CFM6308 - Taxing Loan relationships: anti-avoidance: imported losses: buying losses

Loss buying

FA96/SCH9/PARA10 (4) ensures that the loss is disallowed even if the loan relationship is transferred to another company.

Example

Pirt SA, a non-UK resident company, buys loan stock in an unconnected company on 1 June Year 1 for £100,000, receiving interest at 5%. By the end of Year 2, the loan stock is worth only £30,000 because the issuing company is in financial difficulties and may not be able to repay the loan, though it does still manage to pay the interest.

At the beginning of Year 3, Pirt SA migrates to the UK and sells the loan relationship to a fellow UK group member, Jik Ltd, for £100,000. At the end of Year 4, Jik Ltd sells the stock to an unconnected person for £10,000.

Pirt SA

Year 1Interest accrued£5,000
Year 2Interest accrued£5,000
Loss on sale to Jik Ltd0 *

The companies are members of the same group, therefore FA96/SCH9/PARA12 will apply to prevent any loss or profit on transfer (see CFM5800 for more on Para 12 and intra-group transfers).

Jik Ltd

Year 3Interest accrued£5,000
Year 4Interest accrued£5,000
Loss on sale(£90,000)
Para 10 adjustment£70,000 *

£70,000 of the loss refers to the pre-migration period.