which the right to exploit it vests in the company (whether alone or jointly with others).
(6)In this section—
“holding company” means a company that—
has one or more 51% subsidiaries, but
is not itself a 51% subsidiary of another company,
“intangible asset” means any asset which falls to be treated as an intangible asset in accordance with generally accepted accountancy practice,
“intellectual property” means—
any patent, trade mark, registered design, copyright, design right, performer’s right or plant breeder’s right, or
any rights under the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom which correspond or are similar to those falling within paragraph (a).
(1)This section supplements section 192(1)(g).
(2)“Property development” means the development of land—
(a)by a company which has, or at any time has had, an interest in the land, and
(b)with the sole or main object of realising a gain from the disposal of an interest in the land when it is developed.
(3)For this purpose “interest in land” means, subject to subsection (4)—
(a)any estate, interest or right in or over land, including any right affecting the use or disposition of land, or
(b)any right to obtain such an estate, interest or right from another which is conditional on the other’s ability to grant it.
(4)References in this section to an interest in land do not include—
(a)the interest of a creditor (other than a creditor in respect of a rentcharge) whose debt is secured by way of mortgage, an agreement for a mortgage or a charge of any kind over land, or
(b)in the case of land in Scotland, the interest of a creditor in a charge or security of any kind over land.
(1)This section supplements section 192(1)(j).
(2)The reference to a comparable establishment is to a guest house, hostel or other establishment the main purpose of maintaining which is the provision of facilities for overnight accommodation (with or without catering services).
(3)The activities of a person are not to be taken to fall within section 192(1)(j) unless that person has an estate or interest in, or is in occupation of, the hotel or comparable establishment in question.
(1)This section supplements section 192(1)(k).
(2)“Nursing home” means any establishment which exists wholly or mainly for the provision of nursing care—
(a)for persons suffering from sickness, injury or infirmity, or
(b)for women who are pregnant or have given birth.
(3)“Residential care home” means any establishment which exists wholly or mainly for the provision of residential accommodation, together with board and personal care, for persons in need of personal care because of—
(a)old age,
(b)mental or physical disability,
(c)past or present dependence on alcohol or drugs,
(d)any past illnesses, or
(e)past or present mental disorder.
(4)The activities of a person are not to be taken to fall within section 192(1)(k) unless that person has an estate or interest in, or is in occupation of, the nursing home or residential care home in question.
(1)Providing services or facilities for a business carried on by another person (other than a company of which the provider of the services or facilities is a qualifying subsidiary) is an excluded activity if—
(a)the business consists wholly or as to a substantial part of activities falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (k) of section 192(1), and
(b)a controlling interest in the business is held by a person who also has a controlling interest in the business carried on by the provider of the services or facilities.
(2)Subsections (3) to (5) explain what is meant by a controlling interest in a business for the purposes of subsection (1)(b).
(3)In the case of a business carried on by a company, a person (“A”) has a controlling interest in the business if—
(a)A controls the company,
(b)the company is a close company and A or an associate of A is a director of the company and is either—
(i)the beneficial owner of more than 30% of the ordinary share capital of the company, or
(ii)able, directly or through the medium of other companies or by any other indirect means, to control more than 30% of that share capital, or
(c)at least half the business could, in accordance with section 344(2) of ICTA (persons to whom company’s trade may be treated as belonging), be regarded as belonging to A for the purposes of section 343 of that Act (company reconstructions without a change of ownership).
(4)In any other case, a person has a controlling interest in a business if the person is entitled to at least half the assets used for, or of the income arising from, the business.
(5)For the purposes of this section—
(a)any rights or powers of a person who is an associate of another are to be attributed to that other person, and
(b)“business” includes any trade, profession or vocation.
The Treasury may by order make such amendments of sections 181, 182, 184 to 189 and 192 to 199 as they consider appropriate.
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