Finance Bill — Controlled foreign companies. — 19 Jul 2000

Mr John Taylor MP, Solihull voted in the minority (Aye).

No. 3, in page 42, line 46, leave out from beginning to end of line 2 on page 43 and insert--

'(b) regulations under section 1 of the Education and Training (Scotland) Act 2000.'.

No. 4, in page 43, line 3, leave out "an account-holding" and insert "a fundable".

No. 5, in page 43, line 7, leave out "96" and insert "104".

No. 6, in page 43, line 8, at end insert--

'or he is a party to qualifying arrangements.

(6) In subsection (5) above "qualifying arrangements" means arrangements which qualify under--

(a) section 105 or 106 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000, or

(b) section 2 of the Education and Training (Scotland) Act 2000.'.-- [Mr. Timms.]

Amendments made: No. 83, in page 293, line 28, after "section", insert--

', and the provisions of section 632B below,'.

No. 84, in page 294, line 10, at end insert--

'Eligibility to make contributions: concurrent membership

632B.--(1) A member who would not, apart from this section, be eligible to make contributions during a year of assessment shall be eligible to make contributions at any time during that year if--

(a) throughout the year he holds an office or employment to which section 645 applies;

(b) the condition in any of subsections (6) to (9) of section 632A is satisfied in his case as respects the year;

(c) he is not, and has not been, a controlling director of a company at any time in the year or in any of the five years of assessment preceding it;

(d) for at least one of the five years of assessment preceding the year, the aggregate of his grossed-up remuneration from each office and each employment held on 5th April in that preceding year does not exceed the remuneration limit for the relevant year; and

(e) the total relevant contributions made in the year do not exceed the earnings threshold for the year.

(2) For the purposes of paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) above, no account shall be taken of any year of assessment earlier than the year 2000-01.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) above, a person is a controlling director of a company at any time if at that time--

(a) he is a director, as defined by section 612(1); and

(b) he is within paragraph (b) of section 417(5) in relation to the company.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (d) of subsection (1) above--

(a) "grossed up", in relation to a person's remuneration from an office or employment, means increased by being multiplied by a figure determined in accordance with an order made by the Treasury (or left unchanged, if that figure is unity);

(b) "remuneration" shall be construed in accordance with an order made by the Treasury;

(c) "the remuneration limit" for any year of assessment is £30,000;

(d) "the relevant year" means the year of assessment first mentioned in subsection (1) above.

The Treasury may by order amend the definition of "the remuneration limit" in paragraph (c) above for any year of assessment by varying the amount there specified.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (e) of subsection (1) above and the following provisions of this section, "the total relevant contributions", in the case of a year of assessment, means the aggregate amount of the contributions made in the year--

(a) by the member in question, and

(b) by any employer of his,

under arrangements made by the member under the scheme in question, together with the aggregate amounts of such contributions under other approved personal pension arrangements made by that member.

(6) If--

(a) in the case of a member, the total relevant contributions in a year of assessment, apart from this subsection, exceed the earnings threshold for the year, and

(b) but for that, the member would be eligible to make contributions by virtue of subsection (1) above at any time in that year,

the repayment required by subsection (2) of section 632A is repayment of the relevant excess contributions only (so that the condition in subsection (1)(e) above becomes satisfied).

(7) In subsection (6) above "the relevant excess contributions" means--

(a) to the extent that a contribution is the first which caused the total relevant contributions in the year to exceed the earnings threshold for the year, that contribution; and

(b) all subsequent contributions in the year.

(8) The Treasury may by order make provision requiring any person who claims to be eligible to make contributions by virtue of this section to provide to--

(a) the Board,

(b) an officer of the Board, or

(c) the scheme administrator of the personal pension scheme concerned,

such declarations, certificates or other evidence in support of the claim as may be specified or described, or determined in accordance with, the order.

(9) A person shall only be eligible to make contributions by virtue of this section in a year of assessment if he complies with any requirements imposed by order under subsection (8) above.".'.

No. 85, in page 310, line 24, at end insert--

'except that, in a case falling within subsection (6) of section 632B of the Taxes Act 1988, the contributions required to be repaid shall be determined in accordance with that subsection (and their repayment shall have the like consequence).'.

No. 86, in page 310, line 47, leave out "section 632A" and insert "sections 632A and 632B".-- [Mr. Timms.]

I beg to move amendment No. 144, in page 313, line 34, at end add

'Where an option does not qualify by reason of an error in the scheme pursuant to which it has been granted, but would otherwise have been capable of being a qualifying option pursuant to paragraphs 9 to 17 inclusive of this Schedule, then that error may be corrected and be deemed to have been always corrected from the date of grant of the option.'.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendments made: No. 61, in page 321, line 8, leave out--

I beg to move amendment No. 136, in page 47, line 10, at end insert--

'(2A) Following subsection (7) add--

"(7A) Where any individual retires or dies or ceases employment due to ill health, injury or disability, and as a result an asset ceases

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment made: No. 97, in page 49, line 8, at end insert--

'( ) After paragraph 22 insert--

"Qualifying shareholdings in joint venture companies

23.--(1) This Schedule has effect subject to the following provisions where a company ('the investing company') has a qualifying shareholding in a joint venture company.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph a company is a 'joint venture company' if, and only if--

(a) it is a trading company or the holding company of a trading group, and

(b) 75% or more of its ordinary share capital (in aggregate) is held by not more than five companies.

For the purposes of paragraph (b) above the shareholdings of members of a group of companies shall be treated as held by a single company.

(3) For the purposes of this paragraph a company has a 'qualifying shareholding' in a joint venture company if--

(a) it holds more than 30% of the ordinary share capital of the joint venture company, or

(b) it is a member of a group of companies, it holds ordinary share capital of the joint venture company and the members of the group between them hold more than 30% of that share capital.

(4) For the purpose of determining whether the investing company is a trading company--

(a) any holding by it of shares in the joint venture company shall be disregarded, and

(b) it shall be treated as carrying on an appropriate proportion--

(i) of the activities of the joint venture company, or

(ii) where the joint venture company is the holding company of a trading group, of the activities of that group.

This sub-paragraph does not apply if the investing company is a holding company.

(5) For the purpose of determining whether the investing company is a holding company--

(a) any holding by it of shares in the joint venture company shall be disregarded, and

(b) it shall be treated as carrying on an appropriate proportion of the activities--

(i) of the joint venture company, or

(ii) where the joint venture company is the holding company of a trading group, of that group.

This sub-paragraph does not apply if the joint venture company is a 51 per cent subsidiary of the investing company.

(6) For the purpose of determining whether a group of companies is a trading group--

(a) every holding of shares in the joint venture company by a member of the group having a qualifying shareholding in that company shall be disregarded, and

(b) each member of the group having such a qualifying shareholding shall be treated as carrying on an appropriate proportion of the activities--

(i) of the joint venture company, or

(ii) where the joint venture company is the holding company of a trading group, of that group.

This sub-paragraph does not apply if the joint venture company is a member of the group.

(7) In sub-paragraphs (4)(b), (5)(b) and (6)(b) above 'an appropriate proportion' means a proportion corresponding to the percentage of the ordinary share capital of the joint venture company held by the investing company or, as the case may be, by the group member concerned.

(8) The following shall be treated as having a relevant connection with each other--

(a) the investing company;

(b) the joint venture company;

(c) any company having a relevant connection with the investing company;

(d) any company having a relevant connection with the joint venture company by virtue of being--

(i) a 51 per cent subsidiary of that company, or

(ii) a member of the same commercial association of companies.

(9) The acquisition by the investing company of the qualifying shareholding shall not be treated as a relevant change of activity for the purposes of paragraph 11 above.

(10) For the purposes of this paragraph 'ordinary share capital' has the meaning given by section 832(1) of the Taxes Act.".'.-- [Miss Melanie Johnson.]

Amendment made: No. 99, in page 432, line 32, at end insert--

'; and

(f) the profits of the overseas company out of which the distribution is paid are subject to a tax on profits (in the country of residence of the company or elsewhere, or partly in that country and partly elsewhere).'.-- [Dawn Primarolo.]

I beg to move amendment No. 147, in page 66, line 21, leave out "that are" and insert--

'who are not trustees of a settlement for the benefit of the persons named in paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 86 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 but who are'.

Certain aspects of the current tax code for capital gains can hinder businesses' international competitive position and distort their commercial decisions, forcing them to adopt structures that they would not have needed otherwise. It may also act as a disincentive to companies that are investing to innovate and to modernise.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment made: No. 90, in page 482, line 5, leave out--

', in subsections (1), (3)(a), (4), (5), (7) and (8), after "sections 86A to 96"'

and insert "--

(a) in subsections (1), (3)(a), (4) and (7), after "sections 86A to 96", and

(b) in subsections (5) and (8), after "sections 86A to 90",'.-- [Dawn Primarolo.]

I beg to move amendment No. 103, in page 513, line 11, at end insert--

'Restriction of relief for underlying tax

may make different provision for different cases . . . may contain such supplementary, incidental, consequential or transitional provision as the Board may think fit.

Amendment agreed to .

Amendments made: No. 104, in page 513, line 35, leave out from beginning to end of line 26 on page 514 and insert--

(b) that any tax paid under the law of any territory in respect of the intermediate dividend, or which is underlying tax in relation to that dividend, had instead fallen to be borne accordingly (taking account of any reduction falling to be made under section 799(2)).

(5) The dividends mentioned in subsection (4)(a) above are--

(a) as respects each of the initial dividends which are, for the purposes of paragraph 4 of Schedule 25, to any extent represented by the intermediate dividend, a separate dividend (an "ADP dividend") representing, and of an amount equal to, so much of that initial dividend as is for those purposes represented by the intermediate dividend; and

(b) a further separate dividend (a "residual dividend") representing, and of an amount equal to, the remainder (if any) of the intermediate dividend.

(6) As respects each of the ADP dividends, the intermediate company is to be treated as if it were a separate company whose distributable profits are of a constitution corresponding to, and an amount equal to, that of the ADP dividend.

(7) As respects the residual dividend (if any), the relevant profits out of which it is to be regarded for the purposes of section 799(1) as paid by the intermediate company are, in consequence of subsection (6) above, to be treated as being of such constitution and amount as remains after excluding accordingly so much of those relevant profits as constitute the whole or any part of the distributable profits out of which the ADP dividends are paid.

(8) If, in a case where this section applies, an intermediate company also pays a dividend which is not an intermediate dividend (an "independent dividend") and either--

(a) that dividend is paid to a United Kingdom resident, or

(b) if it is not so paid, a dividend which to any extent represents it is paid by a company which is related to that company and resident outside the United Kingdom to a United Kingdom resident,

subsection (9) below shall have effect in relation to the United Kingdom resident.

(9) Where this subsection has effect, it shall be assumed for the purposes of allowing credit relief under this Part to the United Kingdom resident--

(a) that the relevant profits out of which the independent dividend is to be regarded for the purposes of section 799(1) as paid by the intermediate company are, in consequence of subsection (6) above, to be treated as being of such constitution and amount as remains after excluding so much of those relevant profits as constitute the whole or any part of the distributable profits out of which the ADP dividends are paid; and

(b) that any tax paid under the law of any territory in respect of the independent dividend, or which is underlying tax in relation to that dividend, had instead fallen to be borne accordingly (taking account of any reduction falling to be made under section 799(2)).

(10) For the purposes of this section--

(a) a controlled foreign company is an "ADP controlled foreign company" as respects any of its accounting periods if the condition in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above is satisfied as respects that accounting period;

(b) an "initial dividend" (subject to subsection (14) below) is any of the dividends mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above paid by an ADP controlled foreign company; and

(c) a "subsequent dividend" is any dividend which, in relation to one or more initial dividends, is the subsequent dividend for the purposes of paragraph 4 of Schedule 25.

amount of eligible unrelieved foreign tax arises in respect of a dividend falling within subsection (2) below paid to the company.

(2) The dividends that fall within this subsection are any dividends chargeable under Case V of Schedule D, other than--

(a) any dividend which is trading income for the purposes of section 393;

(b) any dividend which, in the circumstances described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (8) of section 393, would by virtue of that subsection fall to be treated as trading income for the purposes of subsection (1) of that section;

(c) in a case where section 801A applies, the dividend mentioned in subsection (1)(b) of that section;

(d) in a case where section 803 applies, the dividend mentioned in subsection (1)(b) of that section;

(e) any dividend the amount of which is, under section 811, treated as reduced.

(3) For the purposes of this section--

(a) the cases where an amount of eligible unrelieved foreign tax arises in respect of a dividend falling within subsection (2) above are the cases set out in subsections (4) and (5) below; and

(b) the amounts of eligible unrelieved foreign tax which arise in any such case are those determined in accordance with section 806B.

(4) Case A is where--

(a) the amount of the credit for foreign tax which under any arrangements would, apart from section 797, be allowable against corporation tax in respect of the dividend,

exceeds

(b) the amount of the credit for foreign tax which under the arrangements is allowed against corporation tax in respect of the dividend.

(5) Case B is where the amount of tax which, by virtue of any provision of any arrangements, falls to be taken into account as mentioned in section 799(1) in the case of the dividend (whether or not by virtue of section 801(2) or (3)) is less than it would be apart from the mixer cap.

(6) In determining whether the circumstances are as set out in subsection (4) or (5) above, sections 806C and 806D shall be disregarded.

The amounts that are eligible unrelieved foreign tax

806B.--(1) This section has effect for determining the amounts of eligible unrelieved foreign tax which arise in the cases set out in section 806A(4) and (5).

(2) In Case A, the difference between--

(a) the amount of the credit allowed as mentioned in section 806A(4)(b), and

(b) the greater amount of the credit that would have been so allowed if, for the purposes of subsection (2) of section 797, the rate of corporation tax payable as mentioned in that subsection were the upper percentage,

shall be an amount of eligible unrelieved foreign tax.

(3) In Case B, where the mixer cap restricts the amount of tax to be taken into account as mentioned in section 799(1) in the case of the Case V dividend, the difference, in the case of that dividend, between--

(a) the amount of tax to be taken into account as there mentioned, and

(b) the greater amount of tax that would have been taken into account as there mentioned, had M in the formula in section 799(1A) in its application in the case of that dividend (but not any lower level dividend) been the upper percentage,

shall be an amount of eligible unrelieved foreign tax.

(4) In Case B, where the mixer cap--

(a) restricts the amount of underlying tax that is treated as mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) of section 801 in the case of any dividend received as mentioned in that subsection, but

(b) does not restrict the relevant tax in the case of any higher level dividend,

subsection (5) below shall apply.

(5) Where this subsection applies, an amount equal to the appropriate portion of the difference, in the case of the dividend mentioned in subsection (4)(a) above, between--

(a) the amount of underlying tax treated as mentioned in section 801(2) or (3), as the case may be, and

(b) the greater amount of underlying tax that would have been so treated, had M in the formula in section 799(1A) in its application in the case of that dividend (but not any higher or lower level dividend) been the upper percentage,

shall be an amount of eligible unrelieved foreign tax.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) above, the "appropriate portion" of the difference there mentioned in the case of any dividend is found by multiplying the amount of that difference by the product of the reducing fractions for each of the higher level dividends.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (6) above, the "reducing fraction" for any dividend is the fraction--

(a) whose numerator is the amount of the dividend; and

(b) whose denominator is the amount of the relevant profits (within the meaning of section 799(1)) out of which the dividend is paid.

(8) Any reference in this section to any tax being restricted by the mixer cap in the case of any dividend is a reference to that tax being so restricted otherwise than by virtue only of the application of the mixer cap in the case of one or more lower level dividends.

(9) For the purpose of determining the amount described in subsection (2)(b), (3)(b) or (5)(b) above, sections 806C and 806D shall be disregarded.

(10) In this section--

"the Case V dividend" means the dividend mentioned in section 806A(1);

"higher level dividend", in relation to another dividend, means any dividend--

(a) by which that other dividend is to any extent represented; and

(b) which either is the Case V dividend or is to any extent represented by the Case V dividend;

"lower level dividend", in relation to another dividend, means any dividend which--

(a) is received as mentioned in section 801(2) or (3); and

(b) is to any extent represented by that other dividend;

"the relevant tax" means--

(a) in the case of the Case V dividend, the foreign tax to be taken into account as mentioned in section 799(1); and

(b) in the case of any other dividend, the amount of underlying tax to be treated as mentioned in section 801(2) or (3) in the case of the dividend.

Onshore pooling

806C.--(1) In this section "qualifying foreign dividend" means any dividend which falls within section 806A(2), other than--

(a) an ADP dividend paid by a controlled foreign company;

(b) so much of any dividend paid by any company as represents an ADP dividend paid by another company which is a controlled foreign company;

(c) a dividend in respect of which an amount of eligible unrelieved foreign tax arises.

(2) For the purposes of this section--

(a) a "related qualifying foreign dividend" is any qualifying foreign dividend paid to a company resident in the United Kingdom by a company which, at the time of payment of the dividend, is related to that company;

(b) an "unrelated qualifying foreign dividend" is any qualifying foreign dividend which is not a related qualifying foreign dividend.

(3) For the purposes of giving credit relief under this Part to a company resident in the United Kingdom--

(a) the related qualifying foreign dividends that arise to the company in an accounting period shall be aggregated;

(b) the unrelated qualifying foreign dividends that arise to the company in an accounting period shall be aggregated;

(c) the underlying tax in relation to the related qualifying foreign dividends that arise to the company in an accounting period shall be aggregated;

(d) so much of the foreign tax paid in respect of the qualifying foreign dividends that arise to the company in an accounting period as is not underlying tax shall be aggregated.

(4) Credit relief under this Part shall be given as if--

(a) the related qualifying foreign dividends aggregated under paragraph (a) of subsection (3) above in the case of any accounting period instead together constituted a single related qualifying foreign dividend arising in that accounting period ("the single related dividend" arising in that accounting period);

(b) the unrelated qualifying foreign dividends aggregated under paragraph (b) of that subsection in the case of any accounting period instead together constituted a single unrelated qualifying foreign dividend arising in that accounting period ("the single unrelated dividend" arising in that accounting period);

(c) the underlying tax aggregated under paragraph (c) of that subsection for any accounting period were instead underlying tax in relation to the single related dividend arising in that accounting period (the "aggregated underlying tax" in respect of the single related dividend);

(d) the tax aggregated under paragraph (d) of that subsection for any accounting period were instead foreign tax (other than underlying tax) paid in respect of, and computed by reference to,--

(i) the single related dividend arising in that accounting period,

(ii) the single unrelated dividend so arising, or

(iii) partly the one dividend and partly the other,

(that aggregated tax being referred to as the "aggregated withholding tax").

(5) For the purposes of this section, a dividend paid by a controlled foreign company is an "ADP dividend" if it is a dividend by virtue of which (whether in whole or in part and whether taken alone or with one or more other dividends) no apportionment under section 747(3) falls to be made as regards an accounting period of the controlled foreign company in a case where such an apportionment would fall to be made apart from section 748(1)(a).

Utilisation of eligible unrelieved foreign tax

806D.--(1) For the purposes of this section, where--

(a) any eligible unrelieved foreign tax arises in an accounting period of a company, and

(b) the dividend in relation to which it arises is paid by a company which, at the time of payment of the dividend, is related to that company,

that tax is "eligible underlying tax" to the extent that it consists of or represents underlying tax.

(2) To the extent that any eligible unrelieved foreign tax is not eligible underlying tax it is for the purposes of this section "eligible withholding tax".

(3) For the purposes of giving credit relief under this Part to a company resident in the United Kingdom--

(a) the amounts of eligible underlying tax that arise in an accounting period of the company shall be aggregated (that aggregate being referred to as the "relievable underlying tax" arising in that accounting period); and

(b) the amounts of eligible withholding tax that arise in an accounting period of the company shall be aggregated (that aggregate being referred to as the "relievable withholding tax" arising in that accounting period).

(4) The relievable underlying tax arising in an accounting period of the company shall be treated for the purposes of allowing credit relief under this Part as if it were--

(a) underlying tax in relation to the single related dividend that arises in the same accounting period,

(b) relievable underlying tax arising in the next accounting period (whether or not any related qualifying foreign dividend in fact arises to the company in that accounting period), or

(c) underlying tax in relation to the single related dividend that arises in such one or more preceding accounting periods as result from applying the rules in section 806E,

or partly in one of those ways and partly in each or either of the others.

(5) The relievable withholding tax arising in an accounting period of the company shall be treated for the purposes of allowing credit relief under this Part as if it were--

(a) foreign tax (other than underlying tax) paid in respect of, and computed by reference to, the single related dividend or the single unrelated dividend that arises in the same accounting period,

(b) relievable withholding tax arising in the next accounting period (whether or not any qualifying foreign dividend in fact arises to the company in that accounting period), or

(c) foreign tax (other than underlying tax) paid in respect of, and computed by reference to, the single related dividend or the single unrelated dividend that arises in such one or more preceding accounting periods as result from applying the rules in section 806E,

or partly in one of those ways and partly in any one or more of the others.

(6) The amount of relievable underlying tax or relievable withholding tax arising in an accounting period that is treated--

(a) under subsection (4)(a) or (c) above as underlying tax in relation to the single related dividend arising in the same or any earlier accounting period, or

(b) under subsection (5)(a) or (c) above as foreign tax paid in respect of, and computed by reference to, the single related dividend or the single unrelated dividend arising in the same or any earlier accounting period,

must not be such as would cause an amount of eligible unrelieved foreign tax to arise in respect of that dividend.

Rules for carry back of relievable tax under section 806D

806E.--(1) Where any relievable tax is to be treated as mentioned in section 806D(4)(c) or (5)(c), the rules for determining the accounting periods in question (and the amount of the relievable tax to be so treated in relation to each of them) are those set out in the following provisions of this section.

(2) Rule 1 is that the accounting periods in question must be accounting periods beginning not more than three years before the accounting period in which the relievable tax arises.

(3) Rule 2 is that the relievable tax must be so treated that--

(a) credit for, or for any remaining balance of, the relievable tax is allowed against corporation tax in respect of the single dividend arising in a later one of the accounting periods beginning as mentioned in rule 1 above,

before

(b) credit for any of the relievable tax is allowed against corporation tax in respect of the single dividend arising in any earlier such accounting period.

(4) Rule 3 is that the relievable tax must be so treated that, before allowing credit for any of the relievable tax against corporation tax in respect of the single dividend arising in any accounting period, credit for foreign tax is allowed--

(a) first for the aggregated foreign tax in respect of the single dividend arising in that accounting period, so far as not consisting of relievable tax arising in another accounting period; and

(b) then for relievable tax arising in any accounting period before that in which the relievable tax in question arises.

(5) The above rules are subject to sections 806D(6) and 806F.

(6) In this section--

"aggregated foreign tax" means aggregated underlying tax or aggregated withholding tax;

"relievable tax" means relievable underlying tax or relievable withholding tax;

"the single dividend" means--

(a) in relation to relievable underlying tax, the single related dividend; and

(b) in relation to relievable withholding tax, the single related dividend or the single unrelated dividend.

Credit to be given for underlying tax before other foreign tax etc

806F.--(1) For the purposes of this Part, credit in accordance with any arrangements shall, in the case of any dividend, be given so far as possible--

(a) for underlying tax (where allowable) before foreign tax other than underlying tax;

(b) for foreign tax other than underlying tax before amounts treated as underlying tax; and

(c) for amounts treated as underlying tax (where allowable) before amounts treated as foreign tax other than underlying tax.

(2) Accordingly, where the amount of foreign tax to be brought into account for the purposes of allowing credit relief under this Part is subject to any limitation or restriction, the limitation or restriction shall be taken to have the effect of excluding foreign tax other than underlying tax before excluding underlying tax.

Claims for the purposes of section 806D(4) or (5)

806G.--(1) The relievable underlying tax or relievable withholding tax arising in any accounting period shall only be treated as mentioned in subsection (4) or (5) of section 806D on a claim.

(2) Any such claim must specify the amount (if any) of that tax--

(a) which is to be treated as mentioned in paragraph (a) of the subsection in question;

(b) which is to be treated as mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection; and

(c) which is to be treated as mentioned in paragraph (c) of that subsection.

(3) A claim under subsection (1) above may only be made before the expiration of the period of--

(a) six years after the end of the accounting period mentioned in that subsection; or

(b) if later, one year after the end of the accounting period in which the foreign tax in question is paid.

Surrender of relievable tax by one company in a group to another

806H.--(1) The Board may by regulations make provision for, or in connection with, allowing a company which is a member of a group to surrender all or any part of the amount of the relievable tax arising to it in an accounting period to another company which is a member of that group at the time, or throughout the period, prescribed by the regulations.

(2) The provision that may be made under subsection (1) above includes provision--

(a) prescribing the conditions which must be satisfied if a surrender is to be made;

(b) determining the amount of relievable tax which may be surrendered in any accounting period;

(c) prescribing the conditions which must be satisfied if a claim to surrender is to be made;

(d) prescribing the consequences for tax purposes of a surrender having been made;

(e) allowing a claim to be withdrawn and prescribing the effect of such a withdrawal.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1) above--

(a) may make different provision for different cases; and

(b) may contain such supplementary, incidental, consequential or transitional provision as the Board may think fit.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) above a company is a member of a group if the conditions prescribed for that purpose in the regulations are satisfied.

Interpretation of foreign dividend provisions of this Chapter

806J.--(1) This section has effect for the interpretation of the foreign dividend provisions of this Chapter.

(2) In this section, "the foreign dividend provisions of this Chapter" means sections 806A to 806Hon. and this section.

(3) For the purposes of the foreign dividend provisions of this Chapter, where--

(a) one company pays a dividend ("dividend A") to another company, and

(b) that other company, or a company which is related to it, pays a dividend ("dividend B") to another company,

dividend B represents dividend A, and dividend A is represented by dividend B, to the extent that dividend B is paid out of profits which are derived, directly or indirectly, from the whole or part of dividend A.

(4) Where--

(a) one company is related to another, and

(b) that other is related to a third company,

the first company shall be taken for the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (3) above to be related to the third, and so on where there is a chain of companies, each of which is related to the next.

(5) In any case where--

(a) a company resident outside the United Kingdom pays a dividend to a company resident in the United Kingdom, and

(b) the circumstances are such that subsection (6)(b) of section 790 has effect in relation to that dividend,

the foreign dividend provisions of this Chapter shall have effect as if the company resident outside the United Kingdom were related to the company resident in the United Kingdom (and subsection (10) of that section shall have effect accordingly).

(6) Subsection (5) of section 801 (related companies) shall apply for the purposes of the foreign dividend provisions of this Chapter as it applies for the purposes of that section.

(7) In the foreign dividend provisions of this Chapter--

"aggregated underlying tax" shall be construed in accordance with section 806C(4)(c);

"aggregated withholding tax" shall be construed in accordance with section 806C(4)(d);

"controlled foreign company" has the same meaning as in Chapter IV of Part XVII;

"eligible unrelieved foreign tax" shall be construed in accordance with sections 806A and 806B;

"the mixer cap" means section 799(1)(b);

"qualifying foreign dividend" has the meaning given by section 806C(1);

"related qualifying foreign dividend" has the meaning given by section 806C(2)(a);

"relievable tax" has the meaning given by section 806E(6);

"relievable underlying tax" shall be construed in accordance with 806D(3)(a);

"relievable withholding tax" shall be construed in accordance with 806D(3)(b);

"single related dividend" shall be construed in accordance with section 806C(4)(a);

"single unrelated dividend" shall be construed in accordance with section 806C(4)(b);

"the upper percentage" is 45 per cent."

(2) The amendments made by sub-paragraph (1) have effect in relation to--

(a) dividends arising on or after 31st March 2001, and

(b) foreign tax in respect of such dividends,

(and accordingly the single related dividend or the single unrelated dividend which falls to be treated under those amendments as arising in any accounting period of a company shall not include any dividend arising on or before 30th March 2001).

Application of foreign dividend provisions to branches or agencies in the UK of persons resident elsewhere

20.--(1) After section 806J of the Taxes Act 1988 insert--

(b) the greater amount of credit that would have been so allowed if, for the purposes of section 796, the amount of income tax borne on the dividend as computed under that section were charged at a rate equal to the upper percentage,

shall be an amount of eligible unrelieved foreign tax."."

(2) The amendment made by sub-paragraph (1) has effect in relation to--

(a) dividends arising on or after 31st March 2001, and

(b) foreign tax in respect of such dividends,

(and accordingly the single related dividend or single unrelated dividend which by virtue of that amendment falls to be treated as arising in any chargeable period shall not include any dividend arising on or before 30th March 2001).

Unrelieved foreign tax: profits of overseas branch or agency

20A.--(1) After section 806K of the Taxes Act 1988 insert--

(a) the amount of the credit for foreign tax which under any arrangements would, apart from section 797, be allowable against corporation tax in respect of that income,

exceeds

(b) the amount of the credit for foreign tax which under the arrangements is allowed against corporation tax in respect of that income;

and in any such case that excess is the amount of the unrelieved foreign tax in respect of that income.

(5) For the purposes of this section, a company's qualifying income from an overseas branch or agency is the profits of the overseas branch or agency which are--

(a) chargeable under Case I of Schedule D; or

(b) included in the profits of life reinsurance business or overseas life assurance business chargeable under Case VI of Schedule D by virtue of section 439B or 441.

(6) Where (whether by virtue of this subsection or otherwise) an amount of unrelieved foreign tax arising in an accounting period falls to be treated under subsection (2) above for the purposes of allowing credit relief under this Part as foreign tax paid in respect of, and computed by reference to, qualifying income of an earlier accounting period, it shall not be so treated for the purpose of any further application of this section.

(7) In this section "overseas branch or agency", in relation to a company, means a branch or agency through which the company carries on a trade in a territory outside the United Kingdom.

Provisions supplemental to section 806L

806M.--(1) This section has effect for the purposes of section 806L and shall be construed as one with that section.

(2) If, in any accounting period, a company ceases to have a particular overseas branch or agency, the amount of any unrelieved foreign tax which arises in that accounting period in respect of the company's income from that overseas branch or agency shall, to the extent that it is not treated as mentioned in section 806L(2)(b), be reduced to nil (so that no amount arises which falls to be treated as mentioned in section 806L(2)(a)).

(3) If a company--

(a) at any time ceases to have a particular overseas branch or agency in a particular territory ("the old branch or agency"), but

(b) subsequently again has an overseas branch or agency in that territory ("the new branch or agency"),

the old branch or agency and the new branch or agency shall be regarded as different overseas branches or agencies.

(4) If, under the law of a territory outside the United Kingdom, tax is charged in the case of a company resident in the United Kingdom in respect of the profits of two or more of its overseas branches or agencies in that territory, taken together, then, for the purposes of--

(a) section 806L, and

(b) subsection (3) above,

those overseas branches or agencies shall be treated as if they together constituted a single overseas branch or agency of the company.

(5) Unrelieved foreign tax arising in respect of qualifying income from a particular overseas branch or agency in any accounting period shall only be treated as mentioned in subsection (2) of section 806L on a claim.

(6) Any such claim must specify the amount (if any) of the unrelieved foreign tax--

(a) which is to be treated as mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection; and

(b) which is to be treated as mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection.

I beg to move amendment No. 14, in page 72, line 23, leave out clause 104.

Mr. Deputy Speaker:

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Amendment No. 15, in schedule 31, page 532, line 3, leave out schedule 31.

a method of avoiding tax.

Question put, That the amendment be made:--

The House divided: Ayes 120, Noes 344.

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Party Summary

Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.

What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.

What are Boths? An MP can vote both aye and no in the same division. The boths page explains this.

What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.

PartyMajority (No)Minority (Aye)BothTurnout
Con0 118 (+2 tell)075.0%
Independent1 0033.3%
Lab306 (+2 tell) 0074.0%
LDem32 0068.1%
PC1 0025.0%
SNP4 0066.7%
UUP0 2022.2%
Total:344 120072.6%

Rebel Voters - sorted by party

MPs for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible MP who could have voted in this division

Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote

NameConstituencyPartyVote
no rebellions

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