Finance Act 2002

Part 3Transitional provisions etc

Anti-avoidance: change of accounting period

25(1)This paragraph applies where—

(a)a company changes its accounting date so that it has an accounting period which begins on or after 1st October 2001 but ends before 30th September 2002; and

(b)the change of accounting date is or was made for the purpose, or for purposes which include the purpose, specified in sub-paragraph (2).

(2)The purpose is that of securing, in the case of any subsequent accounting period beginning before 1st October 2002,—

(a)that where an amount, or a bigger amount, would have fallen to be brought into account as a credit under Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Finance Act 1996 (c. 8) if the other provisions of this Schedule had had effect in relation to the period, no amount, or a smaller amount, falls to be brought into account in accordance with section 128 or 130 of the Finance Act 1993 (c. 34); or

(b)that where no amount, or a smaller amount, would have fallen to be brought into account as a debit under that Chapter if the other provisions of this Schedule had had effect in relation to the period, an amount, or a bigger amount, falls to be brought into account in accordance with section 128 or 130 of the Finance Act 1993.

(3)Where this paragraph applies, the other provisions of this Schedule shall have effect in relation to the subsequent accounting period mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) as if it were an accounting period beginning on or after 1st October 2002.

(4)In this paragraph, any reference to this Schedule includes a reference to—

(a)subsection (1) of section 79;

(b)the amendments made by Schedule 24, so far as relating to the amendments and other provisions made by or under this Schedule; and

(c)any repeal of any enactment which is consequential on any provision made by or under this Schedule.

Deferred foreign exchange gains

26(1)The repeal of sections 139 to 143 of the Finance Act 1993 (c. 34) (foreign exchange gains and losses) does not prevent the making of a claim under section 139 of that Act (deferral of unrealised gains) by a company in respect of a gain accruing in an accrual period which begins with, or at any time in, the last accounting period of the company which begins before 1st October 2002; but any such claim shall have effect subject to the following provisions of this paragraph and (subject to regulations under section 81) regulations under Chapter 2 of Part 2 of that Act.

(2)Amounts which, but for the repeal of subsections (4) to (10) of section 140 of the Finance Act 1993, would fall to be treated by virtue of those subsections as exchange gains for an accrual period which consists of, or falls in, an accounting period beginning on or after 1st October 2002—

(a)shall be brought into account for that accounting period as if they were credits falling for the purposes of Chapter 2 of Part 4 of the Finance Act 1996 (c. 8) to be brought into account in respect of the company’s loan relationships;

(b)shall be treated for the purposes of that Chapter as non-trading credits, to the extent that they would, but for the repeal of subsections (5), (8) and (9) of section 140 of the Finance Act 1993, have fallen to be treated by virtue of those subsections as non-trading exchange gains; and

(c)except as provided by paragraph (b), shall be brought into account under section 82(2) of the Finance Act 1996 (trading credits).

(3)Before the expiration of the period of 2 years following the end of its first accounting period beginning on or after 1st October 2002, a company may elect for any amounts that would otherwise fall to be brought into account for that accounting period in accordance with paragraph (a) of sub-paragraph (2) instead to be brought into account in accordance with that sub-paragraph, but—

(a)over the first 6 accounting periods of the company which begin on or after 1st October 2002; and

(b)in instalments of an equal amount for each such accounting period.

(4)If a company—

(a)makes an election under sub-paragraph (3), but

(b)ceases to be within the charge to corporation tax before six accounting periods of the company which begin on or after 1st October 2002 have elapsed,

any instalment under that sub-paragraph which does not fall to be brought into account for an earlier accounting period shall be brought into account for the accounting period in which the company ceases to be within the charge to corporation tax.

(5)The provision that may be made by regulations under subsection (8) of section 84A of the Finance Act 1996 (c. 8) includes provision for amounts which have been reduced to nil under regulations made under paragraph 4 of Schedule 15 to the Finance Act 1993 (c. 34) (alternative method of calculation) to be brought into account (as defined in subsection (9) of that section) for an accounting period beginning on or after 1st October 2002.