EIM36500 - Deductions from earnings: capital
allowances: introduction: arrangement of guidance
Section 36 CAA 2001
Introduction
The general rule for employees’ expenses in Section 336
ITEPA 2003 (see generally
EIM31620 onwards) does not specifically
prevent a deduction for expenditure on plant and machinery used in
performing the duties of an office or employment. But substantial
expenditure of this kind will not usually qualify for a deduction
under Section 336 because it puts an employee in a position to
perform the duties rather than being incurred in their actual
performance.
Normally therefore allowances for capital expenditure on
machinery and plant should be given (and balancing charges should
be made where necessary) under the capital allowances rules in Part
2 of the Capital Allowances Act 2001. Those rules are applied to
employees and office holders by Section 15 CAA 2001. For 2000/01
and earlier years, the corresponding provisions are in Part II
Chapter I of the Capital Allowances Act 1990.
Do not give deductions for expenditure on acquiring plant and
machinery under the general rule for employees’ expenses in
Section 336 ITEPA 2003 except in the circumstances described at
EIM36510.
The detailed guidance on capital allowances for employees and
office holders is arranged as shown in the following tables.
Expenditure qualifying for capital allowances
| EIM36510 | Expenditure on small
items of plant and machinery |
| EIM36520 | Conditions to be
satisfied if capital allowances are to be given |
| EIM36530 | Meaning of 'machinery or
plant' |
| EIM36540 | Meaning of 'necessarily
provided for use in the performance of the duties' |
| EIM36550 | In the performance of the
duties: the need to establish what the duties require |
| EIM36560 | Necessarily provided: the
need to establish whether the employer would provide the machinery
or plant |
| EIM36570 | Apportionment of
allowances where there is both business and private use |
| EIM36580 | Use of machinery or plant
for business entertaining |
Calculation of the allowances due
| EIM36600 | Cases to be seen by an
Inspector |
| EIM36610 | First year allowances:
general |
| EIM36620 | First year allowances:
exceptions |
| EIM36630 | Rates of first year
allowance |
| EIM36640 | Withdrawal of 100% first
year allowance in respect of machinery and plant acquired for use
primarily in Northern Ireland |
| EIM36650 | Writing down allowances:
general |
| EIM36660 | Writing down allowances:
the amount on which the allowance is calculated |
| EIM36670 | Balancing allowances and
charges: when they arise |
| EIM36680 | Balancing allowances and
charges: how they are calculated |
| EIM36690 | Balancing allowances and
charges: the value to take |
Particular items of machinery or plant.
Note that, except where this is made clear in the text, the
guidance in these pages supplements but does not replace the
general guidance in the pages listed above
| EIM36700 | Bicycles |
| EIM36710 | Books |
| EIM36720 | Briefcases |
| EIM36730 | Computers and word
processors |
| EIM36731 | 100% first year allowance
for computers and hi-tech communications equipment bought between 1
April 2000 and 31 March 2004 |
| EIM36810 | Mobile telephones, car
telephones and in-car entertainment |
| EIM36750 | Motor vehicles:
general |
| EIM36800 | Pocket calculators |
Particular types of employment
Note that, except where this is made clear in the text, the
guidance in these pages supplements but does not replace the
general guidance in the pages listed above
Procedures
| EIM36850 | How capital allowances
are given, and how balancing charges are taxed |
| EIM36870 | Claims and appeals |
| EIM36880 | UK based earnings and
earnings charged on remittance |
| EIM36890 | Set-off of excess capital
allowances against other income |
| EIM36900 | Capital allowances and
loan interest relief |
Examples
| EIM36910 | Calculation of first year
allowance |
| EIM36915 | Writing down allowances:
restriction of allowance in year employment begins |
| EIM36925 | Adjustments for private
use |
| EIM36930 | Balancing allowances and
charges |