ukpga/1979/14 — Capital Gains Tax Act 1979 (repealed 6.3.1992)

Capital Gains Tax Act 1979 (repealed 6.3.1992) 1979 c. 14 Part I General Capital gains tax and corporation tax Taxation of capital gains. 1 1 Tax shall be charged in accordance with this Act in respect of capital gains, that is to say chargeable gains computed in accordance with this Act and accruing to a person on the disposal of assets. 2 In the circumstances prescribed by the provisions of Part XI of the Taxes Act 1970 and Part VIII of the Taxes Act 1988 (taxation of companies and certain other bodies and associations) the tax shall be chargeable in accordance with those provisions, and all the provisions of this Act have effect subject to those provisions. 3 Subject to the said provisions, capital gains tax shall be charged for all years of assessment in accordance with the following provisions of this Act. Capital gains tax Persons chargeable. 2 1 Subject to any exceptions provided by this Act, a person shall be chargeable to capital gains tax in respect of chargeable gains accruing to him in a year of assessment during any part of which he is resident in the United Kingdom, or during which he is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. 2 This section is without prejudice to the provisions of section 12 below (non-resident with UK branch or agency), and of section 38 of the Finance Act 1973 (territorial sea of the United Kingdom). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Gains chargeable to tax. 4 1 Capital gains tax shall be charged on the total amount of chargeable gains accruing to the person chargeable in the year of assessment, after deducting— a any allowable losses accruing to that person in that year of assessment, and b so far as they have not been allowed as a deduction from chargeable gains accruing in any previous year of assessment, any allowable losses accruing to that person in any previous year of assessment (not earlier than the year 1965-66). 2 In the case of a woman who in a year of assessment is a married woman living with her husband any allowable loss which, under subsection (1) above, would be deductible from the chargeable gains accruing in that year of assessment to the one but for an insufficiency of chargeable gains shall, for the purposes of that subsection, be deductible from chargeable gains accruing in that year of assessment to the other: Provided that this subsection shall not apply in relation to losses accruing in a year of assessment to either if, before 6th July in the year next following that year of assessment, an application is made by the man or the wife to the inspector in such form and manner as the Board may prescribe. Exemption for first £3,000 of gains 5 1 An individual shall not be chargeable to capital gains tax in respect of so much of his taxable amount for any year of assessment as does not exceed the exempt amount for the year . 1A Subject to subsection (1B) below, the exempt amount for any year of assessment shall be £5,000. 1B If the retail prices index for the month of December preceding the year 1983-84 or any subsequent year of assessment is higher than it was for the previous December, then, unless Parliament otherwise determines, subsection (1A) above shall have effect for that year as if for the amount specified in that subsection as it applied for the previous year (whether by virtue of this subsection or otherwise) there were substituted an amount arrived at by increasing the amount for the previous year by the same percentage as the percentage increase in the retail prices index and, if the result is not a multiple of £100, rounding it up to the nearest amount which is such a multiple. 1C The Treasury shall, before the year 1983–84 and each subsequent year, make an order specifying the amount which by virtue of this section is the exempt amount for that year ; and any such order shall be made by statutory instrument. 4 For the purposes of this section an individual’s taxable amount for a year of assessment is the amount on which he is chargeable under section 4(1) above for that year but— a where the amount of chargeable gains less allowable losses accruing to an individual in any year of assessment does not exceed the exempt amount for the year , no deduction from that amount shall be made for that year in respect of allowable losses carried forward from a previous year or carried back from a subsequent year in which the individual dies, and b where the amount of chargeable gains less allowable losses accruing to an individual in any year of assessment exceeds the exempt amount for the year , the deduction from that amount for that year in respect of allowable losses carried forward from a previous year or carried back from a subsequent year in which the individual dies shall not be greater than the excess. 5 Where in a year of assessment— a the amount of chargeable gains accruing to an individual does not exceed the exempt amount for the year , and b the aggregate amount or value of the consideration for all the disposals of assets made by him (other than disposals gains accruing on which are not chargeable gains) does not exceed an amount equal to twice the exempt amount for the year ; a statement to the effect of paragraphs (a) and (b) above shall, unless the inspector otherwise requires, be sufficient compliance with any notice under section 8 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 requiring the individual to make a return of the chargeable gains accruing to him in that year. 6 Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect as respects the application of this section to husbands and wives , personal representatives and trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Time for payment of tax. 7 Capital gains tax assessed on any person in respect of gains accruing in any year shall be payable by that person on or before 1st December following the end of that year , or at the expiration of a period of thirty days beginning with the date of the issue of the notice of assessment, whichever is the later. Payment by instalments of tax on gifts. 7A 1 Subsection (2) below applies where— a the whole or any part of any assets to which this section applies is disposed of by way of gift or is deemed to be disposed of under section 54(1) or 55(1) below, and b the disposal is one— i to which neither section 126(3) nor section 147A(3) below applies (or would apply if a claim were duly made), or ii to which either of those sections does apply but on which the held-over gain (within the meaning of the section applying) is less than the chargeable gain which would have accrued on that disposal apart from that section. 2 Where this subsection applies, the capital gains tax chargeable on a gain accruing on the disposal may, if the person paying it by notice in writing to the inspector so elects, be paid by ten equal yearly instalments. 3 The assets to which this section applies are— a land or an estate or interest in land, b any shares or securities of a company which, immediately before the disposal, gave control of the company to the person by whom the disposal was made or deemed to be made, and c> any shares or securities of a company not falling under paragraph (b) above and not quoted on a recognised stock exchange nor dealt in on the Unlisted Securities Market. 4 Where tax is payable by instalments by virtue of this section, the first instalment shall be due on the day on which the tax would be payable apart from this section. 5 Subject to the following provisions of this section— a tax payable by instalments by virtue of this section shall carry interest in accordance with Part IX (except section 88) of the Taxes Management Act 1970, and b the interest on the unpaid portion of the tax shall be added to each instalment and paid accoringly. 6 Tax payable by instalments by virtue of this section which is for the time being unpaid, with interest to the date of payment, may be paid at any time. 7 Tax which apart from this subsection would be payable by instalments by virtue of this section and which is for the time being unpaid, with interest to the date of payment, shall become due and payable immediately if— a the disposal was by way of gift to a person connected with the donor or was deemed to be made under section 54(1) or 55(1) below, and b the assets are disposed of for valuable consideration under a subsequent disposal (whether or not the subsequent disposal is made by the person who acquired them under the first disposal). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The foreign element Double taxation relief. 10 1 For the purpose of giving relief from double taxation in relation to capital gains tax and tax on chargeable gains charged under the law of any country outside the United Kingdom, in Chapters I and II of Part XVIII of the Taxes Act 1988 , as they apply for the purposes of income tax, for references to income there shall be substituted references to capital gains and for references to income tax there shall be substituted references to capital gains tax meaning, as the context may require, tax charged under the law of the United Kingdom or tax charged under the law of a country outside the United Kingdom. 2 Any arrangements set out in an order made under section 347 of the Income Tax Act 1952 before 5th August 1965 (the date of the passing of the Finance Act 1965) shall so far as they provide (in whatever terms) for relief from tax chargeable in the United Kingdom on capital gains have effect in relation to capital gains tax. 3 So far as by virtue of this section capital gains tax charged under the law of a country outside the United Kingdom may be brought into account under the said Chapters I and II as applied by this section, that tax, whether relief is given by virtue of this section in respect of it or not, shall not be taken into account for the purposes of those Chapters as they apply apart from this section. 4 Section 816 of the Taxes Act 1988 (disclosure of information for purposes of double taxation) shall apply in relation to capital gains tax as it applies in relation to income tax. Allowance for foreign tax. 11 Subject to section 10 above, the tax chargeable under the law of any country outside the United Kingdom on the disposal of an asset which is borne by the person making the disposal shall be allowable as a deduction in the computation under Chapter II of Part II of this Act. Non-resident with United Kingdom branch or agency. 12 1 Subject to any exceptions provided by this Act, a person shall be chargeable to capital gains tax in respect of chargeable gains accruing to him in a year of assessment in which he is not resident and not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom but is carrying on a trade in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency, and shall be so chargeable on chargeable gains accruing on the disposal— a of assets situated in the United Kingdom and used in or for the purposes of the trade at or before the time when the capital gain accrued, or b of assets situated in the United Kingdom and used or held for the purposes of the branch or agency at or before that time, or assets acquired for use by or for the purposes of the branch or agency. 1A Subsection (1) above does not apply unless the disposal is made at a time when the person is carrying on the trade in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency. 2 This section shall not apply to a person who, by virtue of Part XVIII of the Taxes Act 1988 (double taxation agreements), is exempt from income tax chargeable for the year of assessment in respect of the profits or gains of the branch or agency. 2A This section shall apply as if references to a trade included references to a profession or vocation. 3 In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “ branch or agency ” means any factorship, agency, receivership, branch or management, but does not include any person within the exemptions in section 82 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 (general agents and brokers). Foreign assets: delayed remittances. 13 1 Subsection (2) below applies where— a chargeable gains accrue from the disposal of assets situated outside the United Kingdom, and b the person charged or chargeable makes a claim and shows that the conditions set out in subsection (3) below are, so far as applicable, satisfied as respects those gains (“the qualifying gains”). 2 For the purposes of capital gains tax— a the amount of the qualifying gains shall be deducted from the amounts on which the claimant is assessed to capital gains tax for the year in which the qualifying gains accrued to the claimant, but b the amount so deducted shall be assessed to capital gains tax on the claimant (or his personal representatives) as if it were an amount of chargeable gains accruing in the year of assessment in which the conditions set out in subsection (3) below cease to be satisfied. 3 The said conditions are— a that the claimant was unable to transfer the qualifying gains to the United Kingdom, and b that that inability was due to the laws of the territory where the assets were situated at the time of the disposal , or to the executive action of its government, or to the impossibility of obtaining foreign currency in that territory, and c that the inability was not due to any want of reasonable endeavours on the part of the claimant. 4 Where under an agreement entered into under arrangements made by the Secretary of State in pursuance of section 1 of the Overseas Investment and Export Guarantees Act 1972 or section 11 of the Export Guarantees and Overseas Investment Act 1978 any payment is made by the Exports Credits Guarantee Department in respect of any gains which cannot be transferred to the United Kingdom, then, to the extent of the payment, the gains shall be treated as gains with respect to which the conditions mentioned in subsection (3) above are not satisfied (and accordingly cannot cease to be satisfied). 5 No claim under this section shall be made in respect of any chargeable gain more than six years after the end of the year of assessment in which that gain accrues. 6 The personal representatives of a deceased person may make any claim which he might have made under this section if he had not died. Foreign assets of person with foreign domicile. 14 1 In the case of individuals resident or ordinarily resident but not domiciled in the United Kingdom, capital gains tax shall not be charged in respect of gains accruing to them from the disposal of assets situated outside the United Kingdom (that is chargeable gains accruing in the year 1965-66 or a later year of assessment) except that the tax shall be charged on the amounts (if any) received in the United Kingdom in respect of those chargeable gains, any such amounts being treated as gains accruing when they are received in the United Kingdom. 2 For the purposes of this section there shall be treated as received in the United Kingdom in respect of any gain all amounts paid, used or enjoyed in or in any manner or form transmitted or brought to the United Kingdom, and subsections (6) to (9) of section 65 of the Taxes Act 1988 (under which income applied outside the United Kingdom in payment of debts is, in certain cases, treated as received in the United Kingdom) shall apply as they would apply for the purposes of subsection (5) of that section if the gain were income arising from possessions out of the United Kingdom. Non-resident company. 15 1 This section applies as respects chargeable gains accruing to a company— a which is not resident in the United Kingdom, and b which would be a close company if it were resident in the United Kingdom. 2 Subject to this section, every person who at the time when the chargeable gain accrues to the company is resident or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, who, if an individual, is domiciled in the United Kingdom, and who holds shares in the company, shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as if a part of the chargeable gain had accrued to him. 3 That part shall be equal to the proportion of the assets of the company to which that person would be entitled on a liquidation of the company at the time when the chargeable gain accrues to the company. 4 If the part of a chargeable gain attributable to a person under subsection (2) above is less than one-twentieth, the said subsection (2) shall not apply to that person. 5 This section shall not apply in relation to— a any amount in respect of the chargeable gain which is distributed, whether by way of dividend or distribution of capital or on the dissolution of the company, to persons holding shares in the company, or creditors of the company, within two years from the time when the chargeable gain accrued to the company, or b a chargeable gain accruing on the disposal of assets, being tangible property, whether movable or immovable, or a lease of such property, where the property was used, and used only, for the purposes of a trade carried on by the company wholly outside the United Kingdom, or c a chargeable gain accruing on the disposal of currency or of a debt within section 135(1) below (foreign currency bank accounts), where the currency or debt is or represents money in use for the purposes of a trade carried on by the company wholly outside the United Kingdom, or d to a chargeable gain in respect of which the company is chargeable to tax by virtue of section 11(2)(b) of the Taxes Act 1988 (gains corresponding to those charged under section 12 above). 6 Subsection (5)(a) above shall not prevent the making of an assessment in pursuance of this section but if, by virtue of that paragraph, this section is excluded all such adjustments, whether by way of repayment or discharge of tax or otherwise, shall be made as will give effect to the provisions of that paragraph. 7 The amount of capital gains tax paid by a person in pursuance of subsection (2) above (so far as not reimbursed by the company) shall be allowable as a deduction in the computation under this Act of a gain accruing on the disposal by him of the shares by reference to which the tax was paid. 8 So far as it would go to reduce or extinguish chargeable gains accruing by virtue of this section to a person in a year of assessment this section shall apply in relation to a loss accruing to the company on the disposal of an asset in that year of assessment as it would apply if a gain instead of a loss had accrued to the company on the disposal, but shall only so apply in relation to that person; and subject to the preceding provisions of this subsection this section shall not apply in relation to a loss accruing to the company. 9 If the person owning any of the shares in the company at the time when the chargeable gain accrues to the company is itself a company which is not resident in the United Kingdom but which would be a close company if it were resident in the United Kingdom, an amount equal to the amount apportioned under subsection (3) above out of the chargeable gain to the shares so owned shall be apportioned among the issued shares of the second-mentioned company, and the holders of those shares shall be treated in accordance with subsection (2) above, and so on through any number of companies. 10 If any tax payable by any person by virtue of subsection (2) above is paid by the company to which the chargeable gain accrues, or in a case under subsection (9) above is paid by any such other company, the amount so paid shall not for the purposes of income tax, capital gains tax or corporation tax be regarded as a payment to the person by whom the tax was originally payable. Non-resident group of companies. 16 1 This section has effect for the purposes of section 15 above. 2 Sections 273 to 275 and 276(1) of the Taxes Act 1970 shall apply in relation to non-resident companies which are members of a non-resident group of companies, as they apply in relation to companies resident in the United Kingdom which are members of a group of companies. 3 Sections 278 and 279 of the Taxes Act 1970 shall apply for the said purposes as if for any reference therein to a group of companies there were substituted a reference to a non-resident group of companies, and as if references to companies were references to companies not resident in the United Kingdom. 4 For the purposes of this section— a a “non-resident group” of companies— i in the case of a group, none of the members of which are resident in the United Kingdom, means that group, and ii in the case of a group, two or more members of which are not resident in the United Kingdom means the members which are not resident in the United Kingdom; b “ group ” shall be construed in accordance with subsections (1) (without paragraph ( a ), (3) and (4) of section 272 of the Taxes Act 1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Residence etc. and location of assets. 18 1 In this Act “ resident ” and “ ordinarily resident ” have the same meanings as in the Income Tax Acts. 2 Section 207 of the Taxes Act 1988 (disputes as to domicile or ordinary residence) shall apply in relation to capital gains tax as it applies for the purposes mentioned in that section. 3 Subject to section 12(1) above, an individual who is in the United Kingdom for some temporary purpose only and not with any view or intent to establish his residence in the United Kingdom shall be charged to capital gains tax on chargeable gains accruing in any year of assessment if and only if the period (or the sum of the periods) for which he is resident in the United Kingdom in that year of assessment exceeds six months. 4 For the purposes of this Act— a the situation of rights or interests (otherwise than by way of security) in or over immovable property is that of the immovable property, b subject to the following provisions of this subsection, the situation of rights or interests (otherwise than by way of security) in or over tangible movable property is that of the tangible movable property, c subject to the following provisions of this subsection, a debt, secured or unsecured, is situated in the United Kingdom if and only if the creditor is resident in the United Kingdom, d shares or securities issued by any municipal or governmental authority, or by any body created by such an authority, are situated in the country of that authority, e subject to paragraph (d) above, registered shares or securities are situated where they are registered and, if registered in more than one register, where the principal register is situated, f a ship or aircraft is situated in the United Kingdom if and only if the owner is then resident in the United Kingdom, and an interest or right in or over a ship or aircraft is situated in the United Kingdom if and only if the person entitled to the interest or right is resident in the United Kingdom, g the situation of good-will as a trade, business or professional asset is at the place where the trade, business or profession is carried on, ha patents, trade marks, service marks and registered designs are situated where they are registered, and if registered in more than one register, where each register is situated, and rights or licences to use a patent, trade mark, service mark or registered design are situated in the United Kingdom if they or any right derived from them are exercisable in the United Kingdom, hb copyright, design right and franchises, and rights or licences to use any copyright work or design in which design right subsists, are situated in the United Kingdom if they or any right derived from them are exercisable in the United Kingdom, i a judgment debt is situated where the judgment is recorded. j a debt which— i is owed by a bank, and ii is not in sterling, and iii is represented by a sum standing to the credit of an account in the bank of an individual who is not domiciled in the United Kingdom, is situated in the United Kingdom if and only if that individual is resident in the United Kingdom and the branch or other place of business of the bank at which the account is maintained is itself situated in the United Kingdom. 5 A period during which a member of a visiting force to whom section 323(1) of the Taxes Act 1988 applies is in the United Kingdom by reason solely of his being a member of that force shall not be treated for the purposes of capital gains tax either as a period of residence in the United Kingdom or as creating a change in his residence or domicile. This subsection shall be construed as one with subsection (2) of section 323 and subsections (4) to (8) of that section shall apply accordingly. 6 An Agent-General who is resident in the United Kingdom shall be entitled to the same immunity from capital gains tax as that to which the head of a mission so resident is entitled under the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964. 7 Any person having or exercising any employment to which section 320(2) of the Taxes Act 1988 applies (not being a person employed in any trade, business or other undertaking carried on for the purposes of profit) shall be entitled to the same immunity from capital gains tax as that to which a member of the staff of a mission is entitled under the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964. 8 Subsections (6) and (7) above shall be construed as one with section 320 of the Taxes Act 1988. Part II Gains and Losses Chapter I Disposals Disposal of assets. 19 1 All forms of property shall be assets for the purposes of this Act, whether situated in the United Kingdom or not, including— a options, debts and incorporeal property generally, and b any currency other than sterling, and c any form of property created by the person disposing of it, or otherwise coming to be owned without being acquired. 2 For the purposes of this Act— a references to a disposal of an asset include, except where the context otherwise requires, references to a part disposal of an asset, and b there is a part disposal of an asset where an interest or right in or over the asset is created by the disposal, as well as where it subsists before the disposal, and generally, there is a part disposal of an asset where, on a person making a disposal, any description of property derived from the asset remains undisposed of. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 It is hereby declared that winnings from betting, including pool betting, or lotteries or games with prizes are not chargeable gains, and no chargeable gain or allowable loss shall accrue on the disposal of rights to winnings obtained by participating in any pool betting or lottery or game with prizes. 5 It is hereby declared that sums obtained by way of compensation or damages for any wrong or injury suffered by an individual in his person or in his profession or vocation are not chargeable gains. Capital sums derived from assets. 20 1 Subject to sections 21 and 23(1) below, and to any other exceptions in this Act, there is for the purposes of this Act a disposal of assets by their owner where any capital sum is derived from assets notwithstanding that no asset is acquired by the person paying the capital sum, and this subsection applies in particular to— a capital sums received by way of compensation for any kind of damage or injury to assets or for the loss, destruction or dissipation of assets or for any depreciation or risk of depreciation of an asset, b capital sums received under a policy of insurance of the risk of any kind of damage or injury to, or the loss or depreciation of, assets, c capital sums received in return for forfeiture or surrender of rights, or for refraining from exercising rights, and d capital sums received as consideration for use or exploitation of assets. 2 In the case of a disposal within paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of subsection (1) above the time of the disposal shall be the time when the capital sum is received as described in that subsection. 3 In this section “ capital sum ” means any money or money’s worth which is not excluded from the consideration taken into account in the computation under Chapter II below. Capital sums: compensation and insurance money. 21 1 If the recipient so claims, receipt of a capital sum within paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of section 20(1) above derived from an asset which is not lost or destroyed shall not be treated for the purposes of this Act as a disposal of the asset if— a the capital sum is wholly applied in restoring the asset, or b (subject to subsection (2) below), the capital sum is applied in restoring the asset except for a part of the capital sum which is not reasonably required for the purpose and which is small as compared with the whole capital sum, or c (subject to subsection (2) below), the amount of the capital sum is small, as compared with the value of the asset, but, if the receipt is not treated as a disposal, all sums which would, if the receipt had been so treated, have been brought into account as consideration for that disposal in the computation under Chapter II below of a gain accruing on the disposal shall be deducted from any expenditure allowable under Chapter II below as a deduction in computing a gain on the subsequent disposal of the asset. 2 If the allowable expenditure is less than the consideration for the disposal constituted by the receipt of the capital sum (or is nil)— a paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) above shall not apply, and b if the recipient so elects (and there is any allowable expenditure)— i the amount of the consideration for the disposal shall be reduced by the amount of the allowable expenditure, and ii none of that expenditure shall be allowable as a deduction in computing a gain accruing on the occasion of the disposal or any subsequent occasion. In this subsection “ allowable expenditure ” means expenditure which, immediately before the disposal, was attributable to the asset under paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 32(1) below. 3 If, in a case not falling within subsection (1)(b) above, a part of a capital sum within paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of section 20(1) above derived from an asset which is not lost or destroyed is applied in restoring the asset, then if the recipient so claims, that part of the capital sum shall not be treated as consideration for the disposal deemed to be effected on receipt of the capital sum but shall be deducted from any expenditure allowable under Chapter II below as a deduction in computing a gain on the subsequent disposal of the asset. 4 If an asset is lost or destroyed and a capital sum received by way of compensation for the loss or destruction, or under a policy of insurance of the risk of the loss or destruction, is within one year of receipt, or such longer period as the inspector may allow, applied in acquiring an asset in replacement of the asset lost or destroyed the owner shall if he so claims be treated for the purposes of this Act— a as if the consideration for the disposal of the old asset were (if otherwise of a greater amount) of such amount as would secure that on the disposal neither a gain nor a loss accrues to him, and b as if the amount of the consideration for the acquisition of the new asset were reduced by the excess of the amount of the capital sum received by way of compensation or under the policy of insurance, together with any residual or scrap value, over the amount of the consideration which he is treated as receiving under paragraph (a) above. 5 A claim shall not be made under subsection (4) above if part only of the capital sum is applied in acquiring the new asset but if all of that capital sum except for a part which is less than the amount of the gain (whether all chargeable gain or not) accruing on the disposal of the old asset is so applied, then the owner shall if he so claims be treated for the purposes of this Act— a as if the amount of the gain so accruing were reduced to the amount of the said part (and, if not all chargeable gain, with a proportionate reduction in the amount of the chargeable gain), and b as if the amount of the consideration for the acquisition of the new asset were reduced by the amount by which the gain is reduced under paragraph (a) of this subsection. 6 Subsections (4) and (5) above have effect subject to paragraph 18 of Schedule 5 to this Act (application to gain which in consequence of that Schedule is not all chargeable gain). 7 This section shall not apply in relation to a wasting asset. Assets lost or destroyed, or whose value becomes negligible. 22 1 Subject to the provisions of this Act and, in particular to section 137 below (options), the occasion of the entire loss, destruction, dissipation or extinction of an asset shall, for the purposes of this Act, constitute a disposal of the asset whether or not any capital sum by way of compensation or otherwise is received in respect of the destruction, dissipation or extinction of the asset. 2 If, on a claim by the owner of an asset, the inspector is satisfied that the value of an asset has become negligible, he may allow the claim and thereupon this Act shall have effect as if the claimant had sold, and immediately re-acquired, the asset for a consideration of an amount equal to the value specified in the claim. 3 For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) above, a building and any permanent or semi-permanent structure in the nature of a building, may be regarded as an asset separate from the land on which it is situated, but where either of those subsections applies in accordance with this subsection, the person deemed to make the disposal of the building or structure shall be treated as if he had also sold, and immediately re-acquired, the site of the building or structure (including in the site any land occupied for purposes ancillary to the use of the building or structure) for a consideration equal to its market value at that time. Mortgages and charges. 23 1 The conveyance or transfer by way of security of an asset or of an interest or right in or over it, or transfer of a subsisting interest or right by way of security in or over an asset (including a retransfer on redemption of the security), shall not be treated for the purposes of this Act as involving any acquisition or disposal of the asset. 2 Where a person entitled to an asset by way of security or to the benefit of a charge or incumbrance on an asset deals with the asset for the purpose of enforcing or giving effect to the security, charge or incumbrance his dealings with it shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as if they were done through him as nominee by the person entitled to it subject to the security, charge or incumbrance; and this subsection shall apply to the dealings of any person appointed to enforce or give effect to the security, charge or incumbrance as receiver and manager or judicial factor as it applies to the dealings of the person entitled as aforesaid. 3 An asset shall be treated as having been acquired free of any interest or right by way of security subsisting at the time of any acquisition of it, and as being disposed of free of any such interest or right subsisting at the time of the disposal; and where an asset is acquired subject to any such interest or right the full amount of the liability thereby assumed by the person acquiring the asset shall form part of the consideration for the acquisition and disposal in addition to any other consideration. Hire-purchase. 24 A hire-purchase or other transaction under which the use and enjoyment of an asset is obtained by a person for a period at the end of which the property in the asset will or may pass to that person shall be treated for the purposes of this Act, both in relation to that person and in relation to the person from whom he obtains the use and enjoyment of the asset, as if it amounted to an entire disposal of the asset to that person at the beginning of the period for which he obtains the use and enjoyment of the asset, but subject to such adjustments of tax, whether by way of repayment or discharge of tax or otherwise, as may be required where the period for which that person has the use and enjoyment of the asset terminates without the property in the asset passing to him. Value shifting. 25 1 Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of this Act as to the transactions which are disposals of assets, any transaction which under the following subsections is to be treated as a disposal of an asset shall be so treated (with a corresponding acquisition of an interest in the asset) notwithstanding that there is no consideration and so far as, on the assumption that the parties to the transaction were at arm’s length, the party making the disposal could have obtained consideration, or additional consideration, for the disposal the transaction shall be treated as not being at arm’s length and the consideration so obtainable, or the additional consideration so obtainable added to the consideration actually passing, shall be treated as the market value of what is acquired. 2 If a person having control of a company exercises his control so that value passes out of shares in the company owned by him or a person with whom he is connected, or out of rights over the company exercisable by him or by a person with whom he is connected, and passes into other shares in or rights over the company, that shall be a disposal of the shares or rights out of which the value passes by the person by whom they were owned or exercisable. 3 A loss on the disposal of an asset shall not be an allowable loss to the extent to which it is attributable to value having passed out of other assets, being shares in or rights over a company which by virtue of the passing of value are treated as disposed of under subsection (2) above. 4 If, after a transaction which results in the owner of land or of any other description of property becoming the lessee of the property there is any adjustment of the rights and liabilities under the lease, whether or not involving the grant of a new lease, which is as a whole favourable to the lessor, that shall be a disposal by the lessee of an interest in the property. 5 If an asset is subject to any description of right or restriction the extinction or abrogation, in whole or in part, of the right or restriction by the person entitled to enforce it shall be a disposal by him of the right or restriction. Value shifting: further provisions. 26 1 This section has effect as respects the disposal of an asset if a scheme has been effected or arrangements have been made (whether before or after the disposal) whereby— a the value of the asset or a relevant asset has been materially reduced, and b a tax-free benefit has been or will be conferred— i on the person making the disposal or a person with whom he is connected, or ii subject to subsection (3) below, on any other person. 1A For the purposes of this section, where the asset disposed of by a company (“ the disposing company ”) consists of shares in, or securities of, another company, another asset is a relevant asset if, at the time of the disposal, it is owned by a company associated with the disposing company; but no account shall be taken of any reduction in the value of a relevant asset except in a case where— a during the period beginning with the reduction in value and ending immediately before the disposal by the disposing company, there is no disposal of the asset to any person, other than a disposal falling within section 273(1) of the Taxes Act 1970 (transfers within a group: no gain/no loss), b no disposal of the asset is treated as having occurred during that period by virtue of section 278 of the Taxes Act 1970 (company ceasing to be member of group), and c if the reduction had not taken place but any consideration given for the relevant asset and any other material circumstances (including any consideration given before the disposal for the asset disposed of) were unchanged, the value of the asset disposed of would, at the time of the disposal, have been materially greater; and in this subsection “ securities ” has the same meaning as in section 82 below. 2 For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) above a benefit is conferred on a person if he becomes entitled to any money or money’s worth or the value of any asset in which he has an interest is increased or he is wholly or partly relieved from any liability to which he is subject; and a benefit is tax-free unless it is required, on the occasion on which it is conferred on the person in question, to be brought into account in computing his income, profits or gains for the purposes of income tax, capital gains tax or corporation tax. 3 This section shall not apply by virtue of subsection (1)(b)(ii) above if it is shown that avoidance of tax was not the main purpose or one of the main purposes of the scheme or arrangements in question. 4 Where this section has effect in relation to any disposal, any allowable loss or chargeable gain accruing on the disposal shall be calculated as if the consideration for the disposal were increased by such amount as appears to the inspector, or on appeal the Commissioners concerned, to be just and reasonable having regard to the scheme or arrangements and the tax-free benefit in question. 5 Where— a by virtue of subsection (4) above the consideration for the disposal of an asset has been treated as increased, and b the benefit taken into account under subsection (1)(b) above was an increase in the value of another asset, any allowable loss or chargeable gain accruing on the first disposal of the other asset after the increase in its value shall be calculated as if the consideration for that disposal were reduced by such amount as appears to the inspector, or on appeal the Commissioners concerned, to be just and reasonable having regard to the scheme or arrangements in question and the increase made in relation to the disposal mentioned in paragraph (a) above. 6 References in this section to a disposal do not include references to any disposal falling within— a section 44(1) below (disposals between husband and wife), or b section 49(4) below (disposals by personal representatives to legatees), or c section 273(1) of the Taxes Act 1970 (disposals within a group of companies). 7 References in this section, in relation to any disposal, to a reduction in the value of an asset, where the asset consists of shares owned by a company in another company, shall be interpreted in accordance with sections 26A to 26C below and, in those sections, the disposal, the asset and those companies are referred to respectively as “ the section 26 disposal ”, “ the principal asset ”, “ the first company ” and “ the second company ”. 8 In relation to a case in which the disposal of an asset precedes its acquisition the references in subsections (1)(a) and (1A) above to a reduction shall be read as including a reference to an increase. Value shifting: distributions within a group followed by a disposal of shares. 26A 1 The references in section 26 above to a reduction in the value of an asset, in the case mentioned in subsection (7) of that section, do not include a reduction attributable to the payment of a dividend by the second company at a time when it and the first company are associated, except to the extent (if any) that the dividend is attributable to chargeable profits of the second company and, in such a case, the tax-free benefit shall be ascertained without regard to any part of the dividend that is not attributable to such profits. 2 Subsections (3) to (11) below apply for the interpretation of subsection (1) above. 3 Chargeable profits shall be ascertained as follows— a the distributable profits of any company are chargeable profits of that company to the extent that they are profits arising on a transaction caught by this section, and b where any company makes a distribution attributable wholly or partly to chargeable profits (including any profits that are chargeable profits by virtue of this paragraph) to another company, the distributable profits of the other company, so far as they represent that distribution or so much of it as was attributable to chargeable profits, are chargeable profits of the other company, and for this purpose any loss or other amount to be set against the profits of a company in determining the distributable profits shall be set first against profits other than the profits so arising or, as the case may be, representing so much of the distribution as was attributable to chargeable profits. 4 The distributable profits of a company are such profits computed on a commercial basis as, after allowing for any provision properly made for tax, the company is empowered, assuming sufficient funds, to distribute to persons entitled to participate in the profits of the company. 5 Profits of a company (“ company A ”) are profits arising on a transaction caught by this section where each of the following three conditions is satisfied. 6 The first condition is that the transaction is— a a disposal of an asset by company A to another company in circumstances such that company A and the other company are treated as mentioned in section 273(1) of the Taxes Act 1970 (transfers within a group: no gain/no loss), or b an exchange, or a transaction treated for the purposes of section 85(2) and (3) below as an exchange, of shares in or debentures of a company held by company A for shares in or debentures of another company, being a company associated with company A immediately after the transaction, and is treated by virtue of section 85(3) below as a reorganisation of share capital, or c a revaluation of an asset in the accounting records of company A. In the following conditions the “ asset with enhanced value ” means (subject to section 26C below), in the paragraph (a) case, the asset acquired by the person to whom the disposal is made, in the paragraph (b) case, the shares in or debentures of the other company and, in the paragraph (c) case, the revalued asset. 7 The second condition is that— a during the period beginning with the transaction referred to in subsection (6) above and ending immediately before the section 26 disposal, there is no disposal of the asset with enhanced value to any person, other than a disposal falling within section 273(1) of the Taxes Act 1970, and b no disposal of the asset with enhanced value is treated as having occurred during that period by virtue of section 278 of the Taxes Act 1970 (company ceasing to be member of group). 8 The third condition is that, immediately after the section 26 disposal, the asset with enhanced value is owned by a person other than the company making that disposal or a company associated with it. 9 The conditions in subsections (6) to (8) above are not satisfied if— a at the time of the transaction referred to in subsection (6) above, company A carries on a trade and a profit on a disposal of the asset with enhanced value would form part of the trading profits, or b by reason of the nature of the asset with enhanced value, a disposal of it could give rise neither to a chargeable gain nor to an allowable loss, or c immediately before the section 26 disposal, the company owning the asset with enhanced value carries on a trade and a profit on a disposal of the asset would form part of the trading profits. 10 The amount of chargeable profits of a company to be attributed to any distribution made by the company at any time in respect of any class of shares, securities or rights shall be ascertained by— a determining the total of distributable profits, and the total of chargeable profits, that remains after allowing for earlier distributions made in respect of that or any other class of shares, securities or rights, and for distributions made at or to be made after that time in respect of other classes of shares, securities or rights, and b attributing first to that distribution distributable profits other than chargeable profits. 11 The amount of chargeable profits of a company to be attributed to any part of a distribution made at any time to which a person is entitled by virtue of any part of his holding of any class of shares, securities or rights, shall be such proportion of the chargeable profits as are attributable under subsection (10) above to the distributions made at that time in respect of that class as corresponds to that part of his holding. 26B 1 The references in section 26 above to a reduction in the value of an asset, in the case mentioned in subsection (7) of that section, do not include a reduction attributable to the disposal of any asset (“ the underlying asset ”) by the second company at a time when it and the first company are associated, being a disposal falling within section 273(1) of the Taxes Act 1970 (transfers within group: no gain/no loss), except in a case within subsection (2) below. 2 A case is within this subsection if the amount or value of the actual consideration for the disposal of the underlying asset— a is less than the market value of the underlying asset, and b is less than the cost of the underlying asset, unless the disposal is effected for bona fide commercial reasons and does not form part of a scheme or arrangements of which the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, is avoidance of liability to corporation tax. 3 For the purposes of subsection (2) above, the cost of an asset owned by a company is the aggregate of— a any capital expenditure incurred by the company in acquiring or providing the asset, and b any other capital expenditure incurred by the company in respect of the asset while owned by that company. 4 For the purposes of this section, where the disposal of the underlying asset is a part disposal, the reference in subsection (2)(a) above to the market value of the underlying asset is to the market value of the asset acquired by the person to whom the disposal is made and the amounts to be attributed to the underlying asset under paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) above shall be reduced to the appropriate proportion of those amounts, that is— a the proportion of capital expenditure in respect of the underlying asset properly attributed in the accounting records of the company to the asset acquired by the person to whom the disposal is made, or b where paragraph (a) above does not apply, such proportion as appears to the inspector, or on appeal the Commissioners concerned, to be just and reasonable. 5 Where by virtue of a distribution in the course of dissolving or winding up the second company the first company is treated as disposing of an interest in the principal asset, the exception mentioned in subsection (1) above does not apply. 26C 1 For the purposes of sections 26(1A) and 26A(7) to (9) above, subsections (2) to (6) below apply for the purpose of determining in the case of any asset (“ the original asset ”) whether it is subsequently disposed of or treated as disposed of or owned or any other condition is satisfied in respect of it. 2 References in sections 26(1A)(a) and (b) and 26A(7) to a disposal are to a disposal other than a part disposal. 3 References to an asset are to the original asset or, where at a later time one or more assets are treated by virtue of subsections (5) or (6) below as the same as the original asset— a if no disposal falling within paragraph (a) or (b) of section 26(1A) or, as the case may be, of 26A(7) has occurred, those references are to the asset so treated or, as the case may be, all the assets so treated, and b in any other case, those references are to an asset or, as the case may be, all the assets representing that part of the value of the original asset that remains after allowing for earlier disposals falling within the paragraphs concerned, references in this subsection to a disposal including a disposal which would fall within the paragraphs concerned but for subsection (2) above. 4 Where by virtue of subsection (3) above those references are to two or more assets— a those assets shall be treated as if they were a single asset, b any disposal of any one of them is to be treated as a part disposal, and c the reference in section 26(1A) to the asset owned at the time of the disposal by a company associated with the disposing company and the reference in section 26A(8) to the asset with enhanced value is to all or any of those assets. 5 Where there is a part disposal of an asset, that asset and the asset acquired by the person to whom the disposal is made are to be treated as the same. 6 Where the value of an asset is derived from any other asset in the ownership of the same or an associated company, in a case where assets have been merged or divided or have changed their nature or rights or interests in or over assets have been created or extinguished, the first asset is to be treated as the same as the second. 7 For the purposes of section 26(1A) above, where account is to be taken under that subsection of a reduction in the value of a relevant asset and at the time of the disposal by the disposing company referred to in that subsection— a references to the relevant asset are by virtue of this section references to two or more assets treated as a single asset, and b one or more but not all of those assets are owned by a company associated with the disposing company, the amount of the reduction in the value of the relevant asset to be taken into account by virtue of that subsection shall be reduced to such amount as appears to the inspector, or on appeal to the Commissioners concerned, to be just and reasonable. 8 For the purposes of section 26A above, where— a a dividend paid by the second company is attributable to chargeable profits of that company, and b the condition in subsection (7), (8) or (9)(c) of that section is satisfied by reference to an asset, or assets treated as a single asset, treated by virtue of subsection (3)(b) above as the same as the asset with enhanced value, the amount of the reduction in value of the principal asset shall be reduced to such amount as appears to the inspector, or on appeal to the Commissioners concerned, to be just and reasonable. 9 For the purposes of sections 26 to 26B above and this section, companies are associated if they are members of the same group. 10 Section 272(1) to (4) of the Taxes Act 1970 (groups of companies: definitions) applies for the purposes of sections 26 to 26B above and this section as it applies for the purposes of that section. 26D 1 Where— a but for sections 78 and 85(3) below, section 26 above would have effect as respects the disposal by a company (“ the disposing company ”) of an asset consisting of shares in or debentures of another company (“ the original holding ”) in exchange for shares in or debentures of a further company which, immediately after the disposal, is not a member of the same group as the disposing company, and b if section 26 above had effect as respects that disposal, any allowable loss or chargeable gain ac*cruing on the disposal would be calculated as if the consideration for the disposal were increased by an amount, the disposing company shall be treated for the purposes of section 79(2) below as receiving, on the reorganisation of share capital that is treated as occurring by virtue of section 85(3) below, that amount for the disposal of the original holding. 2 For the purposes of subsection (1) above it shall be assumed that section 86 below has effect generally for the purposes of this Act, and in that subsection “ group ” has the same meaning as in sections 26 to 26C above. Time of disposal and acquisition where asset disposed of under contract. 27 1 Where an asset is disposed of and acquired under a contract the time at which the disposal and acquisition is made is the time the contract is made (and not, if different, the time at which the asset is conveyed or transferred). This subsection has effect subject to section 20(2) above, and subsection (2) below. 2 If the contract is conditional (and in particular if it is conditional on the exercise of an option) the time at which the disposal and acquisition is made is the time when the condition is satisfied. Chapter II Computation Chargeable gains. 28 1 The amount of the gains accruing on the disposal of assets shall be computed in accordance with this Chapter, and subject to the other provisions of this Act and sections 86 and 87 of the Finance Act 1982 . 2 Every gain shall, except as otherwise expressly provided, be a chargeable gain. 3 Schedule 5 to this Act (which restricts the amount of chargeable gains accruing on the disposal of assets owned on 6th April 1965) shall have effect. Losses. 29 1 Except as otherwise expressly provided, the amount of a loss accruing on a disposal of an asset shall be computed in the same way as the amount of a gain accruing on a disposal is computed. 2 Except as otherwise expressly provided, all the provisions of this Act which distinguish gains which are chargeable gains from those which are not, or which make part of a gain a chargeable gain, and part not, shall apply also to distinguish losses which are allowable losses from those which are not, and to make part of a loss an allowable loss, and part not; and references in this Act to an allowable loss shall be construed accordingly. 3 A loss accruing to a person in a year of assessment during no part of which he is resident or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom shall not be an allowable loss for the purposes of this Act unless, under section 12 above (non-resident with U.K. branch or agency), he would be chargeable to capital gains tax in respect of a chargeable gain if there had been a gain instead of a loss on that occasion. 4 In accordance with section 14(1) above (foreign assets of person with foreign domicile), losses accruing on the disposal of assets situated outside the United Kingdom to an individual resident or ordinarily resident but not domiciled in the United Kingdom shall not be allowable losses. 5 Except as provided by section 49 below (death), an allowable loss accruing in a year of assessment shall not be allowable as a deduction from chargeable gains accruing in any earlier year of assessment, and relief shall not be given under this Act more than once in respect of any loss or part of a loss, and shall not be given under this Act if and so far as relief has been or may be given in respect of it under the Income Tax Acts. 29A 1 Subject to the provisions of this Act a person’s acquisition or disposal of an asset shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to be for a consideration equal to the market value of the asset— a where he acquires or, as the case may be, disposes of the asset otherwise than by way of a bargain made at arm’s length, and in particular where he acquires or disposes of it by way of gift or on a transfer into settleinent by a settlor or by way of distribution from a company in respect of shares in the company, or b where he acquires or, as the case may be, disposes of the asset wholly or partly for a consideration that cannot be valued, or in connection with his own or another’s loss of office or employment or diminution of emoluments, or otherwise in consideration for or recognition of his or another’s services or past services in any office or employment or of any service rendered or to be rendered by him or another. 2 Except in the case specified in subsection (4) below , subsection (1) above shall not apply to the acquisition of an asset if— a there is no corresponding disposal of it, or the corresponding disposal is made by an excluded person , and b there is no consideration in money o