Main Capital Allowances

The 2008 Budget introduced a major overhaul of capital allowances. Please contact us to discuss the tax relief to which you are entitled to on any capital expenditure. This applies to plant and machinery in particular.

For limited companies subject to corporation tax expenditure is on or after 1 April 2008, for unincorporated businesses expenditure is on or after 6 April 2008.

Assets will be dealt with either in a main rate pool, a special rate pool or a single asset pool.

1. Capital allowances allow the cost of capital assets to be written off against taxable profits. They replace the charge for depreciation in the business accounts, which is not allowable for tax relief.
2. Where a business has a chargeable period of less than a year the maximum allowance is reduced or increased pro-rata.
3. Where an accounting period spans the commencement date a pro-rata hybrid rate will be used for the year.
4. When the value of the main and special pools are less than £1,000 they may be fully written off.
5. From April 2008 a loss attributable to the enhanced capital allowance on ECA's may be surrendered for a cash payment of 19% of the loss surrendered, but limited to the greater of the companies PAYE and NIC liabilities for the period or £250,000
6. With effect from 1 April 2009 for corporation tax purposes and 6 April 2009 for income tax the capital allowance treatment of business cars will be reformed. Expenditure on cars with CO₂ emissions above 160 g/km will attract a 10% writing down allowance (wda) and expenditure on cars with CO₂ emissions of 160 g/km or below will attract a 20% wda.
7. The rate of relief for large companies will increase to 130% of qualifying R&D expenditure. In the case of SME R&D tax credit scheme, the rate of relief will increase to 175% for companies claiming enhanced deductions against profits.
8. IBA and ABA are being phased out and will reduce by 1% p.a. until 2010/11 when they and EZA will cease.

Please refer to the 2008 Budget Report for further information relating to the April 2008 changes.

There have been many changes announced, please contact us for details that you consider apply in the future.