Corporation tax – Group relief for Paper P6 (UK)

Test your understanding: answers

(1). Trading losses cannot be surrendered to K Co unless it has a permanent establishment in the UK.

Trading losses can be surrendered to FG Ltd because it is resident in the UK.


(2)
. The trading losses should be surrendered to P Ltd. Relief will be obtained at the main rate in respect of £7,500 (£195,000 – £187,500) of losses and at the marginal rate in respect of the balance of £22,500 (£30,000 – £7,500).

 £ 
On profits above the upper limit
(£7,500 x 21%)

1,575
 
On profits between the limits
(£22,500 x 21.25%)

4,781
 
Total tax saved6,356 

(It should be noted that the same amount of tax would be saved if £9,500 of the losses were surrendered to Q Ltd and the balance to P Ltd.)

Surrendering all of the losses to Q Ltd would result in relief at the marginal rate in respect of £9,500 (£47,000 – £37,500) and at the small company rate in respect of the balance of £20,500 (£30,000 – £9,500).

 £ 
On profits between the limits
(£9,500 x 21.25%)

2,019
 
On profits below the lower limit
(£20,500 x 20%)

4,100
 
Total tax saved6,119 

(3). The corporation tax limits for RT Ltd for the 10 months ended 31 January 2015 are:

Upper limit £250,000 (£1,500,000 x 1/5 x 10/12)
Lower limit £50,000 (£300,000 x 1/5 x 10/12)

From the point of view of loss utilisation, RT Ltd can be regarded as paying corporation tax at the following rates.

 £ 
On profits up to the lower limit
(£50,000 x 20%)

10,000
 
On profits between the limits
(£120,000 x 21.25%)

25,500
 
Total liability35,500 

The losses will first relieve the profits taxed at the marginal rate (£120,000) and then £20,000 of the profits taxed at the marginal rate as set out below.

 £ 
On profits between the limits
(£120,000 x 21.25%)

25,500
 
On profits below the lower limit
(£20,000 x 20%)

4,000
 
Total tax saved29,500