EIM26312 – The benefits code: beneficial loans: a fluctuating cheap loan account: example

This example shows how to calculate the cash equivalent of a fluctuating cheap loan account, using both the averaging method (see EIM26220) and the precise method (see EIM26230).

A director has a standing loan arrangement with the company for which he works. His withdrawals are used to pay his children's school fees. The company charges him interest at 2% on the outstanding balance of his loan account, the interest being payable annually on 31 December, which is the company's accounting date.

On 5 April in the year preceding the year of assessment the balance outstanding on his loan account with the company is £4,500. During the year of assessment he repays £900 on 30 June but on 1 October he draws a further £1,500 to pay school fees. He makes no further repayments and draws no further funds prior to the following 5 April, but on 31 December in the year of assessment he is charged £50, being the interest payable by him for the company's accounting year to 31 December. The interest charge of £50 is met by deduction from his salary cheque for that month. No other loans are in existence.

The appropriate official rate was 10%.

Liability on the normal averaging method (see EIM26210)

Liability on the alternative precise method (see EIM26230)

The normal averaging method of calculation, which would be applied automatically, operates to the director's disadvantage since his average loan over the year is about £4,580 and not £4,800 (£4,500 + £5,100/2).

Therefore, an election for the alternative precise method of calculation (see EIM26230) would be to his advantage.

Note that the interest paid by the director relates to the year ended 31 December and not to the tax year ended 5 April. Unless the director wishes to adopt the interest paid for the tax year you can regard the interest paid for the company's accounting year ended in the tax year concerned as the interest paid for the relevant tax year (see EIM26252).

The additional loan of £1,500 taken out on 1 October is between the same lender and borrower and in the same currency as the existing loan. Neither loan is a qualifying loan (see EIM26120). The example assumes that each year the employer makes an election for aggregation (see EIM26180).

Exemption under Section 180(1)(b) ITEPA 2003 (see EIM26145) is not due because the total balance outstanding on the non-qualifying loans exceeds £5,000 at some time in the year of assessment.

The director will be treated as having paid £430 (or £408 if an election for the alternative precise method is made) interest on the loan in addition to the £50 actually paid. However this will have no effect on the final liability because none of the interest ranks for deduction or relief of any kind (see EIM26270).

The company may also be chargeable to tax under Section 419 ICTA 1988 in respect of loans made to the director (see EIM26500).