BIM45801 - Specific deductions: incidental costs of loan finance: scope of legislation

Broad outline

ITTOIA/S58 and S59 provide relief for certain incidental costs (see BIM45815) of obtaining business finance by means of a loan or the issue of loan stock where the interest is an allowable deduction. The legislation gives relief where such costs would otherwise be disallowed as incidental costs of the capital transaction of obtaining finance.

The rules were introduced by FA80 following consultation, which made it clear that the relief applies in the limited and relatively self-contained area of raising loan finance for business purposes. It does not extend to costs that may arise as a consequence of the particular terms on which loan finance may be raised.

Relief is not withheld if the expenditure is, in the event, abortive.

Note that the rules apply only to income tax. Nonetheless they apply to some companies because non-resident companies are liable to income tax. So, for example, the rules apply to a non-resident incorporated landlord.

Relief limited to loans and loan stock

The relief relates only to the incidental costs of obtaining business finance by means of a loan or the issue of loan stock. The relief does not extend to any costs connected with other methods of financing a business, for example, through bills of exchange, leasing assets, or buying assets on credit or hire purchase; nor does it extend to any form of equity finance.

From 6 April 2005 alternative finance arrangements are included as loans within ITTOIA/S58 and references to interest are to be taken to include alternative finance returns or profit share returns payable under an alternative finance arrangement. Alternative finance arrangements, alternative finance returns and profit share returns are described in CFM6050+.

A simple avoidance device for incorporated borrowers would be to raise equity by the issue of loan stock convertible to equity shortly afterwards. This is prevented by ITTOIA/S59 (see BIM45810).

Loan not wholly for business purposes

Where a loan is not applied wholly for business purposes and part of the interest on it is allowable in accordance with BIM45670, you should regard the incidental costs relating to the allowable part of the loan as qualifying for relief.

How relief given

The costs allowable are deducted when computing trading or property income. The rules are silent as to the time at which any permitted deduction is given (with the exception of the special rule for convertible loans and convertible loan stock, see BIM45810). Accordingly the timing of any deduction is determined by the normal rules (see BIM42200 onwards). In particular, where incidental costs have been spread or deferred in accounts, and those accounts have been correctly prepared under applicable accounting standards, it is not permissible to make a computational adjustment to deduct all the costs in the year the loan finance is obtained.