Tax Saving Opportunities for Companies

Due to the ever changing tax legislation and commercial factors affecting your company, it is advisable to carry out an annual review of your company's tax position.

Pre-year end tax planning is important as the current year's results can normally be predicted with some accuracy and time still exists to carry out any appropriate action.

We outline below some of the areas where advance planning may produce tax savings.

For further advice please do not hesitate to contact us.

Corporation Tax

Advancing expenditure

Expenditure incurred before the company's accounts year end may reduce the current year's tax liability.

In situations where expenditure is planned for early in the next accounting year the decision to bring forward this expenditure by just a few weeks can advance the related tax relief by a full 12 months.

Note that payments into company pension schemes are only allowable for tax purposes when the payments are actually made as opposed to when they are charged in the company's accounts.

Capital allowances

Consideration should also be given to bringing forward capital expenditure on which capital allowances are available.

Generally an annual allowance of 25% is given for expenditure on plant and machinery.  Small and medium sized businesses (as defined by company law) qualify for higher first year allowances in the year of expenditure at 40%.  For one year only, and for small companies only, the rate of first year allowance is 50% from 1 April 2006.  Expenditure on designated energy-saving technologies and products qualifies for 100% allowances.  Details can be found on a web site - www.eca.gov.uk

Allowances are also available for investments in certain types of building.

Trading losses

Companies incurring tax losses have three main options to consider in utilising these losses:

• they can be set against any other income (for example bank interest) or capital gains arising in the current year
• they can be carried back for up to one year and set against total profits
• they can be carried forward and set against trading profits arising in future years

Extracting profits

Directors/shareholders of family companies may wish to consider extracting profits in the form of dividends rather than as increased salaries or bonus payments.

This can lead to substantial savings in national insurance contributions.

Note however that company profits extracted as a dividend remain chargeable to corporation tax at a minimum of 19%.

Dividends

From the company’s point of view timing of payment is not critical, but from the individual shareholder’s perspective, timing can be an important issue. If the shareholder is a higher rate taxpayer, a dividend payment which is delayed until after the tax year ending on 5 April may give the shareholder an extra year to pay any further tax due.

The deferral of tax liabilities on the shareholder will be dependent on a number of factors. Please contact us for detailed advice.

Loans to directors and shareholders

If a 'close' company (broadly, one controlled by its directors or by five or fewer shareholders) makes a loan to a shareholder, this can give rise to a tax liability for the company.

If the loan is not settled within nine months of the end of the accounting period, the company is required to make a payment equal to 25% of the loan to HMRC. The money is not repaid to the company until nine months after the end of the accounting period in which the loan is repaid by the shareholder.

A loan to a director may also give rise to a tax liability for the director on the benefit of a loan provided at less than the market rate of interest.

Rates of tax

For the 2006 financial year:

• If annual taxable profits do not exceed £300,000, they are charged at the small companies rate of 19%.
• If the profits exceed £1,500,000, the full rate of 30% applies.
• If profits fall between these limits, marginal relief is given.  All the profits are charged to tax at a rate between 19% and 30%.

Self assessment

Under the self assessment regime most companies must pay their tax liabilities nine months and one day after the year end.

Companies which pay (or expect to pay) tax at the main rate (30%) are required to pay tax under the quarterly accounting system. If you require any further information on the quarterly accounting system, we have a factsheet which summarises the system.

Corporation tax returns must be submitted within twelve months after the year end. In cases of delay or inaccuracies interest and penalties will be charged.

Capital Gains

Companies are chargeable to corporation tax on their capital gains less allowable capital losses.

Indexation allowance

In order to counteract the effects of inflation inherent in the calculation of a capital gain, an indexation allowance is given. However the allowance is not allowed to increase or create a capital loss.

Timing of disposals

Where possible gains should be made in periods where profits are taxed at only 19%, instead of the full rate of 30%.

Consideration should therefore be given to the timing of the disposal and the delay of a sale may be advisable.

Purchase of new assets

It may be possible to avoid a capital gain being charged to tax if the sale proceeds are reinvested in a replacement asset.

The replacement asset must be acquired in the four year period beginning one year before the disposal and only certain assets qualify for relief.

How We Can Help

Tax savings can only be achieved if an appropriate course of action is planned in advance. It is therefore vital that professional advice is sought at an early stage. We would welcome the chance to tailor a plan to your specific circumstances.