SDLTM23080 - Reliefs: Group, reconstruction or acquisition relief

Group relief: Withdrawal: Occasions when relief not withdrawn FA03/SCH7/PARA4

Group relief is not withdrawn where the purchaser ceases to be a member of the same group as the vendor

• because the vendor leaves the group. The vendor is regarded as leaving the group if the purchaser and vendor cease to be members of the same group due to a transaction relating to shares in

• because of anything done for the purposes of, or in the course of, winding up the vendor or another company above the vendor in the group structure. A company is above the vendor in the group structure if the vendor (or another company above the vendor in the group structure) is a 75% subsidiary of the company
• as a result of an acquisition of shares by another company (the acquiring company) in relation to which

However, if relief is not withdrawn because of an acquisition of shares above, withdrawal of the relief may be considered if the purchaser ceases to be a member of the same group as the acquiring company

• before the end of a period of three years beginning with the effective date of the relevant land transaction
• in pursuance of, or in connection with, arrangements made before the end of a period of three years beginning with the effective date of the relevant land transaction

For withdrawal of the relief to be considered at the time the purchaser ceases to be a member of the same group as the acquiring company, the purchaser (or a relevant associated company) must hold

• the chargeable interest that was acquired under the relevant land transaction
• a chargeable interest derived from the chargeable interest acquired under the relevant land transaction (for example, if a headlease was acquired under the relevant land transaction, the reversion of a sublease granted out of that headlease would be a chargeable interest derived from the original chargeable interest)

and

• the chargeable interest has not subsequently been acquired at market value by means of a chargeable transaction where group relief was available but was not claimed

For the purposes of withdrawal of group relief, a relevant associated company is a company that

• is a member of the same group as the purchaser immediately before the purchaser leaves the same group as the vendor
• ceases to be a member of the same group as the vendor in consequence of the purchaser ceasing to be a member