Finance Act 1996 (c. 8)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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(a) income deriving from shares or securities, or

(b) eligible rental income, within the meaning of section 508A. "

Commencement

3 This Schedule has effect in relation to accounting periods beginning on or after the day on which this Act is passed.

Section 163.

SCHEDULE 31 Life assurance business losses

Expenses of management

1 In section 76 of the Taxes Act 1988 (expenses of management: insurance companies) in subsection (1) (which applies section 75 of that Act with specified exceptions) before paragraph (a) there shall be inserted--

" (aa) where the whole or any part of a loss arising to the company in respect of its life assurance business in an accounting period is set off under section 393A or 403(1), there shall be deducted from the amount treated as the expenses of management for that period an amount equal to so much of the loss as, in the aggregate, is so set off, reduced by the amounts by which any losses for that period under section 436, 439B or 441 fall to be reduced under section 434A(2)(b); and

(ab) section 75(1) shall have effect with the substitution for "in computing profits apart from this section" of--

" (a) in computing income for the purposes of Schedule A, or

(b) by virtue of section 121(3) in computing income from the letting of rights to work minerals in the United Kingdom " ; and " .

Computation of losses and limitation on relief

2 (1) In relation to accounting periods beginning on or after 1st January 1996 and ending after 31st March 1996, section 434A of the Taxes Act 1988 (life assurance business: computation of losses and limitation on relief) shall be amended as follows--

(a) for subsection (2) there shall be substituted the subsection (2) set out in sub-paragraph (2) below; and

(b) in subsection (2A) (which is inserted by paragraph 23(2) of Schedule 14 to this Act) for "(2)(c)" there shall be substituted "(2)(a)(ii)".

(2) The subsection (2) set out in this sub-paragraph is as follows--

" (2) Where for any accounting period the loss arising to an insurance company from its life assurance business falls to be computed in accordance with the provisions of this Act applicable to Case I of Schedule D--

(a) the loss resulting from the computation shall be reduced (but not below nil) by the aggregate of--

(i) the aggregate amount treated as a charge on income in computing for the period, otherwise than in accordance with those provisions, the profits or losses of the company's life assurance business; and

(ii) any relevant non-trading deficit for that period on the company's debtor relationships; and

(b) if the whole or any part of that loss as so reduced is set off--

(i) under section 393A, or

(ii) under section 403(1),

any losses for that period under section 436, 439B or 441 shall be reduced to nil, unless the aggregate of those losses exceeds the total of the amounts set off as mentioned in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, in which case each of those losses shall be reduced by an amount which bears to that total the proportion which the loss in question bears to that aggregate. "

(3) In relation to accounting periods beginning on or after 1st January 1996 and ending on or before 31st March 1996, for subsection (2) of section 434A of the Taxes Act 1988 there shall be substituted the subsection (2) set out in sub-paragraph (2) above, but with the following amendments to paragraph (a), that is to say--

(a) in the words preceding sub-paragraph (i), the words "the aggregate of" shall be omitted;

(b) in sub-paragraph (i), for "aggregate amount treated as a charge on income" there shall be substituted "amount of interest and annuities treated as charges on income"; and

Spreading of relief for acquisition expenses

3 (1) In section 86 of the [1989 c. 26.] Finance Act 1989 (spreading of relief for acquisition expenses) in subsection (1), for the words from "less any such repayments" to the end there shall be substituted--

" reduced by the items specified in subsection (1A) below. "

(2) After that subsection there shall be inserted--

" (1A) Those items are--

(a) the appropriate portion of any deduction falling to be made under paragraph (aa) of subsection (1) of section 76 of the Taxes Act 1988 for the period in question;

(b) any such repayments or refunds falling within paragraph (c) of that subsection as are received in that period;

(1B) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of subsection (1A) above, "the appropriate portion" of the deduction there mentioned is the amount which bears to the whole of that deduction the proportion which the acquisition expenses, without making the reduction required by subsection (1) above, would bear to the whole of the expenses of management, without making the deductions required by paragraphs (aa), (a), (c) and (ca) of section 76(1) of the Taxes Act 1988. "

Ascertainment of losses

4 In section 83 of the Finance Act 1989 (receipts to be brought into account) for subsection (3) (ascertainment of losses) there shall be substituted--

" (3) In ascertaining whether or to what extent a company has incurred a loss in respect of that business in a case where an amount is added to the company's long term business fund as part of or in connection with--

(a) a transfer of business to the company, or

(b) a demutualisation of the company not involving a transfer of business,

that amount shall (subject to subsection (4) below) be taken into account, for the period for which it is brought into account, as an increase in value of the assets of that fund within subsection (2)(b) above.

(4) Subsection (3) above does not apply where, or to the extent that, the amount concerned--

(a) would fall to be taken into account as a receipt apart from this section,

(b) is taken into account under subsection (2) above otherwise than by virtue of subsection (3) above, or

(5) Any amount which is to be taken into account pursuant to subsection (3) above for a period of account shall be so taken into account--

(a) after the making of any reduction under subsection (6) of section 83AA below in relation to that period, but

(b) before the making of any reduction under subsection (3) of that section in relation to an accounting period of the company ending in or with that period.

(6) In subsection (3) above "transfer of business" means--

(a) a transfer of the whole or part of the long term business of an insurance company in accordance with a scheme sanctioned by a court under Part I of Schedule 2C to the [1982 c. 50.] Insurance Companies Act 1982;

(b) a qualifying overseas transfer, within the meaning of paragraph 4A of Schedule 19AC to the Taxes Act 1988; or

(c) the making of a contract of reinsurance which, in whole or in part, constitutes or forms part of a total reinsurance by the reinsured, unless the reinsurer under the contract falls within section 439A of the Taxes Act 1988 (pure reinsurance).

(7) For the purposes of subsection (3)(a) above, a transfer of business falling within subsection (6)(c) above shall be treated as a transfer of business to the company which is the reinsurer under the contract of reinsurance.

(8) In this section--

"add", in relation to an amount and a company's long term business fund, includes transfer (whether from other assets of the company or otherwise);
"demutualisation" means the conversion, under the law of any territory, of a company which has been carrying on insurance business without having a share capital into a company with a share capital, without any change of legal personality;
"total reinsurance" means the reinsurance (whether effected by a single contract of reinsurance or by two or more such contracts, taken together, whether or not made with the same reinsurer) of the whole, or substantially the whole, of the reinsured's risk--
(a)
under policies of a particular description issued in respect of insurances made in the course of carrying on life assurance business before the making of the contract of reinsurance (or, in a case where there are two or more contracts of reinsurance, the last of them); or
(b)
under contracts of a particular description so made. "

Application of surplus in reduction of certain losses

5 After section 83 of the [1989 c. 26.] Finance Act 1989 there shall be inserted--

" 83AA Amounts added to long term business fund of a company in excess of that company's loss

(1) If one or more relevant amounts are brought into account for a period of account of a company and either--

(a) the aggregate of those amounts exceeds the loss which, after the making of any reduction under subsection (6) below but before any application of section 83(3) above in relation to that period, would have arisen to the company in that period in respect of its life assurance business, or

(b) no such loss would have so arisen,

the surplus for that period shall be applied in accordance with the following provisions of this section and section 83AB below.

(2) In this section--

"relevant amount" means so much of any amount which is added to the long term business fund of a company as mentioned in subsection (3) of section 83 above as does not fall within any of the paragraphs of subsection (4) of that section;
"surplus", in relation to a period of account of a company, means (subject to section 83AB(2) below)--
(a)
if the aggregate of the relevant amounts brought into account for that period exceeds the amount of any loss which, after the making of any reduction under subsection (6) below but before any application of section 83(3) above in relation to that period, would have arisen to the company in that period in respect of its life assurance business, the amount of the excess; or
(b)
if no such loss would have so arisen, the aggregate of the relevant amounts brought into account for that period.

(3) Where, apart from section 83AB(2) below, there is a surplus for a period of account of a company for which there are brought into account one or more relevant amounts which were added to the company's long term business fund as part of, or in connection with, a particular transfer of business, the appropriate portion of the surplus for that period shall be treated as reducing (but not below nil) so much of any loss arising to the transferor company in the relevant accounting period as, on a just and reasonable apportionment of the loss, is referable to the business which is the subject of that particular transfer.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) above, the appropriate portion of the surplus for a period of account of a company is, in the case of any particular transfer of business, the amount which bears to that surplus (apart from any additions by virtue of section 83AB(2) below) the proportion which A bears to B, where--

A is the aggregate of such of the relevant amounts added to the company's long term business fund as part of, or in connection with, that particular transfer of business as are brought into account for that period, and
B is the aggregate of the relevant amounts brought into account for that period.

(5) Any reduction pursuant to subsection (3) above of the loss arising to the transferor company in the relevant accounting period shall be made after--

(a) the making of any reduction under subsection (6) below, and

(b) any application of section 83(3) above,

in relation to the period of account of that company in which falls the date of the particular transfer of business in question.

(6) Any loss arising to a company in respect of its life assurance business in a period of account subsequent to one for which there is a surplus shall be reduced (but not below nil) by so much of that surplus as cannot be applied--

(a) under subsection (3) above;

(b) under this subsection, in the reduction of a loss arising to the company in an earlier period of account; or

(c) under section 83AB below, in relation to a transfer of business from the company in that or any earlier period of account.

(7) Any reduction pursuant to subsection (6) above of a loss arising to a company in a period of account shall be made--

(a) before any application of section 83(3) above in relation to that period, and

(b) if the company is also the transferor company in relation to a particular transfer of business, before the making of any reduction under subsection (3) above in relation to that one of its accounting periods which is the relevant accounting period in relation to that transfer.

(8) A surplus in respect of an earlier period of account shall be applied under subsection (6) above before a surplus in respect of a later period of account.

(9) All such adjustments to the liability to tax of any person shall be made, whether by assessment or otherwise, as may be required to give effect to this section.

(10) In this section--

"add" has the same meaning as in section 83 above;
"the relevant accounting period" means the accounting period of the transferor company which--
(a)
ends on the date of the transfer of business mentioned in subsection (3) above, or
(b)
if that transfer of business falls within section 83(6)(c) above and no accounting period of the transferor company ends on that date, ends next after that date;
"transfer of business" has the same meaning as in section 83(3) above;
"the transferor company" means the company from which the transfer of business mentioned in subsection (3) above is effected.

(11) A transfer of business falling within section 83(6)(c) above shall be treated for the purposes of this section as a transfer of business from the company which is the reinsured under the contract of reinsurance.

83AB Treatment of surplus where there is a subsequent transfer of business from the company etc

(1) If an amount is added to the long term business fund of a company as part of or in connection with a transfer of business to the company, or a demutualisation of the company not involving a transfer of business, and--

(a) there is a surplus for the period of account of the company for which that amount is brought into account,

(b) at any time after the transfer of business or demutualisation, there is a transfer of business from the company (the "subsequent transfer"), and

(c) at the end of the relevant period of account there remains at least some of the surplus mentioned in paragraph (a) above which cannot be applied--

(i) under subsection (3) of section 83AA above,

(ii) under subsection (6) of that section, in the reduction of a loss arising to the company in an earlier period of account, or

(iii) under this section, in relation to an earlier subsequent transfer,

so much of the surplus falling within paragraph (c) above as, on a just and reasonable apportionment, is referable to business which is the subject of the subsequent transfer shall be applied under this section.

(2) An amount of surplus which is to be applied under this section shall be so applied by being treated as an amount of surplus (additional to any other amounts of surplus) for the period of account of the transferee company which last precedes the period of account of that company in which the subsequent transfer is effected, whether or not there is in fact any such preceding period of account.

(3) If, in a case where an amount is treated under subsection (2) above as an amount of surplus for a period of account of a company, the period is not one for which there is brought into account an amount added to the company's long term business fund in connection with the subsequent transfer, subsection (1) above shall have effect in relation to any transfer of business from the company subsequent to that transfer as if an amount had been so added and had been brought into account for that period.

(4) Any question as to what is a just and reasonable apportionment in any case for the purposes of subsection (1) above shall be determined by the Special Commissioners who shall determine the question in the same manner as they determine appeals; but any person affected by the apportionment shall be entitled to appear and be heard or make representations in writing.

(5) A surplus in respect of an earlier period of account shall be applied under this section before a surplus in respect of a later period of account.

(6) All such adjustments to the liability to tax of any person shall be made, whether by assessment or otherwise, as may be required to give effect to this section.

(7) In this section--

"add" has the same meaning as in section 83 above;
"demutualisation" has the same meaning as in section 83 above;
"the relevant period of account" means the period of account of the company from which the subsequent transfer is effected which consists of or includes the accounting period of that company which--
(a)
ends with the day on which the subsequent transfer is effected; or
(b)
if the subsequent transfer is a transfer of business falling within section 83(6)(c) above and no accounting period of the company ends on that day, ends next after that day;
"surplus" has the same meaning as in section 83AA above;
"transfer of business" has the same meaning as in section 83(3) above;
"transferee company" means the company to which the subsequent transfer of business is effected.

(8) Where it is necessary for any purpose of this section to identify the time at which a demutualisation of a company takes place, that time shall be taken to be the time when the company first issues shares.

(9) A transfer of business falling within section 83(6)(c) above shall be treated for the purposes of this section as a transfer of business from the company which is the reinsured under the contract of reinsurance to the company which is the reinsurer under that contract. "

Meaning of "brought into account" in sections 83AA and 83AB

6 (1) In section 83A of the [1989 c. 26.] Finance Act 1989, in subsection (1) (meaning of "brought into account" in section 83)--

(a) for "In section 83" there shall be substituted "In sections 83 to 83AB"; and

(b) for "that section" there shall be substituted "those sections".

(2) In subsection (2) of that section (the accounts which are recognised for the purposes of that section) for "that section" there shall be substituted "those sections".

Enactments disapplying section 83(3) of the Finance Act 1989

7 (1) The following provisions of the Taxes Act 1988 (each of which provides for section 83(3) of the Finance Act 1989 not to apply in certain cases) shall cease to have effect--

(a) section 436(3)(aa);

(b) section 439B(3)(b); and

(2) In consequence of sub-paragraph (1)(b) and (c) above, the word "and" shall be added at the end of section 439B(3)(a) and section 441(4)(a) of the Taxes Act 1988.

Overseas life insurance companies

8 (1) Schedule 8A to the Finance Act 1989 (modifications of sections 83 and 89 in relation to overseas life insurance companies) shall be amended in accordance with the following provisions of this paragraph.

(2) In the Heading "Modifications of sections 83 and 89 in relation to overseas life insurance companies" after "83" there shall be inserted "to 83A".

(3) In paragraph 1(1), for "sections 83 and 83A" there shall be substituted "sections 83 to 83A".

(4) In paragraph 1A, in sub-paragraph (4)--

(a) for the words from "being transferred" to "added to that fund" there shall be substituted "being added to the company's long term business fund"; and

(b) in the second sentence, for "a transfer" and "transferred" there shall be substituted respectively "an addition" and "added".

(5) After that sub-paragraph there shall be added--

" (5) Any reference in section 83AA(2), (3) or (4) or 83AB(1) or (3) to an amount being added to the relevant company's long term business fund shall be construed in accordance with sub-paragraph (4) above. "

(6) In paragraph 1C(4), for "transfer" there shall be substituted "addition".

Transitional provisions

9 (1) In the application of section 83AA or 83AB of the [1989 c. 26.] Finance Act 1989 in a case where one or more relevant amounts added to a company's long term business fund on or before 25th March 1996 are brought into account for a period of account beginning on or after 1st January 1996--

(a) the amount of any loss which, before any application of section 83(3) of that Act in relation to that period, would have arisen to the company in that period shall be treated as reduced (but not below nil) by the aggregate of those relevant amounts; and

(b) except as provided by paragraph (a) above, those relevant amounts shall be disregarded.

(2) In the application of sub-paragraph (1) above in relation to an overseas life insurance company, any reference to an amount added to a company's long term business fund shall be taken as a reference to any assets which became assets of the long term business fund of an overseas life insurance company used or held for the purposes of the company's United Kingdom branch or agency, having immediately previously been--

(a) held by the company otherwise than as assets of that fund, or

(b) used or held otherwise than for those purposes.

(3) If the relevant accounting period mentioned in subsection (3) of section 83AA of the Finance Act 1989 is a period beginning before 1st January 1996, only the appropriate portion of the eligible loss shall be reduced pursuant to that subsection; and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph--

(a) "the eligible loss" means so much of the loss arising to the transferor company in the relevant accounting period as, on a just and reasonable apportionment of the loss for the purposes of that subsection, is referable to the business which is the subject of the particular transfer of business in question; and

(b) "the appropriate portion" of the eligible loss is the amount which bears to the eligible loss the proportion which A bears to B where--

A is the number of days in the relevant accounting period which fall on or after 1st January 1996; and
B is the total number of days in the relevant accounting period.

(4) Paragraph 10(2) below shall not prevent--

(a) an amount of surplus for a period of account of a company beginning on or after 1st January 1996, or

(b) an amount of surplus for any period of account of a company which, by virtue of the operation of this sub-paragraph, derives from an amount of surplus falling within paragraph (a) above,

from being treated by virtue of section 83AB of the Finance Act 1989 as an amount of surplus for the period of account of another company last preceding its earliest period of account ending on or after 1st January 1996 (whenever beginning) or from being applied accordingly under section 83AA(6) or 83AB of that Act.

(5) In this paragraph--

"add" has the same meaning as in section 83 of the Finance Act 1989;
"brought into account" has the same meaning as it has in sections 83 to 83AB of that Act by virtue of section 83A of that Act;
"relevant amount" has the same meaning as in section 83AA of that Act;
"surplus" has the same meaning as in sections 83AA and 83AB of that Act.

Commencement

10 (1) Subject to paragraph 2(1) and (3) above, paragraphs 1 to 3 above have effect in relation to accounting periods beginning on or after 1st January 1996.

(2) Subject to paragraph 9 above, paragraphs 4 to 8 above have effect in relation to periods of account beginning on or after 1st January 1996.

Section 166.

SCHEDULE 32 Equalisation reserves

1 In Chapter I of Part XII of the Taxes Act 1988 (insurance companies and capital redemption business), after section 444B there shall be inserted the following sections--

" Equalisation reserves

444BA Equalisation reserves for general business

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section and to sections 444BB to 444BD, the rules in subsection (2) below shall apply in making any computation, for the purposes of Case I or V of Schedule D, of the profits or losses for any accounting period of an insurance company whose business has at any time been or included business in respect of which it was required, by virtue of section 34A regulations, to maintain an equalisation reserve.

(2) Those rules are--

(a) that amounts which, in accordance with section 34A regulations, are transferred into the equalisation reserve in respect of the company's business for the accounting period in question are to be deductible;

(b) that amounts which, in accordance with any such regulations, are transferred out of the reserve in respect of the company's business for that period are to be treated as receipts of that business; and

(c) that it must be assumed that all such transfers as are required by section 34A regulations to be made into or out of the reserve in respect of the company's business for any period are made as required.

(3) Where an insurance company having any business in respect of which it is required, by virtue of section 34A regulations, to maintain an equalisation reserve ceases to trade--

(a) any balance which exists in the reserve at that time for the purposes of the Tax Acts shall be deemed to have been transferred out of the reserve immediately before the company ceases to trade; and

(b) that transfer out shall be deemed to be a transfer in respect of the company's business for the accounting period in which the company so ceases and to have been required by section 34A regulations.

(4) Where--

(a) an amount is transferred into an equalisation reserve in respect of the business of an insurance company for any accounting period,

(b) the rule in subsection (2)(a) above would apply to the transfer of that amount but for this subsection,

(c) that company by notice in writing to an officer of the Board makes an election in relation to that amount for the purposes of this subsection, and

(d) the notice of the election is given not more than two years after the end of that period,

the rule mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above shall not apply to that transfer of that amount and, instead, the amount transferred (the "unrelieved transfer") shall be carried forward for the purposes of subsection (5) below to the next accounting period and (subject to subsection (6) below) from accounting period to accounting period.

(5) Where--

(a) in accordance with section 34A regulations, a transfer is made out of an equalisation reserve in respect of an insurance company's business for any accounting period,

(b) the rule in subsection (2)(b) above would apply to the transfer but for this subsection, and

(c) the accounting period is one to which any amount representing one or more unrelieved transfers has been carried forward under subsection (4) above,

that rule mentioned in subsection (2)(b) above shall not apply to that transfer except to the extent (if any) that the amount of the transfer exceeds the aggregate of the amounts representing unrelieved transfers carried forward to that period.

(6) Where in the case of any company--

(a) any amount representing one or more unrelieved transfers is carried forward to an accounting period in accordance with subsection (4) above, and

(b) by virtue of subsection (5) above the rule in subsection (2)(b) above does not apply to an amount representing the whole or any part of any transfer out of an equalisation reserve in respect of the company's business for that period,

the amount mentioned in paragraph (a) above shall not be carried forward under subsection (4) above to the next accounting period except to the extent (if any) that it exceeds the amount mentioned in paragraph (b) above.

(7) To the extent that any actual or assumed transfer in accordance with section 34A regulations of any amount into an equalisation reserve is attributable to arrangements entered into wholly or mainly for tax purposes--

(a) the rule in subsection (2)(a) above shall not apply to that transfer; and

(b) the making of that transfer shall be disregarded in determining, for the purposes of the Tax Acts, whether and to what extent there is subsequently any requirement to make a transfer into or out of the reserve in accordance with section 34A regulations;

and this subsection applies irrespective of whether the insurance company in question is a party to the arrangements.

(8) For the purposes of this section the transfer of an amount into an equalisation reserve is attributable to arrangements entered into wholly or mainly for tax purposes to the extent that the arrangements to which it is attributable are arrangements--

(a) the sole or main purpose of which is, or

(b) the sole or main benefit accruing from which might (but for subsection (7) above) be expected to be,

the reduction by virtue of this section of any liability to tax.

(9) Where--

(a) any transfer made into or out of an equalisation reserve maintained by an insurance company is made in accordance with section 34A regulations in respect of business carried on by that company over a period ("the equalisation period"), and

(b) parts of the equalisation period are in different accounting periods,

the amount transferred shall be apportioned for the purposes of this section between the different accounting periods in the proportions that correspond to the number of days in the equalisation period that are included in each of those accounting periods.

(10) The Treasury may by regulations provide in relation to any accounting periods ending on or after 1st April 1996 for specified transitional provisions contained in section 34A regulations to be disregarded for the purposes of the Tax Acts in determining how much is required, on any occasion, to be transferred into or out of any equalisation reserve in accordance with the regulations.

(11) In this section and sections 444BB to 444BD "section 34A regulations" means regulations made under section 34A of the [1982 c. 50.] Insurance Companies Act 1982 (equalisation reserves in respect of general business).

444BB Modification of s. 444BA for mutual or overseas business and for non-resident companies

(1) The Treasury may by regulations make provision modifying section 444BA so as, in cases mentioned in subsection (2) below--

(a) to require--

(i) sums by reference to which the amount of any transfer into or out of an equalisation reserve falls to be computed, or

(ii) the amount of any such transfer,

to be apportioned between different parts of the business carried on for any period by an insurance company; and

(b) to provide for the purposes of corporation tax for the amounts taken to be transferred into or out of an equalisation reserve to be computed disregarding any such sum or, as the case may be, any such part of a transfer as is attributed, in accordance with the regulations, to a part of the business described for the purpose in the regulations.

(2) Those cases are cases where an insurance company which, in accordance with section 34A regulations, is required to make transfers into or out of an equalisation reserve in respect of any business carried on by that company for any period is carrying on, for the whole or any part of that period--

(a) any business the income and gains of which fall to be disregarded in making a computation of the company's profits in accordance with the rules applicable to Case I of Schedule D, or

(b) any business by reference to which double taxation relief is afforded in respect of any income or gains.

(3) Section 444BA shall have effect (subject to any regulations under subsection (1) above) in the case of an equalisation reserve maintained by an insurance company which--

(a) is not resident in the United Kingdom, and

(b) carries on business in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency,

only if such conditions as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Treasury are satisfied in relation to that company and in relation to transfers into or out of that reserve.

(4) Regulations under this section prescribing conditions subject to which section 444BA is to apply in the case of any equalisation reserve maintained by an insurance company may--

(a) contain conditions imposing requirements on the company to furnish the Board with information with respect to any matters to which the regulations relate, or to produce to the Board documents or records relating to any such matters; and

(b) provide that, where any prescribed condition is not, or ceases to be, satisfied in relation to the company or in relation to transfers into or out of that reserve, there is to be deemed for the purposes of the Tax Acts to have been a transfer out of that reserve of an amount determined under the regulations.

(5) Regulations under this section may--

(a) provide for apportionments under the regulations to be made in such manner, and by reference to such factors, as may be specified or described in the regulations;

(b) make different provision for different cases;

(d) make provision having retrospective effect in relation to accounting periods beginning not more than one year before the time when the regulations are made;

and the powers conferred by this section in relation to transfers into or out of any reserve shall be exercisable in relation to both actual and assumed transfers.

(6) In this section "double taxation relief" means--

(a) relief under double taxation arrangements which takes the form of a credit allowed against corporation tax, or

(b) unilateral relief under section 790(1) which takes that form;

and "double taxation arrangements" here means arrangements having effect by virtue of section 788.

444BC Modification of s. 444BA for non-annual accounting etc

(1) The Treasury may by regulations make provision modifying the operation of section 444BA in relation to cases where an insurance company has, for the purpose of preparing the documents it is required to prepare for the purposes of section 17 of the [1982 c. 50.] Insurance Companies Act 1982, applied for any period an accounting method described in paragraph 52 or 53 of Schedule 9A to the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 (accounting on a non-annual basis).

(2) Subsection (5) of section 444BB applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section.

444BD Application of s. 444BA rules to other equalisation reserves

(1) The Treasury may by regulations provide for section 444BA to have effect, in such cases and subject to such modifications as may be specified in the regulations, in relation to any equivalent reserves as it has effect in relation to equalisation reserves maintained by virtue of section 34A regulations.

(2) For the purposes of this section a reserve is an equivalent reserve if--

(a) it is maintained, otherwise than by virtue of section 34A regulations, either--

(i) by an EC company carrying on business in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency, or

(ii) in respect of any insurance business (within the meaning of the Insurance Companies Act 1982) which is carried on outside the United Kingdom by a company resident in the United Kingdom;

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Stat