Section 442 Meaning of “unallowable purpose”
United Kingdom
For the purposes of section 441 a loan relationship of a company has an unallowable purpose in an accounting period if, at times during that period, the purposes for which the company—
is a party to the relationship, or
enters into transactions which are related transactions by reference to it,
include a purpose (“the unallowable purpose”) which is not amongst the business or other commercial purposes of the company.
In subsection (1)(b) “related transaction”, in relation to a loan relationship, includes anything which equates in substance to a disposal or acquisition of the kind mentioned in section 304(1) (as read with section 304(2)).
If a company is not within the charge to corporation tax in respect of a part of its activities, for the purposes of this section the business and other commercial purposes of the company do not include the purposes of that part.
Subsection (4) applies if a tax avoidance purpose is one of the purposes for which a company—
is a party to a loan relationship at any time, or
enters into a transaction which is a related transaction by reference to a loan relationship of the company.
For the purposes of subsection (1) the tax avoidance purpose is only regarded as a business or other commercial purpose of the company if it is not—
the main purpose for which the company is a party to the loan relationship or, as the case may be, enters into the related transaction, or
one of the main purposes for which it is or does so.
The references in subsections (3) and (4) to a tax avoidance purpose are references to any purpose which consists of securing a tax advantage for the company or any other person.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
S. 442(1A) inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 7 Pt. 6 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 (c. 33), Sch. 7 para. 47
Notes on Part 5
Modifications
- C1
Pt. 5 applied (with effect in accordance with Sch. 24 paras. 13-16 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2009 (c. 10), Sch. 24 para. 15(2)(3)
- C2
Pt. 5 applied (with modifications) (with effect in accordance with s. 1184(1) of the amending Act) by Corporation Tax Act 2010 (c. 4), ss. 990(5), 1184(1) (with Sch. 2)
- C3
Pt. 5 modified (15.11.2011 for specified purposes, 30.3.2012 for E.W.) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss., 240(5)(o), Sch. 24 para. 5; S.I. 2012/628, art. 3(b)
- C4
Pt. 5 modified (1.4.2012) by Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 (c. 4), s. 29, Sch. 4 para. 2; S.I. 2011/2576, art. 5
- C5
Pt. 5 modified (with effect in accordance with s. 148 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), s. 88(1)(2)(7) (with s. 147, Sch. 17)
- C6
Pt. 5 modified (30.9.2013) by The BRB (Residuary) Limited (Tax Consequences) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/2242), arts. 1, 7
- C7
Pt. 5 modified (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Taxation of Regulatory Capital Securities Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/3209), regs. 1(1), 11(3)-(6)
- C8
Pt. 5 modified by 2010 c. 4, s. 356NC(1)-(4) (as inserted (1.4.2014) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 16 paras. 4, 6)
- C9
Pt. 5 modified by 2010 c. 4, s. 356NB(1)-(4) (as inserted (1.4.2014) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 16 paras. 4, 6)
- C10
Pt. 5 modified by 2007 c. 3, s. 809FZZ(9) (as inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 37(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2016 (c. 24), s. 37(2))
- C11
Pt. 5 modified by 2010 c. 4, s. 676AG(1) (as inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 4 para. 190 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), Sch. 4 para. 75)
- C12
Pt. 5 modified (for the tax year 2026-27 and subsequent tax years (but in relation to investment management services whenever performed)) by 2005 c. 5, Sch. A1 para. 35(7) (as inserted by Finance Act 2026 (c. 11), s. 58(6), Sch. 11 para. 1)
Notes on Chapter 15
Modifications
- C1
Pt. 5 modified by 2007 c. 3, s. 809FZZ(9) (as inserted (with effect in accordance with s. 37(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2016 (c. 24), s. 37(2))