Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988

Ascertainment of profits

19 (1) The scheme must provide for the preparation of a profit and loss account in respect of—

(a) each profit period of the employment unit; and

(b) any other period the profits for which must be ascertained for the purposes of this Chapter.

(2) The profit and loss account must give a true and fair view of the profit or loss of the employment unit for the period to which it relates.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) above, the requirements of Schedule 4 to the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 shall apply (with any necessary modifications) to a profit and loss account prepared for the purposes of the scheme as they apply to a profit and loss account of a company for a financial year.

(4) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph, a profit and loss account prepared for the purposes of the scheme must not make any deduction, in arriving at the profits or losses of the employment unit, for the remuneration of any person excluded from the scheme by virtue of paragraph 7 above.

(5) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph, if the scheme so provides in relation to any of the items listed in sub-paragraph (6) below, a profit and loss account prepared for the purposes of the scheme may, in arriving at the profits or losses of the employment unit—

(a) leave the item out of account notwithstanding that Schedule 4 to the Companies Act 1985 requires it to be taken into account; or

(b) take the item into account notwithstanding that Schedule 4 to the Companies Act 1985 requires it to be left out of account.

(6) The items referred to in sub-paragraph (5) above are—

(a) interest receivable and similar income;

(b) interest payable and similar charges;

(c) goodwill;

(d) tax on profit or loss on ordinary activities (but not any penalty under the Taxes Acts);

(e) research and development costs;

(f) profit-related pay payable under the scheme;

(g) extraordinary income;

(h) extraordinary charges;

(j) extraordinary profit or loss;

(k) tax on extraordinary profit or loss.

(7) References in this paragraph to Schedule 4 to the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985 shall be construed, in relation to Northern Ireland, as references to Schedule 4 to the [S.I. 1986/1032 (N.I. 6).] Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

20 (1) The scheme must provide that, in preparing a profit and loss account for the purposes of this Schedule, no changes may be made from the accounting policies used in preparing accounts for any earlier period relevant for those purposes, or in the methods of applying those policies, if the effect of the changes (either singly or taken together) would be that the amount of profits (or losses) differed by more than 5 per cent. from what would be that amount if no changes were made.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above has effect subject to paragraph 19(2) above.