Finance Act 2006 (c. 25)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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The equivalence condition

2 An amount meets the equivalence condition if it corresponds (in all material respects) to an amount of a kind that, for the purposes of section 403, could be available for surrender by way of group relief by a company resident in the United Kingdom.

The EEA tax loss condition: companies resident in EEA territory

3 (1) In the case of a non-resident company which is resident in an EEA territory ("the relevant territory"), an amount meets the EEA tax loss condition in relation to the relevant territory in so far as conditions A and B are met.

(2) Condition A is that the amount is calculated in accordance with the applicable rules under the law of the relevant territory for determining, in the case of the company, the amount of any loss or other amount eligible for relief from any tax under the relevant territory.

(3) Condition B is that, for the purposes of corporation tax, the amount is not attributable to a UK permanent establishment of the company.

(4) "UK permanent establishment", in relation to the company, means any permanent establishment through which it carries on a trade in the United Kingdom.

(5) For the meaning of tax under any territory outside the United Kingdom, see paragraph 17.

The EEA tax loss condition: companies not resident in EEA territory

4 (1) In the case of a non-resident company which is not resident in any EEA territory but which carries on a trade in an EEA territory ("the relevant territory") through a permanent establishment, an amount meets the EEA tax loss condition for any period in relation to the relevant territory in so far as conditions A and B are met.

(3) Condition B is that the amount is not attributable to activities of the company which are made exempt from tax under the relevant territory for the period by any double taxation arrangements.

(4) For this purpose, activities of the company are made exempt from tax under the relevant territory for the period by any double taxation arrangements if those arrangements--

(a) have the following effect, or

(b) would have the following effect if a claim were made.

(5) The effect is that the income and gains (if any) arising for the period from those activities are ignored in calculating the company's profits, income or gains chargeable to tax under the relevant territory for the period.

(6) For the purposes of this paragraph, arrangements are double taxation arrangements if they are made with a view to affording relief from double taxation in relation to--

(a) any tax under the relevant territory and any other territory outside the United Kingdom, or

(b) any tax under the relevant territory and United Kingdom income or corporation tax.

The qualifying loss condition

5 (1) This paragraph applies in the case of a non-resident company--

(a) which is resident in any EEA territory, or

(b) which is not so resident but which carries on a trade in an EEA territory through a permanent establishment,

and for the purposes of this paragraph "the EEA territory concerned" means the EEA territory in which the company is resident or (as the case may be) in which it carries on a trade through a permanent establishment.

(2) An amount meets the qualifying loss condition in so far as the amount--

(a) cannot be given qualifying relief for any period ("the current period") or any other period, and

(b) has not been given any other qualifying relief under the law of any territory outside the United Kingdom (other than the EEA territory concerned).

(3) Paragraph 6 determines whether the amount cannot be given qualifying relief for the current period or any previous period.

(4) Paragraph 7 determines whether the amount cannot be given qualifying relief for any period after the current period.

(5) Paragraph 8 determines whether the amount has not been given qualifying relief under the law of any territory outside the United Kingdom (other than the EEA territory concerned).

Qualifying relief for current period and previous periods

6 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 5, an amount cannot be given qualifying relief for the current period or any previous period if conditions A and B are met.

(2) Condition A is that, for the purposes of any tax under the EEA territory concerned or under any relevant territory, the amount cannot be taken into account in calculating any profits, income or gains which--

(a) arise to the company or any other person in the current period or any previous period, and

(b) are chargeable to that tax for the current period or any previous period.

(3) Condition B is that, for the purposes of any tax under the EEA territory concerned or under any relevant territory, the amount cannot be relieved in the current period or any previous period--

(a) by the payment of a credit,

(b) by the elimination or reduction of a tax liability, or

(4) An amount is to be regarded for the purposes of this paragraph as meeting conditions A and B if (but only if) every step to secure that the amount is so taken into account or relieved is taken (whether by the company or any other person).

(5) In this paragraph "relevant territory" means--

(a) if the company is resident in any EEA territory and is also resident in any other territory outside the United Kingdom, that other territory,

(b) if the company is not resident in any EEA territory but carries on a trade in an EEA territory through a permanent establishment, the territory (or territories) in which it is resident.

Qualifying relief for future periods

7 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 5, an amount cannot be given qualifying relief for any period after the current period if conditions A and B are met.

(a) might arise to the company or any other person in any period after the current period, and

(b) (if there were any) would be chargeable to that tax for any period after the current period.

(3) Condition B is that, for the purposes of any tax under the EEA territory concerned or under any relevant territory, the amount cannot be relieved in any period after the current period--

(a) by the payment of a credit,

(b) by the elimination or reduction of a tax liability, or

(4) In determining for the purposes of conditions A and B whether an amount can be so taken into account or relieved, the time at which the determination is to be made is the time immediately after the end of the current period.

(5) In this paragraph "relevant territory" means--

(a) if the company is resident in any EEA territory and is also resident in any other territory outside the United Kingdom, that other territory,

(b) if the company is not resident in any EEA territory but carries on a trade in an EEA territory through a permanent establishment, the territory (or territories) in which it is resident.

Amount not given other qualifying relief under law of territory outside UK

8 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 5, an amount has not been given qualifying relief under the law of any territory outside the United Kingdom (other than the EEA territory concerned) if conditions A and B are met.

(2) Condition A is that, for the purposes of any tax under any territory outside the United Kingdom (other than the EEA territory concerned), the amount has not been taken into account in calculating any profits, income or gains which--

(a) have arisen to the company or any other person in any period, and

(b) were chargeable to that tax for the period (or, but for so taking the amount into account, would have been so chargeable).

(3) Condition B is that, for the purposes of any tax under any territory outside the United Kingdom (other than the EEA territory concerned), the amount has not been relieved in any period--

(a) by the payment of a credit,

(b) by the elimination or reduction of a tax liability, or

Precedence condition

9 (1) This paragraph applies in the case of a non-resident company ("the relevant company")--

(a) which is resident in any EEA territory, or

(b) which is not so resident but which carries on a trade in an EEA territory through a permanent establishment.

(2) An amount meets the precedence condition in relation to the EEA territory concerned in so far as relief for the amount cannot be given in any other territory outside the United Kingdom which is a qualifying territory in relation to the relevant company.

(3) For this purpose a territory is a qualifying territory in relation to the relevant company if--

(a) another company is resident in that territory (which need not be an EEA territory),

(b) that other company owns directly or indirectly any ordinary share capital in the relevant company,

(c) a third company which is resident in the United Kingdom owns directly or indirectly any ordinary share capital of that other company,

(d) the relevant company is a 75 per cent. subsidiary of that third company, and

(e) the relevant company is not a 75 per cent. subsidiary of that third company as a result of its being a 75 per cent. subsidiary of a fourth company which is resident in the United Kingdom.

(4) In this paragraph references, in relation to any amount and any territory, to relief being given for the amount in the territory are to relief being given--

(a) by taking the amount into account in calculating any profits, income or gains of any person chargeable to tax under the law of that territory,

(b) by the payment of a credit to any person under the law of that territory,

(d) by any other means of any kind.

(5) "The EEA territory concerned" means the EEA territory in which the relevant company is resident or (as the case may be) in which it carries on a trade through a permanent establishment.

Part 2 Application of UK rules to non-resident company

Introduction

10 (1) This Part of this Schedule applies in the case of any loss or other amount ("the EEA amount") arising to a non-resident company ("the EEA company") in any period ("the loss period") in so far as the EEA amount meets the conditions mentioned in subsection (2)(a) to (d) of section 403F.

(2) In this Part of this Schedule "the EEA territory concerned" means the EEA territory in which the EEA company is resident or (as the case may be) in which it carries on a trade through a permanent establishment.

(3) In this Part of this Schedule any reference to the appropriate part of the EEA amount is to that amount in so far as it meets the conditions mentioned in subsection (2)(a) to (d) of section 403F.

Basic rules

11 (1) The EEA amount must, on the relevant assumptions (see sub-paragraph (5)), be recalculated in accordance with the applicable UK tax rules (see paragraph 16).

(2) The amount of the EEA amount that is available for surrender by the EEA company by way of group relief is so much of the appropriate part of it as does not exceed the relevant proportion (see sub-paragraph (5)) of the amount given by that recalculation.

(3) But if the amount given by that recalculation is an amount of income or other profits, no part of the EEA amount is available for surrender by way of group relief.

(4) So far as any part of the EEA amount is available for surrender by the EEA company by way of group relief, the provisions of this Chapter have effect in that case on the basis that the relevant assumptions are made.

(5) In this paragraph--

"the relevant assumptions" are the assumptions set out in paragraphs 12 to 15, and
"the relevant proportion" means the proportion that the appropriate part of the EEA amount bears to the EEA amount.

Assumptions as to UK residence

12 (1) It is to be assumed that the EEA company is resident in the United Kingdom throughout the loss period.

(2) But this does not require it to be assumed--

(a) that there is any change in the place or places at which the EEA company carries on its activities (although see paragraph 13), or

(b) that the EEA company ceases to be resident in the United Kingdom at the end of the loss period.

(3) It is to be assumed that the EEA company becomes resident in the United Kingdom (and, accordingly, within the charge to corporation tax) at the beginning of the loss period.

Assumptions as to places in which activities carried out

13 (1) In the case of any trade carried on by the EEA company in the loss period wholly or partly in the EEA territory concerned, it is to be assumed that the trade is carried on wholly or partly in the United Kingdom.

(2) In the case of any estate, interest or rights in or over land in the EEA territory concerned which are held by the EEA company, it is to be assumed that the land is in the United Kingdom.

(3) For this purpose, the reference to domestic concepts of law in relation to the land in the EEA territory concerned is to be read so as to produce the result that most closely corresponds with that produced for Schedule A purposes in relation to land in the United Kingdom.

Deemed accounting period

14 (1) It is to be assumed that an accounting period of the EEA company begins at the beginning of the loss period.

(2) It is to be assumed that the accounting period ends on the earlier of--

(a) the end of 12 months from the beginning of the loss period, or

(b) the end of the loss period.

(3) If an accounting period ends in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)(a), it is to be assumed that a further accounting period begins when the previous one ends.

(4) It is to be assumed that the further accounting period ends on the earlier of--

(a) the end of 12 months from the beginning of the further accounting period, or

(b) the end of the loss period.

Capital allowances

15 (1) This paragraph applies if, before the beginning of the loss period, the EEA company incurs any capital expenditure on the provision of plant or machinery for the purposes of any activity.

(2) It is to be assumed for the purposes of Part 2 of the Capital Allowances Act that the plant or machinery--

(a) was provided for purposes wholly other than those of the activity, and

(b) was not brought into use for the purposes of the activity until the beginning of the loss period,

and section 13 of the Capital Allowances Act (use for qualifying activity of plant or machinery provided for other purposes) is to apply accordingly.

(3) This paragraph is to be read as one with Part 2 of the Capital Allowances Act.

Applicable UK tax rules

16 (1) For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule references to recalculating the EEA amount in accordance with the applicable UK tax rules are to recalculating it in accordance with any provision made by or under the Corporation Tax Acts--

(a) which applies for the purpose of calculating for corporation tax purposes the amount of the loss or other amount to which the EEA amount corresponds, or

(b) which otherwise affects in any way the amount of that loss or other amount for which relief from corporation tax is available.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), the Treasury may by regulations provide for the modification of any provision made by or under the Corporation Tax Acts--

(a) which applies as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a), or

(b) which otherwise affects an amount as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b).

(3) Regulations under this paragraph may make provision in relation to--

(a) all classes of trade or business, or

(b) any particular class or classes of trade or business.

(4) Regulations under this paragraph may make--

(a) different provision for different cases or different purposes, and

(b) incidental, supplemental, consequential or transitional provision and savings.

(5) Regulations under this paragraph may make provision having effect before the date on which the regulations are made.

Part 3 Definitions for the purposes of this Schedule

Charge to tax under the law of any territory outside the United Kingdom

17 (1) This paragraph applies for the purposes of this Schedule.

(2) Any reference to a tax under a territory outside the United Kingdom is a reference to a tax chargeable under the law of that territory which--

(a) is charged on income and corresponds to United Kingdom income tax, or

(b) is charged on income or chargeable gains or both and corresponds to United Kingdom corporation tax.

(3) A tax chargeable under the law of a territory outside the United Kingdom is not to be regarded as failing to correspond to income or corporation tax just because--

(a) it is chargeable under the law of a province, state or other part of a country, or

(b) it is levied by or on behalf of a municipality or other local body. " .

Part 2 Amendments of other enactments

Claims for group relief

8 After paragraph 77 of Schedule 18 to FA 1998 (joint amended returns) insert--

" Claims in respect of overseas losses of non-resident companies

77A (1) This paragraph applies if a claim for group relief is made in respect of any loss or other amount as a result of the condition in section 402(2A) of the Taxes Act 1988 being satisfied (relief in respect of overseas losses of non-resident companies).

(2) In relation to the surrendering company, this Part of this Schedule applies as if--

(a) references to the relief being surrendered were to the EEA amount and to the relief being claimed, and

(b) references to its accounting period were to its deemed accounting period under Part 2 of Schedule 18A to the Taxes Act 1988.

(3) Notice of consent of the surrendering company--

(a) is to be given to the officer of the Board under paragraph 70(3)(b) by the claimant company (and not by the surrendering company), and

(b) is to be given to the officer to whom the claimant company makes its company tax returns.

(4) If the surrendering company is not within the charge to income or corporation tax, the requirement under paragraph 71(1)(e) for notice of consent by the surrendering company to contain details of its tax district reference is not to apply.

(5) If notice of consent is withdrawn under paragraph 71, the notice of the withdrawal is to be given to the officer of the Board by the claimant company (and not by the surrendering company).

(6) If notice of consent is withdrawn under paragraph 75--

(a) the notice of withdrawal, and any copy of any new notice of consent, is to be sent to an officer of Revenue and Customs by the claimant company (and not by the surrendering company), and

(b) any notice containing directions by an officer of Revenue and Customs under sub-paragraph (4) of that paragraph is to be given to the claimant company (and not to the surrendering company).

(7) The remaining provisions of that paragraph, and the rest of this Part of this Schedule, are, accordingly, to be read with the appropriate modifications (so that, in particular, it is the claimant company (and not the surrendering company) which can bring an appeal under paragraph 75(7)).

(8) A notice under paragraph 27 (notice to produce documents etc for purposes of an enquiry) given to the claimant company may require the claimant company--

(a) to explain why the EEA amount meets the conditions mentioned in subsection (2)(a) to (d) of section 403F of the Taxes Act 1988 and is not prevented from being surrendered by section 403G of that Act, and

(b) to provide details of the recalculation required under Part 2 of Schedule 18A to that Act in relation to the EEA amount.

(9) Except where expressly indicated, requirements imposed under this paragraph are in addition to those imposed apart from this paragraph.

(10) In this paragraph "the EEA amount" has the same meaning as in Part 2 of Schedule 18A to the Taxes Act 1988. " .

Part 3 Commencement

Commencement

9 (1) The amendments made by this Schedule, other than those made by paragraphs 4(2) and 5, have effect--

(a) in relation to any accounting period of a claimant company beginning on or after 1st April 2006, and

(b) in relation to any period ("the loss period") beginning on or after 1st April 2006 in which any loss or other amount arises to a non-resident company.

(2) If an accounting period (a "straddling period") of a claimant company begins before 1st April 2006 and ends on or after that date--

(a) so much of the straddling period as falls before 1st April 2006, and

(b) so much of the straddling period as falls on or after that date,

are to be treated as separate accounting periods for the purposes of the amendments made by this Schedule other than those made by paragraphs 4(2) and 5.

(3) The amount of the claimant company's profits for the straddling period is to be attributed, on an apportionment in accordance with this paragraph, to those separate accounting periods.

(4) If the loss period of the non-resident company begins before 1st April 2006 and ends on or after that date--

(a) so much of the loss period as falls before 1st April 2006, and

(b) so much of the loss period as falls on or after that date,

are to be treated as separate periods for the purposes of the amendments made by this Schedule other than those made by paragraphs 4(2) and 5.

(5) The amount of the loss or other amount of the non-resident company for the loss period is to be attributed, on an apportionment in accordance with this paragraph, to those separate periods.

(6) Any apportionment under this paragraph is to be made on a just and reasonable basis.

Section 28

SCHEDULE 2 Relief for research and development: subjects of clinical trials

Amendments to Schedule 20 to FA 2000

1 (1) Schedule 20 to FA 2000 (tax relief for expenditure on research and development by small or medium-sized enterprises) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 3 (qualifying R&D expenditure), in sub-paragraph (4), after paragraph (b) insert--

" (ba) is incurred on relevant payments to the subjects of a clinical trial (see paragraph 6A), " .

(3) After paragraph 6 (expenditure on software or consumable items), insert--

" Relevant payments to subjects of clinical trials

6A (1) For the purposes of this Schedule "relevant payment", in relation to a subject of a clinical trial, means a payment made to him for participating in the trial.

(2) For the purposes of this Schedule "clinical trial" means an investigation in human subjects undertaken in connection with the development of a health care treatment or procedure. "

(4) In paragraph 10 (treatment of expenditure where company and sub-contractor are connected persons), in sub-paragraph (2)(a)(iii), for "or on software or consumable items" substitute ", on software or consumable items or on relevant payments to the subjects of a clinical trial".

Amendments to Schedule 12 to FA 2002

2 (1) Schedule 12 to FA 2002 (tax relief for expenditure on research and development: large companies etc) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 4 (qualifying expenditure on direct research and development), in sub-paragraph (3)--

(a) omit the word "or" at the end of paragraph (b);

(b) after that paragraph insert--

" (ba) is incurred on relevant payments to the subjects of a clinical trial, or " .

(3) In paragraph 9 (expenditure on research and development directly undertaken by the SME), in sub-paragraph (2)--

(a) omit the word "or" at the end of paragraph (b);

(b) after that paragraph insert--

" (ba) is incurred on relevant payments to the subjects of a clinical trial, or " .

(4) In paragraph 17 (which applies certain definitions from Schedule 20 to FA 2000)--

(a) in the heading, after ""software or consumable items"" insert ", "relevant payments to the subjects of a clinical trial"";

(b) omit the word "and" at the end of paragraph (c);

" (ca) paragraph 6A (relevant payments to subjects of clinical trials); and " .

Amendments to Schedule 13 to FA 2002

3 (1) Schedule 13 to FA 2002 (tax relief for expenditure on vaccine research etc) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 3 (qualifying expenditure on direct research and development), in sub-paragraph (5)--

(a) omit the word "or" at the end of paragraph (b);

(b) after that paragraph insert--

" (ba) is incurred on relevant payments to the subjects of a clinical trial, or " .

(3) In paragraph 5 (which applies certain definitions from Schedule 20 to FA 2000)--

(a) in the heading, after ""software or consumable items"," insert ""relevant payments to the subjects of a clinical trial",";

(b) in sub-paragraph (3), after paragraph (c) insert--

" (ca) paragraph 6A (relevant payments to subjects of clinical trials); " .

(4) In paragraph 9 (relevant expenditure of the sub-contractor), in sub-paragraph (3)--

(a) omit the word "or" at the end of paragraph (b);

(b) after that paragraph insert--

" (ba) is incurred on relevant payments to the subjects of a clinical trial, or " .

Section 29

SCHEDULE 3 Claims for relief for research and development

Introductory

1 Schedule 18 to FA 1998 (company tax returns, assessments and related matters) is amended as follows.

Claims to be included in return

2 (1) Paragraph 10 (other claims and elections to be included in return) is amended as follows.

(2) In sub-paragraph (2) (claims to which Part 8, 9 or 9A of Schedule 18 applies) for "R&D tax credit" substitute "R&D tax relief".

(3) After sub-paragraph (2A) insert--

" (2B) A claim to which Part 9BA of this Schedule applies (claims for relief under Schedule 12 to the Finance Act 2002) can only be made by being included in a company tax return (see paragraph 83LB). "

(4) In sub-paragraph (3) (claims to which Part 9C of Schedule 18 applies) for "tax credits under Schedule 13 to the Finance Act 2002" substitute "tax relief under Schedule 13 to the Finance Act 2002".

Claims for R&D tax relief

3 In paragraph 83A (Part 9A: introduction) for "claims for R&D tax credits" substitute "claims for R&D tax relief".

4 In each of the following provisions for "claim for an R&D tax credit" substitute "claim to which this Part of this Schedule applies"--

(a) paragraph 83B(1) (claim to be included in company tax return);

(b) paragraph 83C (content of claim);

(d) paragraph 83E(1) (time limit for claims).

5 In the title of Part 9A, "R&D tax credit" becomes "R&D tax relief".

Claims for relief under Schedule 12 to FA 2002

6 After paragraph 83L insert--

" Part 9BA Claims for relief under Schedule 12 to the Finance Act 2002

Introduction

83LA This Part of this Schedule applies to claims for relief under Schedule 12 to the Finance Act 2002.

Claim to be included in company tax return

83LB (1) A claim to which this Part of this Schedule applies must be made by being included in the claimant company's company tax return for the accounting period for which the claim is made.

(2) It may be included in the return originally made or by amendment.

Content of claim

83LC A claim to which this Part of this Schedule applies must specify the amount of the relief claimed, which must be an amount quantified at the time the claim is made.

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