Legislation – Finance (No. 2) Act 2023

New Search

Introduction

Part 1
Income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax

1 Income tax charge for tax year 2023-24

2 Main rates of income tax for tax year 2023-24

3 Default and savings rates of income tax for tax year 2023-24

4 Freezing starting rate limit for savings for tax year 2023-24

5 Charge and main rate for financial year 2024

6 Standard small profits rate and fraction for financial year 2024

7 Temporary full expensing etc for expenditure on plant or machinery

8 Annual investment allowance to remain at £1M beyond temporary period

9 First-year allowance for expenditure on electric vehicle charge points

10 Relief for research and development

11 Treatment of profits from patents etc: small profits rate of corporation tax

12 Energy (oil and gas) profits levy: de-carbonisation allowance

13 Museums and galleries exhibition tax relief: extension of sunset date

14 Extension of the temporary increase in theatre tax credit etc

15 Seed enterprise investment scheme: increase of limits etc.

16 CSOP schemes: share value limit and share class

17 Enterprise management incentives: restricted shares and declarations

18 Lifetime allowance charge abolished

19 Certain lump sums to be taxed at marginal rate

20 Annual allowance increased

21 Money purchase annual allowance

22 Annual allowance: tapering

23 Modification of certain existing transitional protections

24 Collective money purchase arrangements

25 Relief relating to net pay arrangements

26 Payments under Jobs Growth Wales Plus

27 Power to clarify tax treatment of devolved social security benefits

28 Qualifying care relief: increase in individual’s limit

29 Estates in administration and trusts

30 Transfer of basic life assurance and general annuity business

31 Certain re-insurance sums not to count as deemed I-E receipts

32 Insurers in difficulties: write-down orders for corporation tax purposes

33 Insurers in difficulties: write-down orders in case of pension schemes

34 Corporate interest restriction

35 Investment vehicles

36 Share exchanges involving non-UK incorporated close companies

37 Records relating to transfer pricing

38 Double taxation relief: foreign nominal rates

39 Payments to farmers under the lump sum exit scheme etc

40 Contracts completed after ordinary notification period

41 Separated spouses and civil partners

42 Carried interest: election to pay tax as scheme profits arise

43 Relief on disposal of joint interests in land

Part 2
Alcohol Duty

Chapter 1 Charge to alcohol duty

Alcoholic products

44 Meaning of “alcoholic product”

45 Alcoholic strength

46 Categories of alcoholic products: regulations

Charge and rates

47 Alcohol duty: charge

48 Rates

49 Excise duty point and payment

Chapter 2 Draught relief

50 Qualifying draught products: reduced rates

51 Alcoholic products qualifying for draught relief

52 Repackaging qualifying draught products

53 Repackaging in contravention of section 52 (2)

Chapter 3 Small producer relief

Main provisions

54 Small producer relief: discounted rates

55 Small producer alcoholic products

56 Small production premises

57 “Alcohol production amount” etc

58 Exclusions

59 Duty discount for small producer alcoholic products

60 Assessments where incorrectly low rate of alcohol duty applied

Mergers and demergers

61 Mergers: general provisions

62 Modified “small production premises” test

63 Modified duty discount

64 Adjusted post-merger amount

65 Early termination of merger transition period

66 Subsequent mergers

67 Simultaneous mergers

68 Demergers

Interpretation of Chapter 3

69 “Producer”, “production premises”, “group premises” etc

70 Connected persons

71 Index of defined expressions: Chapter 3

Chapter 4 Other reliefs and exemptions

General

72 Exemption: production for personal consumption

73 Research and experiments

74 Spoilt alcoholic products

75 Alcoholic ingredients

Spirits

76 Imported medical articles

77 Flavourings

78 Authorised use for certain purposes

79 Imported goods not for human consumption

80 Restrictions on use of certain articles

Remission and repayment

81 Further provision about remission and repayment

Chapter 5 Regulated activities and approvals

82 Approval requirement: producers

83 Supplementary provision about approvals

84 Exemption: production for personal consumption

85 Exemption: research and experiments

86 Mixing alcoholic products

87 Post-duty point dilution of alcoholic products

88 Alcoholic products regulations

89 Penalties and forfeiture

Chapter 6 Denatured alcohol

90 Denatured alcohol

91 Licence to manufacture and deal wholesale in denatured alcohol

92 Regulations relating to denatured alcohol

93 Penalties and forfeiture

94 Defaults in respect of denatured alcohol: possession of excess alcoholic products

95 Defaults in respect of denatured alcohol: supply and use of denatured alcohol

96 Inspection of premises etc

97 Prohibition of use of denatured alcohol etc as beverage or medicine

Chapter 7 Wholesaling of controlled alcoholic products

98 Definitions

99 Further provision relating to definitions

100 Approval to carry on controlled activity

101 The register of approved wholesalers

102 Regulations relating to approval, registration and controlled activities

103 Restriction on buying controlled alcoholic products wholesale

104 Offences

105 Penalties

106 Groups

107 Index of defined expressions: Chapter 7

Chapter 8 Supplementary

108 Reviews and appeals

109 Forfeiture: supplementary provision

110 Removal of goods: application of section 95 of CEMA 1979

111 Drawback

112 Duty stamps

Chapter 9 repeals, further amendments and transitional provisions

Repeals and further amendments

113 Repeals

114 Minor and consequential amendments

Transitional provision

115 Temporary provision: wine

116 Temporary provision: cider

Chapter 10 Final provisions

117 Interpretation of this Part

118 Regulations: supplementary and general

119 Regulations: procedure

120 Commencement

Part 3
Multinational top-up tax

Chapter 1 Introduction and charge

121 Introduction to multinational top-up tax

122 Chargeable persons

123 Charge to multinational top-up tax

124 How to calculate top-up amounts etc

125 Administration of multinational top-up tax

Chapter 2 Qualifying multinational groups and their members

Multinational groups

126 Meaning of “multinational group” and “ultimate parent”

127 Excluded entities

Responsible members

128 Responsible members

Qualifying multinational groups

129 Qualifying multinational groups

130 Change in composition of multinational group

131 Whether de-merged groups meet the revenue threshold

Chapter 3 Effective tax rate of members of a multinational group in a territory

132 Effective tax rate

Chapter 4 Calculation of adjusted profits of members of a multinational group

Adjusted profits of a member of a multinational group

133 Adjusted profits of a member of a multinational group

134 Underlying profits as determined for statements of ultimate parent

135 Underlying profits of permanent establishments

136 Underlying profits accounts

137 No amounts outside of profit and loss account to be included

137A Use of substituted values

Adjustments of underlying profits

138 Profits adjusted to be before tax

139 Profits adjusted to be profits before consolidation adjustments to eliminate intragroup transactions

140 Profits adjusted to be profits before certain purchase accounting adjustments

141 General exclusion of dividends

142 Excluded equity gain or loss

143 Included revaluation method gain or loss

144 Adjustments for asymmetric foreign currency income and losses

145 Exclusion of expenses for illegal payments, fines and penalties

146 Adjustment for changes in accounting policies and prior period errors

147 Accrued pension expense

147A Treatment of tax credits

148 Meaning of qualifying refundable tax credits

148A Transferable tax credits

148B Value of marketable transferable tax credits: originator

148C Value of marketable transferable tax credits: purchaser

149 Arm’s length requirement for certain transactions

150 Transactions between members of a multinational group: differences with accounting for tax

151 Adjustments for companies in distress

152 Adjustments where life assurance business carried on

153 Exclusion of certain insurance reserve movement expense

154 Exclusion of qualifying intra-group financing arrangement expenses

155 Qualifying tier one capital

156 Exclusion of international shipping profits

157 Core international shipping profits

158 Ancillary international shipping profits

Adjustments only applicable to permanent establishments

159 Permanent establishment income and expense attribution

160 Attribution of losses between permanent establishment and main entity

Elections to treat certain amounts differently

161 Election to use realisation principle

162 Election to reflect deductions for stock-based compensation

163 Election to spread certain capital gains over five years

164 Election to exclude intra-group transactions

165 Election to have excluded equity gains and losses included

166 Election in relation to hedging currency risk in ownership interests

Dealing with transparency and entities subject to qualifying dividend regime

167 Underlying profits of hybrids

168 Underlying profits of transparent … entities

169 Certain non tax resident entities to be treated as flow-through entities

170 Adjustments for ultimate parent that is a flow-through entity

171 Ultimate parent subject to qualifying dividend regime

172 Application of section 171 to members in the same territory as the ultimate parent

Chapter 5 Covered tax balance

Amount of covered taxes

173 Covered taxes

174 Amount of covered tax balance

175 Amounts excluded from qualifying current tax expense

176 Amounts to be reflected in qualifying current tax expense

Transferable tax credits

176A Meaning of “non-marketable transferable tax credits”

176B Value of non-marketable transferable tax credits: originator

176C Value of non-marketable transferable tax credits: purchaser

Tax equity partnerships

176D Tax credits etc allocated under tax equity partnerships

176E Flow-through tax benefits: proportional amortisation method

176F Flow-through tax benefits: subtraction method

176G Clawback of earlier qualifying flow-through tax benefits

Allocation of covered taxes

177 Permanent establishments

178 Reallocation of tax expense

179 Controlled foreign company tax regimes

180 Blended CFC regimes

180A Section 180: further provision

181 Distributions from other members of a group

181A Cross-border allocation of current tax under cross-crediting regime

Cross-border allocation of deferred tax expense

181B Cross-border allocation of deferred tax assets and liabilities

Dealing with deferred tax assets etc

182 Total deferred tax adjustment amount

183 Qualifying foreign tax credits (substitute loss carry forward assets)

183A Alternative to section 183 where carry forward of credits not permitted

184 Recaptured deferred tax liabilities

185 Inclusion of existing deferred tax assets and liabilities on entry into regime

186 Deferred tax assets recorded at less than minimum rate

187 Election for losses to be treated as special loss deferred tax assets

188 Further provision about elections under section 187

Eligible distribution tax systems: deemed taxes

189 Deemed distribution tax election

190 Deemed distribution tax amount

191 Reduction of recapture amount

192 Recalculation where member leaves the group

Chapter 6 Calculation of top-up amounts

193 Calculation of top-up amounts

194 Total top-up amount for a territory

195 Substance based income exclusion

196 Eligible payroll costs

197 Eligible tangible asset amount

197A Operating leases

198 Eligible payroll costs and eligible tangible asset amount: permanent establishments

198ZA Eligible payroll costs: flow-through entities

198ZB Eligible tangible asset amount: flow-through entities

198ZC Eligible payroll costs and eligible tangible asset amount: flow-through ultimate parent

198A Power to make provision about treatment of payroll costs and assets

199 Election to treat certain top-up amounts as nil

Chapter 7 Allocating top-up amounts to responsible members

200 Top-up amounts multiplied by inclusion ratio

201 Inclusion ratio

Chapter 8 Further adjustments

Covered taxes less than nil

202 Covered taxes balance less than nil when members in a territory have a profit

203 Additional top-up amounts where covered taxes less than expected

204 Allocation of collective additional amount under section 203 to members

205 Election to carry forward and reduce collective additional amount

Additional top-up amounts on recalculations

206 Additional top-up amounts where recalculations required

207 Allocation of collective additional amounts under section 206 to members

Restructuring of groups

208 Member joining or leaving multinational group

209 When transfer of controlling interest treated as acquisition of assets and liabilities

210 Transfer of assets or liabilities from a member of a multinational group

211 Transfer of assets or liabilities to a member of a multinational group

212 Meaning of “qualifying reorganisation”

Elections in relation to investment entities

213 Investment entity tax transparency election

214 Taxable distribution method election

215 Undistributed income amount

Other adjustments

216 Election where assets and liabilities adjusted to fair value for tax purposes

217 Post filing adjustments of covered taxes

218 Effect of rate changes to deferred tax expense

219 Adjustment where covered taxes not paid

Chapter 9 Special provision for investment entities, joint venture groups and minority-owned members

Investment entities

220 Top-up amount of investment entity

221 Substance based income exclusion for investment entity

222 Investment entity effective tax rate

223 Adjustments

224 Additional top-up amounts of investment entities

225 Attribution of top-up amounts and additional top-up amounts to responsible member

Joint venture group

226 Joint venture group

227 Application of Part to joint venture groups

Minority owned members

228 Minority owned members

Application to multi-parent groups

229 Multi-parent groups

Chapter 9A Untaxed amounts

Introduction

229A Meaning of potentially undertaxed

229B Untaxed amounts

Allocation of untaxed amounts

229C Allocation of untaxed amount to members

229D Amount allocated to the United Kingdom

229E Allocation to qualifying members

229F Election to make one member of a group liable for untaxed amounts

How to determine number of employees and tangible fixed assets values

229G Number of employees

229H Value of tangible fixed assets

Joint ventures

229I Joint ventures

References to responsible members

229J References to responsible members

Chapter 10 Definitions etc

Introduction

230 Meaning of terms and concepts used in this Part

Meaning of “entity” etc

231 Meaning of entity

232 Permanent establishments treated as entities

232A Partnerships

233 Treatment of protected cell companies

234 Governmental, international and non-profit entities

235 Pension funds and pension services entities

236 Investment funds and investment entities

237 Intermediate and partially-owned parent members

238 Tax transparency of entities

Provision relating to location of entities

239 Location of entities

240 Location of flow-through entities and permanent establishments

241 Pillar Two territories

Ownership of entities

242 Ownership interests and controlling interests

243 Calculating percentage ownership interests of a specific entity or individual

244 Calculating percentage ownership interests of a class

245 Calculating percentage ownership interests: excluded entities

246 Calculating percentage direct and indirect ownership interests

247 Timing of transfers of interests

248 Exclusion of indirect interests held through ultimate parent

Financial statements and accounting period

249 Consolidated financial statements

250 Acceptable accounting standards

251 Accounting periods

251A Meaning of country-by-country report

Miscellaneous

252 Application to sovereign wealth funds

253 Disqualified and qualified refundable imputation taxes

254 Use of currency

255 Pillar Two rules

256 Qualifying domestic top-up tax

256A Qualifying domestic top-up tax treated as not accruing where contested etc

257 Qualifying undertaxed profits tax

258 Meaning of “connected”

259 Other definitions

Chapter 11 General and miscellaneous provision

260 Transitional provision and safe harbours

261 Index of defined expressions

262 Power to amend to ensure consistency with Pillar Two

263 Regulations

264 Multinational top-up tax to apply from 31 December 2023

Part 4
Domestic top-up tax

Chapter 1 Introduction

265 Introduction to domestic top-up tax

266 Qualifying entities

267 DTT excluded entities

267A Securitisation companies in a group treated as not consolidated

268 Permanent establishments

268A Partnerships

Chapter 2 Charge to domestic top-up tax

269 Chargeable persons

270 Amount charged

271 Election to make one member of a group liable for amounts charged

Chapter 3 Application of multinational top-up tax provisions

272 Determining top-up amounts of entity that is a member of a group

272A Treatment of covered bond vehicles

273 Determining top-up amounts of entity that is not a member of a group

273A References to Pillar Two rules

273B Effect of becoming subject to Pillar Two rules

273C Dividends from protected cell companies

274 Application of section 262

275 Application of Schedule 14

276 Application of transitional provision

277 Index of defined expressions

278 Domestic top-up tax to apply from 31 December 2023

Part 5
Electricity generator levy

279 Charge on exceptional generation receipts

280 Key concepts (generating undertaking etc)

281 Benchmark amount

282 Attribution of generation

283 Generation receipts

284 Allowable costs

285 Exceptional generation fuel costs

286 Exceptional revenue sharing costs

287 Groups

288 Lead member of a group and its qualifying periods

289 Liability of members of groups

290 Election for members with significant minority shareholding to pay levy

291 Qualifying partnerships

292 Qualifying joint ventures

293 Non-chargeable amounts of joint venture to be attributed to participants

294 Generation acquired and supplied by JV participants

295 Arrangements that reflect receipts (JV participants)

296 Generation acquired and supplied by significant minority shareholders

297 Arrangements that reflect receipts (significant minority shareholders)

298 Surrender of shortfalls

299 Amount that may be surrendered and use of that amount

300 Election to treat certain companies as transparent

301 Effect of company being transparent

302 General application of corporation tax administration

303 Company tax returns

304 Requirement to provide information about payments

305 Claims to shortfall amounts

306 Application of Part 5A of TMA 1970 and Instalment Payments Regulations

307 Application of Part 5 of CTA 2010 for the purposes of determining interests

308 Anti-avoidance

309 Information sharing

310 Interaction of electricity generator levy with corporation tax

311 Regulations under this Part

311A Meaning of “qualifying new generating plant”

312 Minor definitions relating to electricity market

313 Definitions in this Part

Part 6
Other taxes

314 Transactions funded with the assistance of a public subsidy

315 Deposit schemes

316 Dumping, subsidisation and safeguarding remedies

317 Rulings as to method of valuation of goods

318 Discharging goods from free-circulation procedure subject to guarantee

319 Excepted machines etc

320 Rates of tobacco products duty

321 Flavour concentrates

322 New bands and rates

323 Northern Ireland rates

324 Rates of vehicle excise duty

325 Reform of HGV road user levy

326 End of exempt period for HGV road user levy

327 Rates of landfill tax

328 Rates of climate change levy

329 Rate of plastic packaging tax

330 Aggregates levy: exemptions and exploitation

Part 7
Miscellaneous and final

331 Designation of sites

332 Sunset date for reliefs

333 Right to repayment of income tax to be inalienable

334 Late payment interest on value added tax

335 Penalties for failure to pay value added tax

336 VAT credits: repayment interest due where evidence not provided

337 Insurance premium tax: power to make regulations about notifications

338 Penalties for failure to make payments of plastic packaging tax on time

339 Approval of aerodromes

340 Approved aerodromes: minor and consequential amendments

341 Temporary approvals etc

342 Licensing authorities: requirements to give or obtain tax information

343 Section 342: consequential amendments

344 Definition of “charity” restricted to UK charities

345 Definition of “community amateur sports club” restricted to UK clubs

346 Exemptions from tax

347 Abolition of the Office of Tax Simplification

348 Pension benefits and inheritance tax

349 International arrangements for exchanging information

350 Payment of unclaimed money in court into the Consolidated Fund

351 Financial sanctions regulations: prohibition on certain payments by HMRC

352 Communications data

353 Interpretation

354 Short title

SCHEDULES

Schedule 1 Relief for research and development

Schedule 2 Estates in administration and trusts

Schedule 3 Corporate interest restriction etc.

Schedule 4 Investment vehicles

Schedule 5 Records relating to transfer pricing

Schedule 6 Categories of alcoholic products: interpretation

Schedule 7 Rates of alcohol duty

Schedule 8 Qualifying draught products: reduced rates

Schedule 9 Small producer alcoholic products: duty discount

Schedule 10 Penalties for contraventions of alcohol wholesaling provisions

Schedule 11 Alcohol duty: reviews and appeals

Schedule 12 Alcohol duty: duty stamps

Schedule 13 Alcohol duty: minor and consequential amendments

Schedule 14 Administration of multinational top-up tax

Schedule 15 Multinational top-up tax: elections

Schedule 16 Multinational top-up tax: transitional provision

Schedule 16A Multinational top-up tax: safe harbours

Schedule 17 Index of expressions defined or explained in Parts 3 and 4

Schedule 18 Administration of domestic top-up tax

Schedule 19 Dumping, subsidisation and safeguarding remedies

Schedule 20 Bilateral safeguarding remedies

Schedule 21 Soft drinks industry levy: flavour concentrates

Schedule 22 Reforms of HGV road user levy

Schedule 23 Freeports and investment zones: consequential amendments

Schedule 24 Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: exemptions from tax

Changes to legislation:

There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Finance (No. 2) Act 2023, Schedule 16. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. At the current time any known changes or effects made by subsequent legislation have been applied to the text of the legislation you are viewing by the editorial team. Please see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ for details regarding the timescales for which new effects are identified and recorded on this site.

Schedules

Schedule 16Multinational top-up tax: transitional provision

Section 260

Part 1General transitional measures

Transitional relief for substance-based income exclusion

1

(1)

Section 195(4) (payroll carve-out amount) has effect for an accounting period that commences in a year listed in following table as if for “5%” there were substituted the specified percentage for that year—

Year

Specified percentage

2023

10%

2024

9.8%

2025

9.6%

2026

9.4%

2027

9.2%

2028

9.0%

2029

8.2%

2030

7.4%

2031

6.6%

2032

5.8%

(2)

Section 195(5) (tangible asset carve-out amount) has effect for an accounting period that commences in a year listed in following table as if for “5%” there were substituted the specified percentage for that year—

Year

Specified percentage

2023

8%

2024

7.8%

2025

7.6%

2026

7.4%

2027

7.2%

2028

7.0%

2029

6.6%

2030

6.2%

2031

5.8%

2032

5.4%

Intra-group transfers before entry into regime

2

(1)

Sub-paragraph (3) applies where—

(a)

assets are transferred from one member of a multinational group to another member of that group,

F1(b)

the Pillar Two rules do not apply to the transferor for the accounting period in which the transfer takes place (but in determining this, section 255(4) has effect as if sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (b) were omitted),

(ba)

a qualifying domestic top-up tax does not apply in relation to the transferor for that period, and

(c)

the transfer took place on or after 1 December 2021.

(2)

But sub-paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to a transfer of assets manufactured, or of a class or description sold, in the course of carrying on a trade by the transferor or the transferee.

(3)

Where this sub-paragraph applies, for the purposes of Part 3 of this Act—

(a)

the value of the assets at the relevant time is the carrying value of the assets in the hands of the transferor immediately before the transfer, and

(b)

any deferred tax asset that would arise in relation to the assets in the underlying profits of the transferee is limited to F2the lesser of the cap amount and the sum of—

(i)

the value of deferred tax assets that arose in relation to the assets before their transfer, and

(ii)

the tax paid amount in relation to the transfer of assets.

F3(3A)

For the purposes of determining the value of a deferred tax asset under sub-paragraph (3)(b)(i)—

(a)

if the rate of tax in relation to that asset is greater than 15%, the value is to be adjusted so that it reflects the value it would be if the rate had been 15%, and

(b)

exclude the impact of any valuation adjustments or accounting recognition adjustments.

(4)

For the purposes of this paragraph “the relevant time” means the later of—

(a)

the date of the transfer, and

(b)

the commencement of the first accounting period in which F4the Pillar Two rules apply to the transferee.

F5(i)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(ii)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)

Where the relevant time is after the date of the transfer—

(a)

the value of the assets at the relevant time is to be adjusted to reflect—

(i)

capitalised expenditure incurred in respect of the assets in the period between the date of the transfer and the relevant time, and

(ii)

amortisation and depreciation of the assets that, had the transfer not occurred, would have been recognised by the transferor if the transferor had continued to use the accounting policies and rates for amortisation and depreciation of the assets previously used, and

(b)

the tax paid amount in relation to the transfer of the assets F6, and the value of deferred tax assets that arose in relation to the assets before their transfer, are to be adjusted to reflect the matters referred to in paragraph (a)(i) and (ii).

(6)

To determine the “tax paid amount” in relation to a transfer of assets take the following steps—

  • Step 1

    Determine the amount of the tax expense of the transferor in relation to the transfer of the assets that relates to covered taxes.

  • Step 2

    Determine the amount, if any, of qualifying current tax expense relating to the transfer of the assets that would have been allocated to the transferor as a result of section 177 or 179 (permanent establishments and controlled foreign company regimes) if—

    1. (a)

      F7the ultimate parent had been located in the United Kingdom and the accounting period commenced on or after 31 December 2023, and

    2. (b)

      section 179(2) (restriction of allocation of mobile income) were ignored.

  • Step 3

    Add together the amounts determined under Steps 1 and 2.

F8(7)

In determining the tax expense of the transferor in relation to the transfer of the assets—

(a)

where any loss arising in the accounting period in which the transfer took place is offset against any taxable gain arising on the transfer, ignore that offsetting, and

(b)

exclude the impact of any valuation adjustments or accounting recognition adjustments.

(8)

The “cap amount” in relation to a transfer of assets is the amount given by—

(a)

dividing—

(i)

the amount of tax expense determined under Step 1 in sub-paragraph (6), by

(ii)

the nominal rate of tax to which that expense relates, and

(b)

multiplying the result of paragraph (a) by 15%.

(9)

Where F9the sum of the tax paid amount F10and the value of deferred tax assets that arose in relation to the assets before their transfer is greater than the cap amount F11…, the filing member may elect that sub-paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to the transfer of assets.

(10)

Paragraph 2 of Schedule 15 (annual elections) applies to an election under sub-paragraph (9).

(11)

For the purposes of this paragraph,

F12(a)

a transfer of assets” includes a transaction that relates to assets that does not result in a change in their ownership if the transaction has F13a similar effect for accounting purposes to a change in ownership of those assets;

F14(b)

a qualifying domestic top-up tax is not to be taken as applying to a member of a multinational group if provision for a QDMTT Safe Harbour (within the meaning of the Pillar Two rules) applies to it.

F15(12)

Where assets are transferred from one member of a multinational group to another member of that group as a result of a series of transfers that—

(a)

fall within sub-paragraph (1), but

(b)

do not fall within sub-paragraph (2),

that series is to be treated as a single transfer of assets that falls within sub-paragraph (1).

(13)

This paragraph applies to that single transfer as if—

(a)

the reference to the transferor in sub-paragraph (3)(a) were to the transferor in relation to the first transfer in the series,

(b)

the references in sub-paragraph (3)(b) to the cap amount, the value of deferred tax assets that arose in relation to the assets before their transfer and the tax paid amount were to the aggregate of each such amount or value as determined for the purpose of each transfer that makes up the series,

(c)

the reference to the date of the transfer in sub-paragraph (4)(a) were to the date of the last transfer in the series, and

(d)

the references to the transferee in sub-paragraph (4)(b) were to the transferee in relation to the last transfer in the series.

Part 2Transitional safe harbour

Chapter 1F16General transitional safe harbour election

Election

3

F17(1)

The filing member of a multinational group may make a transitional safe harbour election F18under this paragraph for an accounting period in respect of a territory.

(1A)

The effect of the election is that all of the standard members of the group located in the territory are to be treated as not having top-up amounts or additional top-up amounts for the purpose of determining the liability of any member of the group to multinational top-up tax.

(2)

An election may only be made for an accounting period if—

(a)

the period commences on or before 31 December 2026 and ends on or before 30 June 2028,

(b)

a qualifying country-by-country report has been prepared in relation to the territory for the period,

(c)

F19a transitional safe harbour election has been made in respect of the territory for each preceding accounting period—

(i)

that commenced on or after 31 December 2023, and

(ii)

in which the Pillar Two rules F20would, ignoring any transitional safe harbour election, have applied to any member of the group in the territory,

(d)

an election under section 189 (deemed distribution tax election) has not been made in respect of the territory for the accounting period, and

(e)

at least one of the following tests are met for the territory in accounting period—

(i)

the threshold test (see paragraph 7),

(ii)

the simplified effective tax rate test (see paragraph 8), or

(iii)

the routine profits test (see paragraph 9).

(3)

An election may not be made in respect of the territory of the ultimate parent of a multinational group for an accounting period if the ultimate parent is a flow-through entity unless, were the adjusted profits of the ultimate parent determined for that period in accordance with Part 3

(a)

its adjusted profits would be nil as a result of the application of section 170 (adjustments for ultimate parent that is a flow-through entity), or

(b)

all of the ultimate parent’s adjusted profits would be attributable to one or more permanent establishments (see section 159) and no amount of income or expense of any permanent establishment would be treated, as a result of section 160 (attribution of losses between permanent establishment and main entity), as income or expense of the ultimate parent.

F21(4)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)

Paragraph 2 of Schedule 15 (annual elections) applies to an election under this paragraph.

(6)

The information return in which the election is made must set out which of the tests referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(e) are being relied on and include evidence of how any that is relied on is met.

F22(7)

For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, a country-by-country report in relation to a territory is “qualifying” if F23all relevant information relating to the territory is prepared on the basis of qualified financial statements of the multinational group (see paragraph 4).

F24(7A)

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (7), “all relevant information” means all of the information described in paragraphs (a) to (d) of paragraph 4(3).

(8)

Where there is no requirement under the law of any territory for a country-by-country report to be prepared and filed in respect of a multinational group, the filling member may include, in the information return in which the election is made, the information that would have been in such a report—

(a)

prepared in accordance with legislation implementing the OECD’s guidance on country-by-country reporting under the law of the territory of the ultimate parent, or

(b)

where there is no such legislation, prepared in accordance with that guidance.

(9)

Where such information has been included in that information return, that information is to be treated as if it were a country-by-country report in relation to the territory for the purposes of this Chapter (and where that information complies with sub-paragraph (7), the condition in sub-paragraph (2)(b) is to be treated as met).

F25(10)

An election under this paragraph may not be made in respect of the nominal territory of a stateless member of a multinational group.

Qualified financial statements and basis of calculations

4

(1)

For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule “qualified financial statements” of a multinational group means—

(a)

the accounts used to prepare the consolidated financial F26statements of the ultimate parent F27provided the statements are prepared in accordance with acceptable accounting standards or an authorised accounting standard, or

F28(b)

financial statements of members of the group provided—

(i)

they are prepared in accordance with acceptable accounting standards or an authorised accounting standard, and

(ii)

the information contained in those statements is reliable and is maintained in a manner that is consistent with its use under the accounting standard used in preparing those statements.

F29(1A)

But see also paragraph 4A in cases where those accounts or statements reflect purchase price accounting adjustments.

(2)

Where a member of a multinational group is not included in consolidated financial statements of any member of the group on a line-by-line basis solely due to size or materiality grounds, the financial accounts of that member that are used for preparation of the group’s country-by-country report are to be regarded as forming part of the qualified financial statements of the group.

(3)

For the purposes of establishing whether the tests in paragraphs 7 to 9 are met in relation to members of a multinational group in a territory, the basis for that determination is to be the information derived from qualified financial statements as to—

(a)

revenue,

(b)

profit (loss) before income tax, F30

(c)

qualifying income tax expense (see paragraph 5) F31, and

(d)

qualified substance based income F32exclusion amount (see paragraph 9(2)).

(4)

Information derived from qualified financial statements as to revenue or profit (loss) before income tax must be adjusted—

(a)

as the information was adjusted for the purposes of its inclusion in a qualifying country-by-country report in relation to the territory, or

(b)

if the information was not included in such a report, as it would have been adjusted had it been included in such a report.

See also F33paragraphs 6 to 6B which provides for circumstances in which further adjustments are required to profit (loss) before income tax and circumstances in which adjustments are required to qualifying income tax expense.

(5)

The information described in sub-paragraph (3)(a) to F34(d) that must be used to determine whether the tests in paragraphs 7 to 9 are met in relation to members of a multinational group in a territory must be derived from whichever of the following was used to prepare the qualifying country-by-country report in relation to the territory—

(a)

qualified financial statements falling within sub-paragraph (1)(a), along with any financial accounts treated as qualified financial statements as a result of sub-paragraph (2), or

(b)

qualified financial statements falling within sub-paragraph (1)(b), along with any financial accounts treated as qualified financial statements as a result of sub-paragraph (2).

(6)

Where that information in respect of a territory is not available in qualified financial statements of a multinational group, no election may be made in respect of that territory.

F35Accounts or statements reflecting purchase price accounting adjustments

4A

(1)

This paragraph applies in relation to accounts or financial statements (“the relevant statements”) in relation to a multinational group in a territory that—

(a)

fall within paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph 4(1), and

(b)

reflect purchase price accounting adjustments.

(2)

If—

(a)

a country-by-country report has been submitted in respect of the group in that territory in respect of a period commencing on or after 1 January 2023 and concluding before the commencement of the accounting period for which the transitional safe harbour election is being made,

(b)

the financial accounts used for the preparation of that report did not reflect purchase price accounting adjustments, and

(c)

there is no requirement to reflect purchase price adjustments in the relevant statements under the law of the territory that applies in relation to the preparation of those statements,

the relevant statements are not qualified financial statements.

(3)

Sub-paragraph (4) applies if—

(a)

the relevant statements are qualified financial statements, and

(b)

an impairment of goodwill in relation to a transaction entered into on or after 1 December 2021 is reflected in a member’s profit (loss) before income tax.

(4)

Adjust the profit (loss) before income tax of the member so that it does not reflect that impairment for the purposes of determining—

(a)

in a case where the condition in sub-paragraph (5) is not met, whether the simplified effective tax rate test is met (see paragraph 8), and

(b)

in any case, whether the routine profits test is met (see paragraph 9).

(5)

The condition in this sub-paragraph is that the relevant statements reflect—

(a)

a reversal of deferred tax liability in relation to the goodwill, or

(b)

the recognition or increase of a deferred tax asset in relation to it.

Qualifying income tax expense

5

F36(1)

In this Part of this Schedule, “qualifying income tax expense” means income tax expense adjusted to exclude—

(a)

any amount that does not relate to covered taxes, and

(b)

any amount that relates to an uncertain tax position.

F37(2)

For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, any amount of qualifying income tax expense that is in respect of profits of a permanent establishment and that is incurred in the territory of the permanent establishment is to be regarded as the expense of that permanent establishment (rather than of the main entity).

Adjustments

6

(1)

Sub-paragraph (2) applies where the adjusted profits of the ultimate parent of a multinational group for an accounting period would be reduced as a result of section 171(1) (ultimate parent subject to deductible dividend regime).

(2)

Where this sub-paragraph applies the profit (loss) before income tax of the ultimate parent for that period is to be reduced (but not below nil) by the amount referred to in section 171(1).

(3)

Sub-paragraph (4) applies where—

(a)

the standard members of a multinational group in a territory have a net unrealised fair value loss for an accounting period, and

(b)

that loss exceeds 50 million euros.

(4)

Where this sub-paragraph applies, those losses are to be excluded from the aggregate profit (loss) before income tax of those members.

(5)

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (3), the standard members of a multinational group in a territory have a net unrealised fair value loss for an accounting period to the extent their losses that arise from changes in fair value of relevant ownership interests exceed gains arising from changes in fair value of relevant ownership interests.

(6)

An ownership interest in an entity is relevant F38unless, at the end of the accounting period, the members of the multinational group do not between them have ownership interests that entitle them to 10% or more of the entity’s —

(a)

profits,

(b)

capital,

(c)

reserves, and

(d)

voting rights.

(7)

Amounts of profits and qualifying tax expense allocated, for the purposes of Part 3, to a member of a multinational group from an investment entity as a result of an election under section 213 (investment entity tax transparency election) are to be reflected (to the extent they are not already) in the member’s profit (loss) before income tax and qualifying tax expense used for the purposes of applying the tests in paragraphs 7 to 9.

(8)

Amounts that are to be included or otherwise taken account of, for the purposes of Part 3, in the adjusted profits and covered tax balance of a member of a multinational group as a result of an election under section 214 (taxable distribution method election) are to be reflected (to the extent they are not already) in the member’s profit (loss) before income tax and qualifying tax expense used for the purposes of applying the tests in paragraphs 7 to 9.

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)

F38Word in Sch. 16 para. 6(6) substituted (with effect for accounting periods beginning on or after 31.12.2023 in accordance with Sch. 12 para. 1(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2024 (c. 3), Sch. 12 para. 39(4)

F39Deduction and non-inclusion arrangements and duplicate loss arrangements

6A

(1)

Where the aggregate profit (loss) before income tax of the standard members of a multinational group in a territory reflects disqualified expense, the aggregate profit (loss) before income tax is to be adjusted to exclude it.

(2)

Disqualified expense means any expense or loss of a member of a multinational group reflected in the financial statements of the member arising as a result of qualifying arrangements that involve another member of the group—

(a)

to the extent that the expense or loss is a result of the member directly or indirectly being provided credit by the other member or the other member otherwise making an investment in the member under the arrangements and—

(i)

the credit or investment is not reflected as an increase in the revenue, or a gain, in the financial statements of the other member that corresponds to the expense or loss, or

(ii)

it is not reasonable to expect that the credit or investment will be reflected as an increase in the taxable income of the other member over the life of the arrangements that corresponds to the expense or loss, or

(b)

to the extent that—

(i)

the expense or loss is also included as an expense or loss in the financial statements of another member of the group, or

(ii)

the expense or loss is mirrored by an amount that can be deducted from the taxable income of another member of the group that is located in a different territory to the member.

(3)

But—

(a)

an expense or a loss is not disqualified expense as a result of sub-paragraph (2)(a) if it is solely referable to the provision of qualifying tier one capital,

(b)

an expense or loss is not disqualified expense as a result of sub-paragraph (2)(b)(i) to the extent it is offset against revenue that is included in the financial statements of each member whose financial statements reflect the expense or loss, and

(c)

an expense or loss is not disqualified expense as a result of sub-paragraph (2)(b)(ii) to the extent that it is offset against revenue or income that is included in both—

(i)

the financial statements that reflect the expense or loss, and

(ii)

the taxable income from which the amount that mirrors the expense or loss can be deducted.

(4)

An expense or loss included in the financial statements of a member of a multinational group is to be ignored to the extent that the expense or loss is included in the financial statements of another member of the group as a result of—

(a)

the other member having a direct or indirect ownership interest in the member, and

(b)

the member being regarded as tax transparent in the territory in which the other member is located.

(5)

Where as a result of sub-paragraph (2)(b)(i) more than one standard member in a territory has disqualified expense in respect of the same expense or loss, sub-paragraph (1) applies to all but one of those amounts of disqualified expense.

(6)

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(a)(ii), ignore any increase in the taxable income of the other member—

(a)

that is offset by a devalued tax attribute, or

(b)

where—

(i)

the payment that gives rise to the expense or loss in question also results in a taxable deduction or loss of a further member of the group located in the same territory as the other member, and

(ii)

that deduction or loss is not reflected in the aggregate profit (loss) before income tax for that territory for the purposes of determining whether an election under paragraph 3 that applies in relation to that further member can be made.

(7)

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (6)(a), a “devalued tax attribute” means a tax attribute of a member of a multinational group—

(a)

whose value is reflected in financial statements of the member at less than the amount of the attribute multiplied by the tax rate that applies to the member, or

(b)

whose value would be so reflected if the qualifying arrangements that result in disqualified expense or disqualified tax expense (see paragraph 6B) were ignored.

(8)

For the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph 6B, arrangements are “qualifying” if—

(a)

they were entered into on or after 16 December 2022, or

(b)

they were entered into before that date, but—

(i)

the arrangements are amended on or after that date (including by way of a substitution of one or more of the parties),

(ii)

the performance of rights or obligations under the arrangements is altered on or after that date (for example where payments under the arrangements are reduced or ceased), or

(iii)

the accounting treatment of the arrangements is varied on or after that date.

(9)

In this paragraph and in paragraph 6B reference to the financial statements of a member of a multinational group is—

(a)

in relation to an accounting period in which an election under paragraph 3 that applies in relation to the member was made, or for the purposes of determining whether such an election can be made, to the financial statements, or financial accounts, that form the basis of qualified financial statements in relation to the member for the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, or

(b)

otherwise, to the underlying profits accounts of that member (see section 136).

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)

F39Sch. 16 paras. 6A, 6B and cross-headings inserted (in relation to accounting periods commencing on or after 31.12.2023 (subject to sub-paragraph (2) of the amending paragraph)) by Finance Act 2025 (c. 8), Sch. 4 para. 47(1)(2), 72(2)

Duplicate tax recognition arrangements

6B

(1)

Where the aggregate qualifying income tax expense of the standard members of a multinational group in a territory reflects disqualified tax expense, the aggregate qualifying income tax expense is to be adjusted to exclude it.

(2)

Disqualified tax expense means any qualifying income tax expense of a member of a multinational group reflected in the financial statements of the member that, as a result of qualifying arrangements, is also reflected in—

(a)

the covered tax balance of one or more other members of the group, or

(b)

the qualifying income tax expense of one or more other members of the group.

(3)

But qualifying income tax expense is not to be regarded as disqualified tax expense—

(a)

if the income to which the tax expense relates is reflected in the financial statements of each member of the group falling within sub-paragraph (2)(a) and (b) to at least the same extent to which the tax expense is reflected in the covered tax balance, or qualifying income tax expense, of each of those members;

(b)

to the extent that the duplication of the tax expense would not arise if the adjustments that would have been made in determining the member’s covered tax balance (and that are not required to be made for the purpose of determining the member’s qualifying income tax expense) had been made.

Threshold test

7

(1)

The threshold test is met for a territory in an accounting period if—

(a)

the revenue of the standard members in that territory for the period is less than 10 million euros, and

(b)

the aggregate profit (loss) before income tax of those members for that period is less than 1 million euros.

(2)

Where those members include members that are held for sale and the revenue of those members is not otherwise included in the amount determined for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(a), that revenue is to be so included.

Simplified effective tax rate test

8

(1)

The simplified effective tax rate test is met for a territory in an accounting period if the simplified effective tax rate of the standard members of the group in that territory is—

(a)

in the case of an accounting period beginning before 1 January 2025, at least 15%,

(b)

in the case of an accounting period beginning in 2025, at least 16%, or

(c)

in the case of an accounting period beginning on or after 1 January 2026, at least 17%.

(2)

The simplified effective tax rate of the standard members of a multinational group in a territory in an accounting period is the amount (expressed as a percentage) given by dividing—

(a)

the aggregate qualifying income tax expense of those members for that period, by

(b)

the aggregate profit (loss) before income tax of those members for that period.

Routine profits test

9

(1)

The routine profits test is met for a territory in an accounting period if—

(a)

the qualified substance based income exclusion amount for that territory for that period is equal to or greater than the aggregate profit (loss) before income tax for that period of the standard members of the group located in that territory, or

(b)

the aggregate profit (loss) before income tax of those members for that period is nil or reflects an overall loss.

(2)

The “qualified substance based income exclusion amount” for a territory for an accounting period is the substance based exclusion determined for the territory for the period in accordance with section 195 (and see also paragraph 1 of this Schedule) ignoring any payroll carve-out amount or tangible asset carve-out amount of any standard member of the group in that territory—

(a)

that is not regarded as a constituent entity of the multinational group for the purposes of the group’s country-by-country report, or

(b)

that is not regarded as located in the territory for the purposes of that report.

Chapter 2Application F40of Chapter 1 to joint ventures etc

Application in the case of joint venture group

10

F41(1)

For the purpose of applying Chapter 1 of this Part of this Schedule to a joint venture group (see F42section 227 which applies this Schedule generally, with modifications, to joint venture groups) F43, that Chapter has effect as if

(a)

paragraph F443(2)(b) were omitted (requirement for qualifying country-by-country report),

(b)

the reference in paragraph 4(2) to “the financial accounts of that member that are used for preparation of the group’s country-by-country report” were to the financial accounts that would be used if a qualifying country-by-country report had been prepared in respect of the joint venture group, and

(c)

in paragraph 9(2), the words from “ignoring” to the end were omitted.

F45(2)

For that purpose ignore section 227(1)(a) (reference to ultimate parent treated as reference to joint venture parent).

(3)

Accordingly, the filing member of a multinational group may make a separate transitional safe harbour election in respect of joint venture members of a joint venture group in a territory.

Application to investment entities in same territory as owners

11

(1)

Subsection (2) applies where—

(a)

an investment entity that is a member of a multinational group, and

(b)

all of the members of a multinational group with direct ownership interests in it,

are located in the same territory.

(2)

The investment entity is to be treated as a standard member of that group for the purposes of this Part of this Schedule.

Minority owned members

12

For the purposes of this Part of this Schedule, references to the standard members of a multinational group include minority owned members.

F46Part 2AUTPR transitional safe harbour election

Election

12A

(1)

The filing member of a multinational group may elect for an accounting period that in the territory of the ultimate parent—

(a)

no member of the group located in the territory has an untaxed amount relating to that period, and

(b)

no joint venture group whose joint venture parent is located in the territory has an untaxed amount in relation to the multinational group relating to that period.

(2)

An election may only be made for an accounting period if—

(a)

the minimum corporate tax rate for the territory of the ultimate parent is equal to, or in excess of, 20%, and

(b)

the accounting period—

(i)

commenced on or before 31 December 2025 and ends before 31 December 2026, and

(ii)

is not longer than 12 months.

(3)

The “minimum corporate tax rate” for a territory means—

(a)

in the case of a territory in which corporate income tax may be imposed by subdivisions of that territory as well as by a national authority, the sum of—

(i)

the nominal national rate that generally applies, and

(ii)

the lowest nominal rate that generally applies that is imposed by a subdivision of that territory (and where one or more subdivisions do not impose corporate income tax, that rate will be zero), or

(b)

otherwise, the nominal rate that generally applies.

F47Part 3Transitional reporting election

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)

F47Sch. 16 Pt. 3 inserted (with effect for accounting periods beginning on or after 31.12.2023 in accordance with Sch. 12 para. 1(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2024 (c. 3), Sch. 12 para. 40(1)

Transitional reporting election

13

(1)

HMRC may publish a notice that provides for alternative requirements for the information that must be contained in an information return in respect of members of a multinational group to which an election under sub-paragraph (3) applies.

(2)

Where—

(a)

HMRC have published a notice under paragraph (1) containing alternative requirements, and

(b)

an election under sub-paragraph (3) applies to members of a multinational group for an accounting period,

paragraph 10 of Schedule 14 applies to the filing member of the group for that period subject to the notice.

(3)

An election under this sub-paragraph—

(a)

is to be made in respect of all of the members of a multinational group in a territory,

(b)

is to be made by the filing member of the group,

(c)

may only have effect in relation to an accounting period that begins on or before 31 December 2028 and ends before 1 July 2030, and

(d)

may only be made if condition A, B or C is met.

(4)

Condition A is that none of the members in the territory have top-up amounts or additional top-up amounts for the accounting period to which the election is to apply.

(5)

Condition B is that—

(a)

there is only one responsible member responsible for all of the members in the territory for the accounting period to which the election is to apply, and

(b)

the sum of amounts attributed under Chapter 7 of Part 3 to that responsible member for that period in respect of those members’ top-up amounts and additional top-up amounts is equal to the sum of the members’ top-up amount and additional top-up amounts.

(6)

Condition C is that—

(a)

there is more than one responsible member responsible for the members of the group in the territory for the accounting period to which the election is to apply, and

(b)

each responsible member is responsible for every member of the group in the territory and has the same inclusion ratio for each member it is responsible for.

(7)

Paragraph 2 of Schedule 15 (annual elections) applies to an election under this paragraph.