Finance Act 2021

PART 1 New Schedule to FA 2013

1 After Schedule 43C of FA 2013 insert—

Section 209

“SCHEDULE 43D The GAAR and partnerships

PART 1 General

Introductory

1 (1) This Schedule makes provision about the operation of the general anti-abuse rule in relation to partnerships.

(2) This Schedule applies where—

(a) a return is made under section 12AA of TMA 1970 (a “section 12AA partnership return”), or

(b) a return is made in accordance with regulations under paragraph 10 of Schedule A1 to TMA 1970 (a “Schedule A1 partnership return”).

Meaning of “the responsible partner”

2 In this Schedule, “the responsible partner” means—

(a) in relation to the making of a section 12AA partnership return, the person who delivered the return or their successor (within the meaning of section 12AA(11) of TMA 1970);

(b) in relation to the making of a Schedule A1 partnership return, the nominated partner (within the meaning of paragraph 5 of Schedule A1 to TMA 1970).

Partnership return made on basis that tax advantage arises

3 (1) For the purposes of this Schedule, a partnership return is regarded as made on the basis that a particular tax advantage arises (or might arise) to a partner from particular arrangements if—

(a) it is made on the basis that an increase or reduction in one or more of the amounts mentioned in section 12AB(1) of TMA 1970 (amounts in the partnership statement in a partnership return) results (or might result) from those arrangements, and

(b) that increase or reduction results (or might result) in that tax advantage for the partner.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1) and in the following provisions of this Schedule “partnership return” means a section 12AA partnership return or a Schedule A1 partnership return.

PART 2 Protective GAAR notices

Power to give protective GAAR notice to responsible partner

4 (1) If an officer of Revenue and Customs considers, in relation to a partnership—

(a) that a partnership return has been made on the basis that a tax advantage arises (or might arise) to one or more partners from tax arrangements that are abusive, and

(b) that, on the assumption that the advantage does arise from tax arrangements that are abusive, it ought to be counteracted under section 209,

the officer may give a written notice to that effect (a “protective GAAR notice”) to the responsible partner.

(2) Subsections (2) to (9) of section 209AA apply in relation to a protective GAAR notice given under this paragraph as they apply in relation to a protective GAAR notice given under that section, subject to the modifications in sub-paragraphs (3) and (4).

(3) Section 209AA(3) is to be read as if—

(a) for “a return made by the person, and” there were substituted “the partnership return”, and

(b) paragraph (b) were omitted.

(4) Section 209AA(8) is to be read as if, for “212A”, there were substituted “212B”.

PART 3 Notices of proposed counteraction

Power to give notice of proposed counteraction to responsible partner

5 (1) If a designated HMRC officer considers that, in relation to a partnership—

(a) a partnership return has been made on the basis that a tax advantage has arisen to one or more partners from tax arrangements that are abusive, and

(b) the tax advantage ought to be counteracted under section 209,

the officer may give the responsible partner a written notice under this paragraph.

(2) A partner who appears to a designated HMRC officer to fall within sub-paragraph (1)(a) is a “relevant partner” for the purposes of this Part of this Schedule.

(3) The notice must—

(a) specify each relevant partner, the arrangements and the tax advantage,

(b) explain why the officer considers that a tax advantage has arisen to each relevant partner from tax arrangements that are abusive,

(c) set out the counteraction that the officer considers ought to be taken,

(d) inform the responsible partner of the period for making representations under paragraph 4 of Schedule 43, and

(e) explain the effect of—

(i) paragraphs 5 and 6 of Schedule 43, and

(ii) sections 209(8) and 212B.

(4) The notice may set out steps that may be taken to avoid the proposed counteraction.

(5) If, after the notice has been given, it appears to a designated HMRC officer that the tax advantage has not in fact arisen to a partner specified in the notice, the officer must amend the notice accordingly.

(6) Where a designated HMRC officer so amends a notice—

(a) it is treated as having been given in the amended form, and

(b) the officer may take such other steps as the officer considers appropriate.

Effect of giving a notice under paragraph 5

6 Where an officer gives a notice under paragraph 5 in respect of a tax advantage, this Part of this Act has effect in relation to the tax advantage with the modifications in paragraph 7.

Modifications to Schedule 43

7 (1) Schedule 43 (procedural requirements) has effect with the following modifications.

(2) Schedule 43 is to be read as if paragraphs 1A and 3 were omitted.

(3) References to a notice given under paragraph 3 of Schedule 43 are to be read as if they were to a notice given under paragraph 5 of this Schedule.

(4) In paragraphs 4 and 6 to 12, references to the taxpayer are to be read as if they were to the responsible partner.

(5) Schedule 43 is to be read as if, for paragraphs 4A and 4B (and the headings before those paragraphs), there were substituted—

“Corrective action taken by the responsible partner

4A (1) Where, in respect of a partnership—

(a) a designated HMRC officer gives a notice under paragraph 5 of Schedule 43D in respect of a tax advantage arising to one or more partners,

(b) the closed period mentioned in section 209(8) has not begun, and

(c) the responsible partner—

(i) amends a partnership return or claim to counteract the tax advantage, and

(ii) notifies HMRC of that fact,

the matter is not to be referred to the GAAR Advisory Panel.

(2) Where a tax enquiry is in progress, no enactment limiting the time during which amendments may be made to returns or claims operates to prevent the responsible partner taking the action mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(c)(i) and (ii) before the enquiry is closed.

(3) No appeal may be brought, by virtue of a provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (4), against an amendment made by a closure notice in respect of a tax enquiry, to the extent that the amendment takes into account an amendment made by the responsible partner to a return or claim as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(c).

(4) The provisions are—

(a) section 31(1)(b) or (c) of TMA 1970,

(b) paragraph 9 of Schedule 1A to TMA 1970.

Corrective action by relevant partners

4B (1) Where, in respect of a partnership—

(a) a designated HMRC officer gives a notice under paragraph 5 of Schedule 43D in respect of a tax advantage arising to one or more partners,

(b) the closed period mentioned in section 209(8) has not begun, and

(c) a partner mentioned in paragraph (a) takes all necessary action to enter into an agreement with HMRC (in writing) for the purpose of relinquishing the tax advantage,

the partner is not to be treated as a relevant partner for the purposes of Part 3 of Schedule 43D.

(2) As soon as is practicable after the beginning of the closed period, the notice given under paragraph 5 of Schedule 43D must be amended by a designated HMRC officer so each partner to whom sub-paragraph (1) applies is no longer specified in it.

(3) Where a notice is amended in accordance with sub-paragraph (2), the notice is treated as having been given in the amended form.

(4) If a partner to whom sub-paragraph (1) applies fails to enter into the written agreement, HMRC may proceed as if that sub-paragraph had not applied in relation to the partner (and accordingly, as if the partner were a relevant partner).

Referral to GAAR Advisory Panel

4C Paragraph 5 and 6 apply if, immediately before the beginning of the closed period mentioned in section 209(8)—

(a) the responsible partner has not taken the action described in paragraph 4A(1)(c), and

(b) there is at least one relevant partner.”

Notices may be given on assumption that tax advantage does arise

8 (1) A designated HMRC officer may give a notice, or do anything else, under this Part of this Schedule where the officer considers that a tax advantage might have arisen.

(2) Accordingly, any notice given by a designated HMRC officer under paragraph 5 may be expressed to be given on the assumption that the tax advantage does arise (without agreeing that it does).

HMRC officers

9 Anything that may or must be done by a given designated HMRC officer under this Part of this Schedule may be done instead by any other designated HMRC officer.

PART 4 Pooling notices and notices of binding

Power to give pooling notice or notice of binding to responsible partner

10 (1) If a designated HMRC officer—

(a) has the power to give to a person (“R”) a pooling notice under paragraph 1(3) or a notice of binding under paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 43A in respect of a tax advantage arising from tax arrangements (“R’s arrangements”), and

(b) considers that a partnership return has been made on the basis that the tax advantage has arisen to R, or to R and one or more of R’s partners, from R’s arrangements,

the officer may give the pooling notice or notice of binding to the responsible partner under this paragraph.

(2) A partner (including R) who appears to a designated HMRC officer to fall within sub-paragraph (1)(b) is a “relevant partner” for the purposes of this Part of this Schedule.

(3) If, after the notice has been given, it appears to a designated HMRC officer that the tax advantage has not in fact arisen to a partner specified in the notice, the officer must amend the notice accordingly.

(4) Where a designated HMRC officer so amends the notice—

(a) it is treated as having been given in the amended form, and

(b) the officer may take such other steps as the officer considers appropriate.

(5) The officer may not give a pooling notice under this paragraph if a notice under paragraph 5 has been given in respect of R’s arrangements.

(6) The officer may not give a notice of binding under this paragraph if, in respect of R’s arrangements, one of the following notices has been given—

(a) a pooling notice under this paragraph, or

(b) a notice under paragraph 5.

Effect of giving notice under paragraph 10

11 Where a pooling notice or notice of binding is given to the responsible partner under paragraph 10, this Part of this Act has effect in relation to the tax advantage with the modifications in paragraphs 12 and 13.

Modifications to Schedule 43A

12 (1) Schedule 43A (procedural requirements: pooling notices and notices of binding) has effect with the following modifications.

(2) Paragraph 1 is to be read as if, in sub-paragraph (3A), after “lead arrangements” there were inserted “(whether under this Schedule or Schedule 43D)”.

(3) Paragraph 3 is to be read as if—

(a) in sub-paragraph (2)(a), after “specify” there were inserted “each relevant partner,”,

(b) in sub-paragraph (2)(c), for “R” there were substituted “each relevant partner”, and

(c) in sub-paragraph (3), for “R may” there were substituted “may be taken”.

(4) Schedule 43A is to be read as if, for paragraph 4 (and the heading before it), there were substituted—

“Corrective action by responsible partner

4 (1) Where, in respect of a partnership—

(a) a designated HMRC officer gives a pooling notice or notice of binding under paragraph 10 of Schedule 43D in respect of a tax advantage arising to one or more partners,

(b) the closed period mentioned in section 209(9) has not begun, and

(c) the responsible partner—

(i) amends a partnership return or claim to counteract the tax advantage, and

(ii) notifies HMRC of that fact,

the responsible partner is treated for the purposes of paragraphs 6 to 9 and Schedule 43B as not having been given the notice in question.

(2) Where a tax enquiry is in progress, no enactment limiting the time during which amendments may be made to returns or claims operates to prevent the responsible partner taking the action mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) before the enquiry is closed.

(3) No appeal may be brought, by virtue of a provision mentioned in sub-paragraph (4), against an amendment made by a closure notice in respect of a tax enquiry, to the extent that the amendment takes into account an amendment made by the responsible partner to a return or claim as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(c).

(4) The provisions are—

(a) section 31(1)(b) or (c) of TMA 1970,

(b) paragraph 9 of Schedule 1A to TMA 1970.

Corrective action by relevant partners

4A (1) Where, in respect of a partnership—

(a) a designated HMRC officer gives a pooling notice or notice of binding under paragraph 10 of Schedule 43D in respect of a tax advantage arising to one or more partners,

(b) the closed period mentioned in section 209(9) has not begun, and

(c) a partner mentioned in paragraph (a) takes all necessary action to enter into an agreement with HMRC (in writing) for the purpose of relinquishing the tax advantage,

the partner is not to be treated as a relevant partner for the purposes of Part 4 of Schedule 43D.

(2) As soon as is practicable after the beginning of the closed period, the pooling notice or notice of binding must be amended by a designated HMRC officer so each partner to whom sub-paragraph (1) applies is no longer specified in it.

(3) Where a notice is amended in accordance with sub-paragraph (2), the notice is treated for the purposes of paragraphs 6 to 9 and Schedule 43B as having been given in the amended form.

(4) If a partner to whom sub-paragraph (1) applies fails to enter into the written agreement, HMRC may proceed as if that sub-paragraph had not applied in relation to the partner (and accordingly, as if the partner were a relevant partner).”

(5) Paragraph 7(3)(a) is to be read as if “to the person” were omitted.

(6) Paragraph 8(1) is to be read as if for “paragraph 1(3)” there were substituted “paragraph 10 of Schedule 43D.”

(7) Paragraph 10(b) is to be read as if for “the person concerned” there were substituted “the responsible partner”.

(8) Paragraph 9(1)(a) is to be read as if for “paragraph 2” there were substituted “paragraph 10 of Schedule 43D”.

(9) Paragraph 11(c) is to be read as if “to a person” were omitted.

Modifications to Schedule 43B

13 (1) Schedule 43B to FA 2013 (procedural requirements: generic referral of tax arrangements) has effect with the modifications in sub-paragraph (2).

(2) Paragraph 1 is to be read as if—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1)(a), for “paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 43A” there were substituted “paragraph 10 of Schedule 43D”,

(b) for the words before sub-paragraph (b)(i), there were substituted “the relevant corrective action has been taken before”, and

(c) after sub-paragraph (5), there were inserted—

“(6) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) the “relevant corrective action” is taken if (and only if) in respect of the tax advantage arising out of the lead arrangements—

(a) the responsible partner has taken the action mentioned in paragraph 4A(1)(c) of Schedule 43, or

(b) each of the relevant partners in question have taken the action described in paragraph 4B(1)(c) of that Schedule.”

Notices may be given on assumption that tax advantage does arise

14 (1) A designated HMRC officer may give a notice, or do anything else, under this Part of this Schedule where the officer considers that a tax advantage might have arisen.

(2) Accordingly, any notice given by a designated HMRC officer under paragraph 10 may be expressed to be given on the assumption that the tax advantage does arise (without agreeing that it does).

HMRC officers

15 Anything that may or must be done by a given designated HMRC officer under this Part of this Schedule may be done instead by any other designated HMRC officer.”