CFM17295 - Repos: taxation: short or annual interest

This guidance describes the treatment of repos for income tax and capital gains tax purposes, and for corporation tax purposes where the original owner transfers the securities to the interim holder before 1 October 2007

Section 730A ICTA88 and S607 ITA07: short or annual interest?

Whether interest is short rather than annual is a question to be considered by the parties to each transaction at the time it is entered into by reference to the relevant facts and documentation. Our general view follows the guidance laid down in the case of Cairns v MacDiarmid (56TC556). In particular we place reliance upon the view expressed that the nature of the interest depends upon the intention of the parties to the transaction. Sir John Donaldson MR highlighted this factor at page 581 where he said:

`[it] is well settled that the difference between what is annual and what is short interest depends upon the intention of the parties. Thus interest payable on a mortgage providing for repayment of the money after six months, or indeed a shorter period, will still be annual interest if calculated at a yearly rate and if the intention of the parties is that it may have to be paid from year to year'.

On the basis of our current knowledge of the repo market we accept that the vast majority of repo arrangements entered into will produce repo `interest' which is short in nature. Our understanding is that repo arrangements are not entered into as a substitute for long term finance. Only the parties to any particular transaction will know the true nature and substance of a repo transaction. There will generally therefore be no reason to challenge cases where the parties to a repo agreement agree that the `interest' is short in nature. We will however take a different view if it is clear that the transaction has been entered into as a substitute for long term finance and in particular where it is clear that finance has been arranged in this way specifically to side-step the deduction of tax at source which would otherwise have been appropriate.

With effect from April 2001, payments of interest between UK companies are to be paid without deduction of tax. In these circumstances the distinction between annual and short interest loses its significance.