CIRD25180 - Intangible assets excluded from Schedule 29 as special tax rules apply: election in respect of capital expenditure on computer software: approach and procedure

FA02/SCH29/PARA83

Tax relief for the depreciation of computer software may be available more quickly under the capital allowances code (see CA23400 onwards) than it is under Schedule 29. To permit companies to preserve the benefit of capital allowances, paragraph 83 allows companies to make an election in respect of capital expenditure on computer software. The election makes capital allowance treatment available.

Receipts from the realisation of the software, which are not brought into account under the capital allowances rules, are recognised as taxable income under Schedule 29.

The election:

• must specify the expenditure to which it relates,
• must be made in writing to the Inland Revenue,
• must be made within two years of the end of the accounting period in which the expenditure was incurred,
• cannot be revoked.

The effect of the election is described in CIRD25190.

For expenditure on software used for the purpose of life assurance business (see to the Life Assurance Manual (LAM 4D.162).