Finance Act 2021

PART 2 U.K. Corporation tax

Relief for trade losses incurred in accounting periods ending in financial year 2020 or 2021 U.K.

4 (1) Sections 37(3)(b) and 38(1) and (3) of CTA 2010 (relief for trade losses against profits of same or earlier accounting period) have effect in relation to any loss to which this paragraph applies as if references to 12 months were references to 3 years (but subject as follows). U.K.

(2) This paragraph applies to any loss incurred by a company in a trade in a relevant accounting period.

(3) In this paragraph “relevant accounting period” means an accounting period that ends in the period beginning with 1 April 2020 and ending with 31 March 2022.

(4) Sub-paragraph (5) applies where—

(a) a loss incurred by a company in a relevant accounting period (“the relevant loss”) is, to any extent, relievable under section 37 of CTA 2010 by virtue of this paragraph, and

(b) some but not all of the relevant loss is also relievable under that section by virtue of section 40 of that Act (ring fence trades: extension of periods for which relief may be given).

(5) A claim for relief under section 37 of CTA 2010 by virtue of this paragraph in respect of the relevant loss is treated, so far as possible, as being made in respect of the part of the loss that is not relievable as mentioned in sub-paragraph (4)(b).

(6) Section 42 of CTA 2010 (ring fence trades: further extension of period of relief) has effect as if—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), the reference to section 39 or 40 of that Act included a reference to this paragraph;

(b) in subsection (8), in the definition of “3 year relief period”, the reference to section 39 or 40 of that Act included a reference to this paragraph.

Cap on claims by company that is not a member of a 2020 group or 2021 group U.K.

5 (1) A 2020 claim may be made by a company that is not a member of a 2020 group only if the total amount of relief given as a result of the claim, when added to the total amount of relief given as a result of any other 2020 claims already made by the company, is under £2,000,000. U.K.

(2) A 2021 claim may be made by a company that is not a member of a 2021 group only if the total amount of relief given as a result of the claim, when added to the total amount of relief given as a result of any other 2021 claims already made by the company, is under £2,000,000.

Non-de minimis claims to be made after end of financial year U.K.

Prospective

6 (1) A non-de minimis 2020 claim may not be made by a company (whether or not it is a member of a 2020 group) at any time before 31 March 2021. U.K.

(2) A non-de minimis 2021 claim may not be made by a company (whether or not it is a member of a 2021 group) at any time before 31 March 2022.

Non-de minimis claims to be made in company tax return U.K.

7 (1) A non-de minimis claim must be made in the company tax return (whether as originally made or by amendment) for the accounting period in which the loss in respect of which the claim is made is incurred. U.K.

(2) The company tax return for any earlier accounting period affected by the claim is treated as amended accordingly.

Meaning of “de minimis claim” etc U.K.

8 (1) For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, a 2020 claim is a “de minimis 2020 claim” if— U.K.

(a) the total amount of relief given as a result of the claim, when added to the total amount of relief given as a result of any other 2020 claims already made by the company, is under £200,000, and

(b) the condition in paragraph (a) would still be met on the assumptions in sub-paragraph (3).

(2) For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, a 2021 claim is a “de minimis 2021 claim” if—

(a) the total amount of relief given as a result of the claim, when added to the total amount of relief given as a result of any other 2021 claims already made by the company, is under £200,000, and

(b) the condition in paragraph (a) would still be met on the assumptions in sub-paragraph (3).

(3) The assumptions are—

(a) that the company makes all claims available to it (if any) for allowances under CAA 2001, or any other provision of the Corporation Tax Acts, that would result in an increase in the amount of the loss in respect of which the claim in question is made;

(b) that the company does not surrender any amount under Part 5 of CTA 2010 (group relief);

(c) that the claim in question is for all of the relief available to the company under section 37 of CTA 2010 by virtue of paragraph 4 in relation to the loss in respect of which the claim is made.

(4) In this Part of this Schedule—

(a) “non-de minimis 2020 claim” means a 2020 claim that is not a de minimis 2020 claim;

(b) “non-de minimis 2021 claim” means a 2021 claim that is not a de minimis 2021 claim;

(c) “de minimis claim” means a 2020 de minimis claim or a 2021 de minimis claim;

(d) “non-de minimis claim” means a non-de minimis 2020 claim or a non-de minimis 2021 claim.

Cap on non-de minimis claims by company that is a member of a 2020 group or 2021 group U.K.

9 (1) A non-de minimis 2020 claim may be made by a company that is a member of a 2020 group only if the total amount of relief given as a result of each of the following claims is, in aggregate, less than £2,000,000— U.K.

(a) the claim in question;

(b) any other 2020 claims made by the company (including any de minimis claims);

(c) any 2020 claims made by other members of the 2020 group (including any de minimis claims).

(2) A non-de minimis 2021 claim may be made by a company that is a member of a 2021 group only if the total amount of relief given as a result of each of the following claims is, in aggregate, less than £2,000,000—

(a) the claim in question;

(b) any other 2021 claims made by the company (including any de minimis claims);

(c) any 2021 claims made by other members of the 2021 group (including any de minimis claims).

Non-de minimis claims by group company to conform with statement U.K.

10 (1) A non-de minimis 2020 claim may be made by a company that is a member of a 2020 group only if— U.K.

(a) a 2020 loss carry-back allocation statement has been submitted on behalf of the group in accordance with regulations under paragraph 11, and

(b) the claim is for an amount specified in that statement in accordance with those regulations.

(2) A non-de minimis 2021 claim may be made by a company that is a member of a 2021 group only if—

(a) a 2021 loss carry-back allocation statement has been submitted on behalf of the group in accordance with regulations under paragraph 11, and

(b) the claim is for an amount specified in that statement in accordance with those regulations.

Loss carry-back allocation statements U.K.

11 (1) The Commissioners must by regulations make provision— U.K.

(a) requiring a statement (“a 2020 loss carry-back allocation statement”) to be submitted to HMRC on behalf of a 2020 group for the purpose of determining the non-de minimis 2020 claims that may be made by members of the group in compliance with paragraphs 9 and 10;

(b) requiring a statement (“a 2021 loss carry-back allocation statement”) to be submitted to HMRC on behalf of a 2021 group for the purpose of determining the non-de minimis 2021 claims that may be made by members of the group in compliance with paragraphs 9 and 10.

(2) The regulations may, in particular, include provision about—

(a) the nomination by members of a 2020 group or 2021 group of a member of the group to submit a loss carry-back allocation statement on behalf of the group;

(b) the contents of a loss carry-back allocation statement;

(c) when a loss carry-back allocation statement is to be submitted;

(d) when and how a loss carry-back allocation statement may or must be amended on behalf of a 2020 group or 2021 group;

(e) when and how a loss carry-back allocation statement may be amended by an officer of HMRC;

(f) the amendment of company tax returns in consequence of a loss carry-back allocation statement (including provision altering time limits that would otherwise apply);

(g) the recovery of overpaid relief (including provision allowing an assessment to tax to be made).

(3) The reference in sub-paragraph (2)(g) to overpaid relief is to an amount paid to a company by HMRC where—

(a) the payment is a repayment of tax made in consequence of a 2020 claim or 2021 claim,

(b) the loss carry-back allocation statement is amended in accordance with regulations under this paragraph, and

(c) as a result of the amendment, the claim no longer meets the condition in paragraph 10(1)(b) or (as the case may be) paragraph 10(2)(b) (claim to conform with loss carry-back allocation statement).

(4) In this paragraph—

• “HMRC” means Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs;

• “a loss carry-back allocation statement” means a 2020 loss carry-back allocation statement or a 2021 loss carry-back allocation statement.

Anti-avoidance U.K.

12 (1) A company may not make a 2020 claim if— U.K.

(a) at any time in the period beginning with 1 April 2020 and ending with 31 March 2021 the company is a member of a group,

(b) the company ceases to be a member of that group at any time in that period, and

(c) the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of the company's ceasing to be a member of the group is to increase the total amount of relief given as a result of a 2020 claim.

(2) A company may not make a 2021 claim if—

(a) at any time in the period beginning with 1 April 2021 and ending with 31 March 2022 the company is a member of a group,

(b) the company ceases to be a member of that group at any time in that period, and

(c) the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of the company's ceasing to be a member of the group is to increase the total amount of relief given as a result of a 2021 claim.

(3) In this paragraph “group” has the meaning given by section 269ZZB of CTA 2010 (meaning “group” in Part 7ZA of CTA 2010).

Interpretation U.K.

13 (1) In this Part of this Schedule— U.K.

• “2020 claim” means a claim for relief under section 37 of CTA 2010 by virtue of paragraph 4 that is made in respect of a loss incurred in an accounting period that ends in the period beginning with 1 April 2020 and ending with 31 March 2021;

• “2021 claim” means a claim for relief under section 37 of CTA 2010 by virtue of paragraph 4 that is made in respect of a loss incurred in an accounting period that ends in the period beginning with 1 April 2021 and ending with 31 March 2022;

• “2020 group” means two or more companies which, at the end of 31 March 2021, are a group within the meaning given by section 269ZZB of CTA 2010 (meaning of “group”);

• “2021 group” means two or more companies which, at the end of 31 March 2022 are a group within the meaning given by section 269ZZB of CTA 2010 (meaning of “group”);

• “a 2020 loss carry-back allocation statement” has the meaning given by paragraph 11(1)(a);

• “a 2021 loss carry-back allocation statement” has the meaning given by paragraph 11(1)(b);

• “the Commissioners” means the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs;

• “de minimis claim” and related expressions have the meanings given by paragraph 8.

(2) A reference in this Part of this Schedule to the total amount of relief given as a result of a 2020 claim or 2021 claim—

(a) is to the amount of the deduction or (as the case may be) the total of the deductions made under section 37(3) of CTA 2010 as a result of the claim, but

(b) does not include a deduction that would have been made under that provision as a result of the claim if sections 37 and 38 of that Act applied disregarding the modifications made by paragraph 4.

Power to modify U.K.

14 (1) The Commissioners may by regulations amend or otherwise modify the following provisions of this Part of this Schedule— U.K.

(a) paragraph 6 (non-de minimis claims to be made after financial year);

(b) paragraph 7 (non-de minimis claims to be made in tax return);

(c) paragraph 8(3) (assumptions in determining if claim is de minimis).

(2) Regulations under this paragraph may include supplementary, incidental, consequential or transitional provision (including provision amending or otherwise modifying a provision of this Part of this Schedule not mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)).

(3) Regulations under this paragraph are of no effect in relation to a 2020 claim or 2021 claim made before the regulations come into force.

(4) No regulations under this paragraph may be made after 31 March 2023.