Capital Allowances Act 2001

Part 4U.K. Plant and machinery allowances

IntroductionU.K.

Use for qualifying activity of plant or machinery provided for other purposesU.K.

11Subsections (4) and (5) of section 13 do not apply if the plant or machinery was brought into use before 21st March 2000.

Use for qualifying activity of plant or machinery which is a giftU.K.

12Section 14 applies with the insertion after subsection (1) of—

“(1A)This section does not apply unless the donor was required by section 24(6) of CAA 1990 to bring into account for the purposes there mentioned a disposal value equal to the price which the plant or machinery would have fetched if sold in the open market at the time of the gift.”,

if the plant or machinery was brought into use before 27th July 1989.

Qualifying expenditureU.K.

Buildings, structures and landU.K.

13Sections 21 to 24 do not apply in relation to expenditure—

(a)incurred before 30th November 1993;

(b)incurred before 6th April 1996 in pursuance of a contract entered into before 30th November 1993; or

(c)incurred before 6th April 1996 in pursuance of a contract entered into on or after 30th November 1993 for the purpose of securing that obligations under a contract entered into before 30th November 1993 are complied with.

First-year qualifying expenditureU.K.

F114. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hire-purchase and similar contractsU.K.

Plant or machinery acquired under hire purchase etc.U.K.

15Section 67(2) applies with the omission of the words in brackets if the contract under which the expenditure was incurred was entered into before 27th July 1989.

Plant or machinery on hire purchase etc.: fixturesU.K.

16Section 69(2) does not apply if the plant or machinery became a fixture before 28th July 2000.

Plant or machinery provided by lesseeU.K.

17In section 70(1), paragraphs (c) and (d) do not apply if the lease was entered into before 12th July 1984, or on or after that date under an agreement made before that date.

Computer softwareU.K.

Software and rights to softwareU.K.

18Section 71 does not apply to expenditure incurred before 10th March 1992.

F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U.K.

F219. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Long-life assetsU.K.

Long-life asset expenditureU.K.

20(1)Chapter 10 of Part 2 does not apply to any expenditure incurred—

(a)before 26th November 1996, or

(b)before 1st January 2001 in pursuance of a contract entered into before 26th November 1996.

(2)Chapter 10 of Part 2 does not apply to expenditure incurred by any person (“the purchaser”) on the acquisition of a long-life asset from another (“the seller”) if—

(a)the seller has made a Part 2 claim in respect of expenditure incurred on the provision of the asset (“the seller’s expenditure”),

(b)the claim is one which the seller was entitled to make,

(c)the seller’s expenditure did not fall to be treated as long-life asset expenditure for the purposes of the claim, and

(d)the seller’s expenditure would have been so treated if one or more of the assumptions specified in sub-paragraph (3) were made.

(3)The assumptions are that—

(a)expenditure falling within sub-paragraph (1) is not prevented by that sub-paragraph from being long-life asset expenditure,

(b)the seller’s expenditure was not prevented by sub-paragraph (2) from being long-life asset expenditure, and

(c)Chapter 10 of Part 2 or any provision corresponding to it applied for chargeable periods ending before 26th November 1996.

(4)The reference in sub-paragraph (1) to expenditure incurred in pursuance of a contract entered into before 26th November 1996 does not, in the case of a contract varied at any time on or after that date, include a reference to any expenditure incurred under the contract that exceeds the expenditure that would have been incurred if the contract had not been varied.

(5)Expressions used in this paragraph and in Chapter 10 of Part 2 have the same meaning in this paragraph as in that Chapter; and in particular references in this paragraph to a “Part 2 claim” are to be read in accordance with section 103(3).

Overseas leasingU.K.

Meaning of “overseas leasing”U.K.

21Section 105(2) applies with the substitution for paragraph (b) of—

“(b)does not use the plant or machinery for the purposes of a qualifying activity carried on there or for earning profits chargeable to tax by virtue of section 830(4) of ICTA,”,

in relation to the use of plant or machinery for leasing under a lease entered into before 16th March 1993.

Recovery of first-year allowances in case of joint lesseesU.K.

22(1)Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) apply if—

(a)expenditure has been incurred on the provision of plant or machinery which is leased as described in section 116(1), and

(b)the whole or a part of the expenditure has qualified for a first-year allowance under—

(i)section 43(4) of CAA 1990, or

(ii)paragraph 47(7).

(2)Section 117(1) applies as if the reference in paragraph (b) to expenditure qualifying for a normal writing-down allowance under section 116(3) included a reference to expenditure qualifying for the first-year allowance.

(3)Subsections (3) to (5) of section 117 apply as if the reference in section 117(3)(b) to expenditure qualifying for a normal writing-down allowance under section 116(3) included a reference to expenditure qualifying for the first-year allowance.

Letting ships or aircraft to obtain old first-year allowance not a qualifying purposeU.K.

23Subsections (1) and (2) of section 123 do not apply if the main object, or one of the main objects—

(a)of the letting of the ship or aircraft on charter,

(b)of a series of transactions of which the letting of the ship or aircraft on charter was one, or

(c)of any of the transactions in such a series,

was to obtain a first-year allowance in respect of expenditure which was first-year qualifying expenditure under paragraph 47 and was incurred by any person on the provision of the ship or aircraft.

Ships: deferments etc.U.K.

Further registration requirementU.K.

24Section 154 does not apply in the case of a ship that was brought into use before 20th July 1994 for the purposes of a qualifying activity carried on by the person incurring the expenditure on the provision of the ship or a person connected with him.

Mining and oil industriesU.K.

Pre-trading expenditure on mineral exploration and accessU.K.

25Section 161 does not apply if—

(a)the person incurred the pre-trading expenditure before 1st April 1986; and

(b)before the first day of trading, the mineral exploration and access at the source in question had ceased.

Abandonment expenditure incurred before cessation of ring fence tradeU.K.

26Section 164 does not apply if the chargeable period in which the abandonment expenditure was incurred ended before 1st July 1991.

Abandonment expenditure incurred after cessation of ring fence tradeU.K.

27Section 165 does not apply if the abandonment expenditure was incurred before 1st July 1991.

Oil production sharing contractsU.K.

28Sections 167 to 171 do not apply if —

(a)the expenditure was incurred before 21st March 2000; or

(b)the expenditure is treated as incurred by virtue of section 13 and the conditions mentioned in subsection (1) of that section were fulfilled before that date.

FixturesU.K.

Meaning of “interest in land” for purposes of Chapter 14 of Part 2 (fixtures)U.K.

29(1)Sub-paragraph (2) applies if paragraph 51 of Schedule 12 to the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 has not come into force before the commencement of section 175.

(2)Section 175(1) has effect until the appointed day as if for paragraph (b) there were substituted—

“(b)in Scotland, the estate or interest of the proprietor of the dominium utile (or, in the case of property other than feudal property, of the owner) and any agreement to acquire such an estate or interest,”.

(3)In sub-paragraph (2) “the appointed day” means such day as may be appointed by the Scottish Ministers under section 71 of the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 for the coming into force of the Act.

Equipment lessorsU.K.

30Section 177(1)(a)(i) does not apply if the agreement for the lease of the plant or machinery was entered into before 19th March 1997.

Equipment lessee has qualifying activity etc.U.K.

31Section 178 applies—

(a)if the agreement for the lease of the plant or machinery was entered into before 19th March 1997, with the omission of the words “which is or is to be” in paragraph (a) and the addition of the word “ and ” at the end of that paragraph; and

(b)if that expenditure was incurred before 24th July 1996, with the omission of paragraph (c) and the substitution for paragraph (b) of—

“(b)if the equipment lessee had incurred the capital expenditure incurred by the equipment lessor on the provision of the plant or machinery, he would, by virtue of section 176, be treated as the owner of the fixture as a result of incurring the expenditure”.

Equipment lessor has right to sever fixture that is not part of buildingU.K.

32Section 179(1) does not apply if the agreement for the lease of the plant or machinery was entered into before 19th March 1997 and applies with—

(a)the addition at the end of paragraph (e) of the word “ and ”, and

(b)the omission of paragraph (g) and the word “and” immediately before it,

if the expenditure of the equipment lessor was incurred before 24th July 1996.

Equipment lease is part of affordable warmth programmeU.K.

33Section 180 does not apply if the expenditure of the equipment lessor was incurred before 28th July 2000.

Purchaser of land giving consideration for fixtureU.K.

34Section 181 applies with—

(a)the omission of the word “and” at the end of paragraph (b) of subsection (1); and

(b)the insertion after that paragraph of—

“(bb)at the time of the purchasers’ acquisition of the interest, either no person has previously become entitled to an allowance in respect of any capital expenditure incurred on the provision of the fixture or, if any person has become so entitled, that person has been or is required to bring the disposal value of the fixture into account under Chapter 5, and”,

if the purchaser acquired the interest in the relevant land before 24th July 1996.

Purchaser of land discharging obligations of equipment lesseeU.K.

35Section 182 applies with—

(a)the omission of the word “and” at the end of paragraph (c) of subsection (1); and

(b)the insertion after that paragraph of—

“(cc)at the time of the purchasers’ acquisition of the interest, either no person has previously become entitled to an allowance in respect of any capital expenditure incurred on the provision of the fixture or, if any person has become so entitled, that person has been or is required to bring the disposal value of the fixture into account under Chapter 5, and”,

if the purchaser acquired the interest in the relevant land before 24th July 1996.

Incoming lessee where lessor entitled to allowancesU.K.

36Section 183 applies with the insertion after subsection (2) of—

“(3)No election may be made under this section if it appears that the sole or main benefit that may be expected to accrue to the lessor from the grant of the lease and the making of an election is the obtaining of an allowance or deduction or a greater allowance or deduction or the avoidance or reduction of a charge under this Part.”,

if the person who had the interest in the relevant land granted the lease before 24th July 1996.

Incoming lessee where lessor not entitled to allowancesU.K.

37Section 184 applies with—

(a)the omission of the word “and” at the end of paragraph (c) of subsection (1); and

(b)the insertion after that paragraph of—

“(cc)at the time of the grant of the lease, no person has previously become entitled to an allowance in respect of any capital expenditure incurred on the provision of the fixture, and”,

if the person who had the interest in the relevant land granted the lease before 24th July 1996.

Fixture on which a plant and machinery allowance has been claimedU.K.

38Section 185 does not apply if the disposal event which required the disposal value to be brought into account as mentioned in subsection (1)(d) occurred before 24th July 1996.

Fixture on which industrial buildings allowance has been madeU.K.

39Section 186 does not apply if the time mentioned in subsection (1)(c)(ii) is before 24th July 1996.

Fixture on which research and development allowance has been madeU.K.

40Section 187 does not apply if the time mentioned in subsection (1)(d)(ii) is before 24th July 1996.

Disposal value in relation to fixtures: generalU.K.

41In relation to a fixture which a person is treated as ceasing to own before 24th July 1996, section 196 applies with the substitution for subsection (6) of—

“(6)If—

(a)a person (“the former owner”) is treated by virtue of section 188, 190 or 191 as ceasing to own a fixture,

(b)another person incurs expenditure on the provision of the fixture, and

(c)the former owner brings a disposal value into account under Chapter 5,

there is to be disregarded for the purposes of this Part so much (if any) of that expenditure as exceeds that disposal value.

(7)In relation to expenditure incurred before 27th July 1989, subsection (6) has effect with the substitution for the words following “the fixture” in paragraph (b) of the words “there is to be disregarded for the purposes of this Part so much (if any) of that expenditure as exceeds the disposal value which the former owner is required to bring into account under Chapter 5””.

Assets provided or used only partly for qualifying activityU.K.

Effect of significant reduction in use for purposes of qualifying activityU.K.

42Section 208 does not apply if the change of circumstances referred to in subsection (1)(b) of that section occurs before 21st March 2000.

Anti-avoidanceU.K.

Relevant transactions: sale, hire-purchase (etc.) and assignmentU.K.

43Section 213(3) does not apply if the plant or machinery was brought into use before 27th July 1989.

Hire purchase etc. and finance leasesU.K.

44Sections 220 and 229 do not apply in relation to expenditure incurred before 2nd July 1997, or in the 12 months beginning with that date in pursuance of a contract entered into before that date.

Sale and finance leasebacksU.K.

45Sections 221, 222 and 224 to 226 do not apply in relation to expenditure incurred before 2nd July 1998 if the relevant transaction—

(a)is a purchase under a contract entered into before 2nd July 1997;

(b)is itself a contract entered into before that date; or

(c)is an assignment made before that date, or in pursuance of a contract entered into before that date.

Additional VAT liabilities and rebatesU.K.

F346. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F347. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F348. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F349. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F350. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F351. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Supplementary provisionsU.K.

Successions by beneficiariesU.K.

52Section 266(7) does not apply if the succession occurred before 27th July 1989.

53U.K.Subsections (6) and (7) of section 268 do not apply if the election under that section was made before 6th April 1990.

GeneralU.K.

Vehicles provided by employees in 1990-91U.K.

54(1)This paragraph applies if—

(a)at the beginning of the tax year 1990-91 machinery consisting of a mechanically propelled road vehicle was provided by a person for use in the performance of the duties of an office or employment held by him, and

(b)the machinery was also provided by him at the end of the tax year 1989-90 for use in the performance of the duties of that office or employment but without that provision being necessary.

(2)Part 2 of this Act has effect as if the person had incurred capital expenditure on the provision of the machinery for the purposes of the office or employment in the tax year 1990-91—

(a)the amount of that expenditure being taken as the price which the machinery would have fetched if sold in the open market on 6th April 1990, and

(b)the person being treated as owning the machinery as a result of his having incurred that expenditure.

Certain expenditure incurred before 6th April 1976U.K.

55Part 2 of this Act does not apply to capital expenditure—

(a)which was not eligible expenditure within the meaning of section 39 of FA 1976 (which brought expenditure previously not within Chapter I of Part III of FA 1971 within that Chapter but with certain exceptions), and

(b)which was incurred in a chargeable period ending before 6th April 1976.