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E-mail this to a friendNew legislation set out by the government confirms tax rules prevent businesses claiming capital allowances for costs met by other businesses.
The legislation, which comes into immediate effect, will prevent gas and electricity distribution companies in particular from making new claims for historic costs dating back decades that have already been paid by their business customers.
These claims could result in up to £900m in tax lost to the Exchequer.
The utility companies’ previous practice has been not to claim capital allowances for costs already covered by business customers. Recently, however, some gas and electricity distribution companies have attempted to change that and make new claims for past expenditure, which if they succeed would generate large windfall tax repayments and reductions for the companies concerned.
New legislation confirms that these claims cannot now be made. HMRC will be robust in challenging those claims that have already been submitted.
The draft legislation, introduced Wednesday 29 May, will be introduced in the current Finance Bill.
Photo by Lee J Haywood on Flickr. Used under Creative Commons.
