1902.Although gains from foreign policies and contracts are taxable under this Chapter alongside gains from UK policies and contracts, there are a number of differences of treatment. Primarily, these arise from the fact that the underlying investment profit has not usually been subject to UK tax (or to an equivalent tax regime). However, subject to these differences, any rule in this Chapter referring to a policy or contract, or to one or more of the insurance products listed in section 473(1), applies to foreign policies and contracts. This section is based on sections 553, 553A and 553B of and paragraph 24(1) of Schedule 15 to ICTA.
1903.The source legislation uses the terms “new non-resident policy”, “overseas policy” and “new offshore capital redemption policy”. The “new” in those terms indicates such policies were issued on or after the commencement date for the legislation that introduced special rules. The terms used in this Chapter simply add “foreign” to the descriptions used for comparable UK policies and contracts.
1904.The definitions for a “foreign policy of life insurance” and a “foreign capital redemption policy” each contain two categories. This reflects the introduction at different times of the modifications of treatment for policies of life insurance and capital redemption policies, which:
are issued by a non-UK resident insurer (introduced by FA 1984); or
are other policies forming part of the insurer’s overseas life assurance business (introduced by FA 1998).
1905.Some policies in the second category may also fall into the first. However, other than for the construction of the definitions themselves, certain rules in sections 474 and 531, and paragraphs 106 and 110 of Schedule 2 to this Act, the distinction between the categories is not material to the operation of this Chapter.
1906.There is no provision in the Chapter (or relevant paragraph of Schedule 2 to this Act) that applies exclusively to a foreign contract for a life annuity (although most of the contracts affected by, say, section 531(3)(c) are foreign). No definition is therefore provided for such contracts.
1907.See also section 546 (table of provisions subject to special rules for older policies and contracts).