1.This section sets the small profits rate of corporation tax (CT) for the financial year beginning 1 April 2014 at 20% for all profits apart from “ring fence profits” of North Sea oil companies, where the rate is set at 19%. Additionally, it sets the fraction used in calculating marginal relief from the main rate at 1/400 for all profits apart from “ring fence profits”, where the fraction is set at 11/400.
2.Subsection (1) sets the small profits rate of CT for the financial year beginning 1 April 2014.
3.Subsection (2) sets the marginal relief standard and ring fence fractions.
4.Companies with profits up to £300,000 pay CT at the small profits rate.
5.Companies with profits between £300,000 and £1,500,000 (the lower and upper limits) benefit from marginal relief.
6.Marginal relief has the effect of gradually increasing the rate of tax for a company as its profits move from the lower to the upper profits limit.
7.The example below illustrates the effect of marginal relief for a company with taxable non-ring fence profits of £500,000. Its tax liability is calculated as follows:
* £1,000,000 is the difference between the upper limit and the profit. | |
£500,000 at 21 per cent | £105,000 |
Minus 1/400 of £1,000,000* | £2,500 |
Tax payable | £102,500 |
8.The example below illustrates the effect of marginal relief for a company with taxable ring fence profits of £500,000. Its tax liability is calculated as follows:
* £1,000,000 is the difference between the upper limit and the profit | |
£500,000 at 30 per cent | £150,000 |
Minus 11/400 of £1,000,000* | £27,500 |
Tax payable | £122,500 |
9.Where two or more companies are associated with one another, the profits limits are divided by the number of associated companies.