Posted on: 24 November 2016
International accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens says the Autumn Statement from the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer should provide stability for UK businesses.
Moore Stephens tax partner Sue Bill says, “While there are no new developments relating specifically to the shipping industry, there are a number of items worthy of note. It was confirmed that the corporation tax rate will be 17% from April 2020, and will not be further reduced. Rules will be introduced to limit the tax deduction that large groups can claim for interest expenses from April 2017. These will apply where a group has net interest expenses of more than £2 million, where these expenses exceed 30% of UK taxable earnings, and where the group’s net interest earnings ratio in the UK exceeds that of the worldwide group.”
Corporation tax loss relief rules will also be changed with effect from April 2017, with the result that the amount of profit that can be offset by carried-forward losses will be restricted to 50% after a £5 million allowance. There will be greater flexibility, however, with regard to the types of profit that can be relieved by tax losses brought forward.
For the oil and gas sector, the process to opt a field out of Petroleum Revenue Tax, which is now at a rate of 0%, has been simplified in order to reduce administrative costs.
It has been confirmed, meanwhile, that reforms to the taxation of non-UK domiciled individuals will be brought in from April 2017. Moore Stephens tax partner Gill Smith says, “These rules will end the permanency of the non-domiciled tax status and introduce inheritance tax for UK residential property where it is held indirectly by a non-domiciled individual through an offshore structure. In addition, Business Investment Relief rules will be changed to make it easier for non-domiciled individuals taxed on the remittance basis to bring offshore money into the UK for the purpose of investing in UK businesses.”
Others measures announced in the Autumn Statement include confirmation of reforms to the Substantial Shareholdings Exemption (SSE) rules, the introduction of further incentives to encourage research and development, and a review of the rules relating to the taxation of benefits in kind. The government has also reiterated its commitment to reduce offshore tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance schemes.
Sue Bill says, “The Autumn Statement appears to place the emphasis on stability for UK business which, given recent events, would seem to be good news, not least for the shipping sector. “
