Explanatory Notes

Corporation Tax Act 2010

2010 CHAPTER 4

3 March 2010

Introduction

Part 11: Charitable companies etc

Chapter 3: Other exemptions
Section 479: Meaning of “charitable trade”

1466.This section defines “charitable trade” for the purposes of the Part. It is based on section 505(1) and (1B) of ICTA. The corresponding rule for income tax is in section 525 of ITA.

1467.The source legislation in section 505(1)(e) of ICTA refers to the trade being carried on “in the United Kingdom or elsewhere”, and section 505(1)(e)(i) refers to it being exercised in the “actual” carrying out of a primary purpose. The words in inverted commas are omitted as they add nothing.

1468.The section differs slightly from its income tax counterpart in section 525 of ITA. For income tax the conditions must be met throughout the basis period for the relevant tax year to reflect the fact that the two time periods are not usually the same, and it clearly makes sense to test the condition by reference to the period in which the activity was being carried on. This is not necessary for corporation tax as the accounting period is both the basis period and the chargeable period.

1469.Subsection (4), about making apportionments where different parts of a trade are treated as separate trades, makes specific mention of post-cessation receipts, but unlike the equivalent income tax provision there is no need for a specific apportionment for adjustment income. See Change 32in Annex 1 and the commentary on section 478.

1470.Any apportionments must be “just” as well as “reasonable”. Only the latter term appeared in the source legislation. See Change 33 in Annex 1.