http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/4/section/446Corporation Tax Act 2010An Act to restate, with minor changes, certain enactments relating to corporation tax and certain enactments relating to company distributions; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-05-20Expert Participation2026-03-18 Part 10Close companiesChapter 2Basic definitions<Emphasis>Companies which are not to be close companies</Emphasis>Particular types of quoted company4461A company is not to be treated as a close company at a particular time if—ashares in the company carrying at least 35% of the voting power in the company have been allotted unconditionally to, or acquired unconditionally by, and are at that time beneficially held by, the public, andbany such shares have within the preceding 12 months been the subject of dealings on a recognised stock exchange, and the shares have within those 12 months been listed on such an exchange.2But subsection (1) does not apply to a company at any time when the total percentage of the voting power in the company possessed by all of the company's principal members exceeds 85%.3For the purposes of this section, a person is a principal member of a company if the person possesses a percentage of the voting power in the company of more than 5% (but see subsection (4)).4If there are more than 5 persons within subsection (3), a person is a principal member of the company only if—athe person is one of the 5 persons who possess the greatest percentages, orbin a case where there are no such 5 persons because two or more persons possess equal percentages of the voting power in the company, the person is one of the 6 or more persons (including those two or more who possess equal percentages) who possess the greatest percentages.5In determining for the purposes of this section the voting power which a person possesses, there is to be attributed to the person any voting power which would be attributed to the person if section 451(3) to (6) applied for the purposes of this section.6In this section “shares”—ainclude stock, butbdo not include shares entitled to a fixed rate of dividend, whether with or without a further right to participate in profits.7See also section 447 (section 446: meaning of “shares held beneficially by the public” etc).Pt. 10 Ch. 2 applied (with modifications) (with effect in accordance with s. 1184(1) of the amending Act) by Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (c. 5), s. 456(7) (as substituted by 2010 c. 4, s. 1184(1), Sch. 1 para. 466(2) (with Sch. 2))Pt. 10 Ch. 2 applied (with modifications) (with effect in accordance with s. 1184(1) of the amending Act) by Corporation Tax Act 2009 (c. 4), s. 376(1) (as amended by 2010 c. 4, s. 1184(1), Sch. 1 para. 610(2) (with Sch. 2))Pt. 10 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2014) by National Insurance Contributions Act 2014 (c. 7), s. 8, Sch. 1 Pt. 1Pt. 10 Ch. 2 applied (with modifications) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 1 paras. 120, 123 of the amending Act) by 1992 c. 12, Sch. 5AAA para. 46(2) (as inserted by Finance Act 2019 (c. 1), Sch. 1 para. 21)Pt. 10 Ch. 2 modified (with effect in accordance with Sch. 1 paras. 120, 123 of the amending Act) by 1992 c. 12, Sch. 5AAA para. 36(3)(4) (as inserted by Finance Act 2019 (c. 1), Sch. 1 para. 21)Pt. 10 Ch. 2 applied (with modifications) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 16 para. 6 of the amending Act) by 2003 c. 14, Sch. 9A para. 8 (as inserted by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), Sch. 16 para. 5)Pt. 10 Ch. 2 applied (with modifications) (with effect in accordance with Sch. 16 para. 6 of the amending Act) by 2003 c. 14, Sch. 9A para. 9(1), 10 (as inserted by Finance Act 2021 (c. 26), Sch. 16 para. 5)Pt. 10 Ch. 2 applied (with modifications) (with effect in accordance with s. 36(4) of the amending Act) by 1992 c. 12, s. 138ZA(6) (as inserted by Finance (No. 2) Act 2023 (c. 30), s. 36(2))Pt. 10 Ch. 2 applied (with modifications) (19.3.2025) by The Co-ownership Contractual Schemes (Tax) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/200), regs. 1(2), 8(2) (with reg. 63)