CTM41305 - Particular bodies: unincorporated associations: definition

The definition in section ICTA88/S832 (1) says that ‘company’ means (subject to some minor qualifications in ICTA88/S832 (2)):

‘any body corporate or unincorporated association but does not include a partnership, a local authority or a local authority association’

The term ‘unincorporated association’ is not defined in the Taxes Acts. The provision brings within the scope of CT unincorporated organisations of all kinds that have some recognisable existence.

The characteristics of an unincorporated association have emerged primarily from case law.

An unincorporated association:

• is not a legal entity,
• is an organisation of persons or bodies (more than one) with an identifiable membership (possibly changing),
• has a membership who are bound together for a common purpose by an identifiable constitution or rules (which may be written or oral),
• is an organisation where the form of association is not one which is recognised in law as being something else (for example, an incorporated body or a partnership),
• must have an existence distinct from those persons who would be regarded as its members,
• the tie between the persons need not be a legally enforceable contract.

Whether an organisation is an unincorporated association is a question of fact and will depend upon a consideration of all the relevant circumstances. It cannot be determined by simply looking at what the organisation calls itself or the form of its rules.

There is no reason why an unincorporated body should not have trading or business objects, or carry on significant commercial activities.