Capital Allowances Act 2001

New section 384A (restriction of set-off of plant and machinery allowances)

30 After section 384 insert—

“384A Restriction of set-off of allowances against general income

(1) Relief shall not be given to an individual under sections 380 and 381 by reference to a first-year allowance under Part 2 of the Capital Allowances Act (plant and machinery allowances) in the circumstances specified in subsection (2) or (4) below.

(2) The circumstances are that the allowance is in respect of expenditure incurred on the provision of plant or machinery for leasing in the course of a qualifying activity and—

(a) at the time when the expenditure was incurred, the qualifying activity was carried on by the individual in question in partnership with a company (with or without other partners), or

(b) a scheme has been effected or arrangements have been made (whether before or after that time) with a view to the qualifying activity being so carried on by that individual.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) above letting a ship on charter shall be regarded as leasing it if, apart from this subsection, it would not be so regarded.

(4) The circumstances are that the allowance is made in connection with—

(a) a qualifying activity which at the time when the expenditure was incurred was carried on by the individual in partnership or which has subsequently been carried on by him in partnership or transferred to a person who was connected with him, or

(b) an asset which after that time has been transferred by the individual to a person who was connected with him or, at a price lower than its market value, to any other person,

and the condition in subsection (5) below is met.

(5) The condition is that a scheme has been effected or arrangements have been made (whether before or after the time referred to in subsection (4) above) such that the sole or main benefit that might be expected to accrue to the individual from the transaction under which the expenditure was incurred was the obtaining of a reduction in tax liability by means of relief under sections 380 and 381.

(6) Where relief has been given in circumstances in which subsection (1) applies it shall be withdrawn by the making of an assessment under Case VI of Schedule D.

(7) Section 839 (how to tell whether persons are connected) applies for the purposes of subsection (4) above.

(8) Expressions used in this section and in Part 2 of the Capital Allowances Act have the same meaning as in that Part.”