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Disincorporation relief

disincorporation relief

Recent changes to the tax treatment of dividends may lead people to question whether it may be better to run their business as an unincorporated entity, such as a sole trader or partnership, rather than as a company.

For those thinking of disincorporating, an element of relief is available for a limited period.

 

Nature of the relief

Disincorporation relief is available when a company transfers certain assets to its shareholders who then continue to run the business in an unincorporated form. In the absence of the relief, transfers between the company and its shareholders would normally be treated as transfers between connected persons so that tax is calculated by reference to the market value regardless of the amount actually paid. The relief allows qualifying assets to be transferred at the lower of the cost and market value (other than goodwill amortised under the intangibles regime, which is transferred at the lower of the tax written down value and the market value). The transfer value becomes the acquirer’s base cost for CGT purposes.

Tip

The relief saves corporation tax on chargeable gains on disincorporation.

Trap

The relief defers rather than saves cost, as it lowers the recipient’s base cost.

 

Qualifying assets

The relief only applies in relation to qualifying assets, which are land and goodwill. Other assets, such as stock, debtors, etc. are outside the scope of the relief.

 

Conditions

Availability of the relief is contingent on the following conditions being met:

  • the business is transferred as a going concern;
  • all assets (or all assets except cash) are transferred;
  • the total market value of qualifying assets (land and goodwill) at the time of the transfer must be less than £100,000;
  • the shareholders to whom the business is transferred must be individuals;
  • the shareholders must have held shares in the company for 12 months before the transfer.

 

Transfer window

Relief is only available if the transfer takes place in the transfer window, which runs from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2018.

 

Claiming relief

The relief must be claimed jointly by the company and all the shareholders who are receiving assets.

Should you need further advice on disincorporation relief or for any other tax related matters get in touch with Inform.   

 

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Paying subsistence expenses using benchmark rates

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How to make the most of the personal tax account

 

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