Meaning of “freehold interest”, “lease” etc.

393 Meaning of “freehold interest”, “lease”, etc.

(1) In this Part “freehold interest in land” means—

(a) the fee simple estate in the land, or

(b) in relation to Scotland, the interest of the owner.

(2) In this Part “freehold interest in land” also includes—

(a) an agreement to acquire the fee simple estate in the land, or

(b) in relation to Scotland, an agreement to acquire the interest of the owner.

(3) In this Part “lease” includes—

(a) an agreement for a lease if the term to be covered by the lease has begun, and

(b) any tenancy,

but does not include a mortgage (and “lessee”, “lessor” and “leasehold interest” are to be read accordingly).

(4) In the application of this Part to Scotland—

(a) “leasehold interest” means the interest of a tenant in property subject to a lease, and

(b) any reference to an interest which is reversionary on a leasehold interest or on a lease is to be read as a reference to the interest of the landlord in the property subject to the leasehold interest or lease.

Part 5 Mineral extraction allowances

Chapter 1 Introduction

394 Mineral extraction allowances

(1) Allowances are available under this Part if a person carries on a mineral extraction trade and incurs qualifying expenditure.

(2) In this Part “mineral extraction trade” means a trade which consists of, or includes, the working of a source of mineral deposits.

(3) In this Part “mineral deposits” includes any natural deposits capable of being lifted or extracted from the earth, and for this purpose geothermal energy is to be treated as a natural deposit.

(4) Any reference in this Part to mineral deposits is to mineral deposits of a wasting nature.

(5) In this Part “source of mineral deposits” includes a mine, an oil well and a source of geothermal energy.

395 Qualifying expenditure

(1) In this Part “qualifying expenditure” means—

(a) expenditure on mineral exploration and access which is qualifying expenditure under Chapter 2,

(b) expenditure on acquiring a mineral asset which is qualifying expenditure under Chapter 3,

(c) expenditure which is treated as qualifying expenditure on mineral exploration and access under section 407(5) or 408(2), and

(d) expenditure which is qualifying expenditure under Chapter 5 (expenditure on works likely to become valueless and post-trading restoration expenditure).

But this is subject to subsections (2) and (3).

(2) Expenditure is not qualifying expenditure if it is excluded from being qualifying expenditure by section 399.

(3) Chapter 4 contains provisions limiting in certain cases the amount of expenditure which is qualifying expenditure.

396 Meaning of “mineral exploration and access”

(1) In this Part “mineral exploration and access” means—

(a) searching for or discovering and testing the mineral deposits of a source, or

(b) winning access to such deposits.

(2) Expenditure on seeking planning permission necessary to enable—

(a) mineral exploration and access to be undertaken at any place, or

(b) any mineral deposits to be worked,

is treated as expenditure on mineral exploration and access if planning permission is not granted.

(3) “Seeking planning permission” includes pursuing an appeal against a refusal to grant planning permission.

397 Meaning of “mineral asset”

In this Part “mineral asset” means—

(a) any mineral deposits or land comprising mineral deposits, or

(b) any interest in or right over such deposits or land.

398 Relationship between main types of qualifying expenditure

Subject to Chapter 4, expenditure on—

(a) the acquisition of, or of rights over, the site of a source of mineral deposits, or

(b) the acquisition of, or of rights over, mineral deposits,

is to be treated as expenditure on acquiring a mineral asset and not as expenditure on mineral exploration and access.

399 Expenditure excluded from being qualifying expenditure

(1) Expenditure on the provision of plant or machinery is not qualifying expenditure except as provided by section 402 (pre-trading expenditure on plant or machinery).

(2) Expenditure on works constructed wholly or mainly for subjecting the raw product of a source to any process is not qualifying expenditure, unless the process is designed for preparing the raw product for use as such.

(3) Expenditure on buildings or structures provided for occupation by, or for the welfare of, workers is not qualifying expenditure except as provided by section 415.

(4) Expenditure on a building is not qualifying expenditure if the whole of the building was constructed for use as an office.

(5) Subsection (6) applies if part of a building or structure has been constructed for use as an office.

(6) The expenditure on the office part is not qualifying expenditure if it was more than 10% of the capital expenditure incurred on the construction of the whole.

Chapter 2 Qualifying expenditure on mineral exploration and access

400 Qualifying expenditure on mineral exploration and access

(1) Expenditure on mineral exploration and access is qualifying expenditure if—

(a) it is capital expenditure, and

(b) it is incurred for the purposes of a mineral extraction trade.

(2) Expenditure on mineral exploration and access incurred by a person in connection with a mineral extraction trade which that person carries on then or subsequently is to be treated as incurred for the purposes of that trade.

(3) But pre-trading expenditure on mineral exploration and access is qualifying expenditure only to the extent provided by—

• section 401 (pre-trading exploration expenditure), or

• section 402 (pre-trading expenditure on plant or machinery).

(4) Any pre-trading expenditure that is qualifying expenditure under either of those sections is to be treated as incurred on the first day of trading.

(5) In this Chapter—

(a) “pre-trading expenditure” means capital expenditure incurred before the day on which a person begins to carry on a mineral extraction trade, and

(b) “the first day of trading”, in relation to a person’s pre-trading expenditure, means the day on which that person begins to carry on the mineral extraction trade.

401 Pre-trading exploration expenditure

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person incurs pre-trading expenditure on mineral exploration and access at a source, and

(b) the expenditure is not incurred on the provision of plant or machinery.

(2) The amount of the expenditure (“pre-trading exploration expenditure”) that is qualifying expenditure depends on whether mineral exploration and access is continuing at the source on the first day of trading.

(3) If it is, so much of the pre-trading exploration expenditure as exceeds any relevant receipts is qualifying expenditure.

(4) If it is not, only so much of the pre-trading exploration expenditure as—

(a) was incurred within 6 years ending on the first day of trading, and

(b) exceeds any relevant receipts,

is qualifying expenditure.

(5) “Relevant receipts” means capital sums received—

(a) by the person incurring the pre-trading exploration expenditure referred to in subsection (3) or (4), and

(b) before the first day of trading,

so far as they are reasonably attributable to that expenditure.

402 Pre-trading expenditure on plant or machinery

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person incurs pre-trading expenditure on the provision of plant or machinery for mineral exploration and access,

(b) the plant or machinery was used in connection with mineral exploration and access at a source, and

(c) before the first day of trading, the plant or machinery is sold, demolished, destroyed or abandoned.

(2) The amount of the expenditure (“pre-trading expenditure on plant or machinery”) that is qualifying expenditure depends on whether mineral exploration and access is continuing at the source on the first day of trading.

(3) If it is, so much of the pre-trading expenditure on plant or machinery as exceeds any relevant receipts is qualifying expenditure.

(4) If it is not, only so much of the pre-trading expenditure on plant or machinery as—

(a) was incurred within 6 years ending on the first day of trading, and

(b) exceeds any relevant receipts,

is qualifying expenditure.

(5) “Relevant receipts” means—

(a) if the plant or machinery is sold, the net proceeds to the person of the sale;

(b) if the plant or machinery is demolished or destroyed, the net amount received by the person for the remains of the plant or machinery, together with—

(i) any insurance money received by him in respect of the demolition or destruction, and

(ii) any other compensation of any description so received, so far as it consists of capital sums;

(c) if the plant or machinery is abandoned—

(i) any insurance money received by the person in respect of the abandonment, and

(ii) any other compensation of any description so received, so far as it consists of capital sums.

Chapter 3 Qualifying expenditure on acquiring a mineral asset

403 Qualifying expenditure on acquiring a mineral asset

(1) Expenditure on acquiring a mineral asset is qualifying expenditure if—

(a) it is capital expenditure, and

(b) it is incurred for the purposes of a mineral extraction trade.

(2) Subsection (1) is subject to—

• section 404 (exclusion of undeveloped market value of land), and

• section 406 (reduction where premium relief previously allowed).

(3) In this Chapter “the buyer”, in relation to the acquisition of a mineral asset, means the person acquiring it.

404 Exclusion of undeveloped market value of land

(1) If the mineral asset is an interest in land, so much of the buyer’s expenditure on acquiring the asset as is equal to the undeveloped market value of the interest is not qualifying expenditure.

(2) “The undeveloped market value of the interest” means the amount that, at the time of the acquisition, the interest might reasonably be expected to fetch on a sale in the open market on the assumptions in subsection (3).

(3) The assumptions are that—

(a) there is no source of mineral deposits on or in the land, and

(b) it will only ever be lawful to carry out existing permitted development.

(4) Development is existing permitted development if at the time of the acquisition—

(a) it has been, or had begun to be, lawfully carried out, or

(b) it could be lawfully carried out under planning permission granted by a general development order.

(5) In applying subsection (4) in relation to land outside the United Kingdom—

(a) whether, at the time of the acquisition, development has been, or had begun to be, lawfully carried out is to be determined according to the law of the territory in which the land is situated, and

(b) whether, at that time, development could be lawfully carried out under planning permission granted by a general development order is to be determined as if the land were in England.

(6) References in this section to the time of acquisition are not affected by section 434 (expenditure incurred before trade carried on).

(7) This section does not apply to the buyer’s expenditure if an election under section 569 (election to treat sale as being for alternative amount) is made in relation to the acquisition.

405 Qualifying expenditure where buildings or structures cease to be used

(1) This section applies if—

(a) section 404 (exclusion of undeveloped market value of land) applies to limit the buyer’s qualifying expenditure on acquiring the mineral asset,

(b) the undeveloped market value of the interest in land includes the value of any buildings or structures on the land, and

(c) at the time of the acquisition, or at any later time, the buildings or structures permanently cease to be used for any purpose.

(2) The buyer is to be treated—

(a) as having incurred qualifying expenditure, on acquiring a mineral asset, of an amount equal to the unrelieved value of the buildings or structures, and

(b) as having incurred it when the buildings or structures permanently cease to be used for any purpose.

(3) The unrelieved value of the buildings or structures is—

(4) References in this section to the time of acquisition are not affected by section 434 (time when expenditure incurred).

406 Reduction where premium relief previously allowed

(1) This section applies if—

(a) the mineral asset is or includes an interest in land, and

(b) for chargeable periods previous to the chargeable period for which the buyer first becomes entitled to an allowance under this Part in respect of the expenditure on acquiring the mineral asset, deductions are made under section 87 of ICTA (deductions in calculating trading profits where premiums etc. taxable).

(2) The amount of the expenditure on the acquisition of the mineral asset that is qualifying expenditure is reduced by—

Chapter 4 Qualifying expenditure: second-hand assets

Assets reflecting expenditure on mineral exploration and access

407 Acquisition of mineral asset owned by previous trader

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person carrying on a mineral extraction trade (“the buyer”) incurs capital expenditure on acquiring a mineral asset (“asset X”) for the purposes of that trade, and

(b) the conditions in subsection (3) are met.

(2) In this section “the buyer’s expenditure” means the expenditure referred to in subsection (1)(a), less any amount which, under section 404 (exclusion of undeveloped market value of land), is not qualifying expenditure on the acquisition of the mineral asset.

(3) The conditions are that—

(a) expenditure was previously incurred on acquiring asset X or bringing it into existence by—

(i) the person from whom the buyer acquired asset X, or

(ii) an earlier owner of asset X,

in connection with a mineral extraction trade carried on by the person incurring that expenditure,

(b) part of the value of asset X is properly attributable to expenditure (“E1”) on mineral exploration and access by the previous trader, and

(c) it is just and reasonable to attribute part of the buyer’s expenditure (“E2”) to that part of the value of asset X.

(4) In arriving at E1, any expenditure that is or has been deducted in calculating, for tax purposes, the profits of a trade carried on by the previous trader must be excluded.

(5) If this section applies—

(a) so much of the buyer’s expenditure as is equal to the lesser of E1 and E2 is to be treated as qualifying expenditure on mineral exploration and access, and

(b) the buyer’s expenditure on acquiring the mineral asset is reduced by the same amount.

(6) “The previous trader” means—

(a) the person incurring the expenditure mentioned in subsection (3)(a), or

(b) if there has been more than one such person, the last before the buyer acquired asset X.

(7) In this section references to asset X include—

(a) two or more assets which together make up asset X, and

(b) one asset from which, or two or more assets from the combination of which, asset X is derived.

408 Acquisition of oil licence from non-trader

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person carrying on a mineral extraction trade (“the buyer”) incurs capital expenditure on acquiring an interest in an oil licence for the purposes of that trade,

(b) the person from whom the interest was acquired (“the seller”) disposed of the interest without having carried on a mineral extraction trade,

(c) part of the value of the interest is attributable to expenditure (“E1”) on mineral exploration and access by the seller, and

(d) it is just and reasonable to attribute part of the buyer’s expenditure (“E2”) to that part of the value of the interest.

(2) If this section applies—

(a) so much of the buyer’s expenditure as is equal to the lesser of E1 and E2 is to be treated as qualifying expenditure on mineral exploration and access, and

(b) the buyer’s expenditure on acquiring the interest in the oil licence is reduced by an amount equal to E2.

(3) In this section “oil licence” and “interest in an oil licence” have the same meaning as in Chapter 3 of Part 12.

409 Acquisition of other assets from non-traders

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person carrying on a mineral extraction trade (“the buyer”) incurs capital expenditure on acquiring any assets for the purposes of that trade,

(b) the person from whom the assets were acquired (“the seller”) disposed of the assets without having carried on a mineral extraction trade,

(c) the assets represent expenditure on mineral exploration and access incurred by the seller, and

(d) section 408 (acquisition of oil licence from non-trader) does not apply in relation to the acquisition.

(2) If this section applies, the buyer’s expenditure is qualifying expenditure only to the extent that it does not exceed the amount of the seller’s expenditure on mineral exploration and access that is represented by the assets.

(3) The references in this section to assets representing expenditure on mineral exploration and access include any results obtained from any search, exploration or inquiry on which the expenditure was incurred.

Qualifying expenditure on assets limited by reference to historic costs

410 UK oil licence: limit is original licence payment

(1) This section applies if a person carrying on a mineral extraction trade (“the buyer”) incurs capital expenditure on acquiring a mineral asset which is a UK oil licence, or an interest in such a licence, for the purposes of that trade.

(2) If this section applies, the buyer’s expenditure is qualifying expenditure only to the extent that it does not exceed—

(a) the original licence payment, or

(b) if the mineral asset is an interest in a UK oil licence, such part of the original licence payment as it is just and reasonable to attribute to the interest.

(3) In this section “the original licence payment” means the amount paid to the relevant authority for the purpose of obtaining the licence by the person to whom the licence was granted.

(4) This section does not affect any expenditure that is treated as qualifying expenditure on mineral exploration and access under—

• section 407(5) (acquisition of mineral asset owned by previous trader), or

• section 408(2) (acquisition of oil licence from non-trader).

(5) In this section “UK oil licence” and “the relevant authority” have the same meaning as in Chapter 3 of Part 12.

411 Assets generally: limit is residue of previous trader’s qualifying expenditure

(1) This section applies if—

(a) a person carrying on a mineral extraction trade (“the buyer”) incurs capital expenditure on acquiring an asset (“asset X”) for the purposes of that trade, and

(b) expenditure was previously incurred on acquiring asset X or bringing it into existence by—

(i) the person from whom the buyer acquired asset X, or

(ii) an earlier owner of asset X,

in connection with a mineral extraction trade carried on by the person incurring that expenditure.

(2) In this section “the buyer’s expenditure” means the expenditure referred to in subsection (1)(a) less any amount which, under section 404 (exclusion of undeveloped market value of land), is not qualifying expenditure on the acquisition of the mineral asset.

(3) If this section applies, the buyer’s expenditure is qualifying expenditure only to the extent that it does not exceed the residue of the previous trader’s qualifying expenditure.

(4) The residue of the previous trader’s qualifying expenditure is—

(5) “The previous trader” means—

(a) the person incurring the expenditure mentioned in subsection (1)(b), or

(b) if there has been more than one such person, the last before the buyer acquired asset X.

(6) In this section references to asset X include—

(a) two or more assets which together make up asset X, and

(b) one asset from which, or two or more assets from the combination of which, asset X is derived.

(7) For the purposes of subsection (4), if the previous trader incurred expenditure on the acquisition or bringing into existence of one or more assets from which asset X is derived, QE is so much of that expenditure as—

(a) was qualifying expenditure for the purposes of this Part, and

(b) is just and reasonable to attribute to asset X;

and a similar apportionment is to be made to arrive at A and B.

(8) This section does not affect any expenditure that is treated as qualifying expenditure on mineral exploration and access under—

• section 407(5) (acquisition of mineral asset owned by previous trader), or

• section 408(2) (acquisition of oil licence from non-trader).

412 Transfers of mineral assets within group: limit is initial group expenditure

(1) Subject to section 413, this section applies if—

(a) a company (“the buyer”) incurs capital expenditure on acquiring a mineral asset (“asset X”) from another company (“the seller”), and

(b) the seller is a group company in relation to the buyer at the time of the acquisition.

(2) The buyer’s expenditure on acquiring asset X is to be left out of account for the purposes of this Part to the extent that it exceeds—

(a) the capital expenditure incurred by the seller on acquiring asset X, or

(b) if asset X is an interest or right granted by the seller in a mineral asset acquired by the seller (“asset Y”), so much of the capital expenditure incurred by the seller on asset Y as on a just and reasonable apportionment is referable to asset X.

(3) If there is a sequence of acquisitions within subsection (1), apply subsection (2) in the same sequence (starting with the first acquisition in the sequence).

(4) Subsections (5) to (7) apply if—

(a) the buyer is carrying on a mineral extraction trade, and

(b) the asset is an interest in land.

(5) Section 404 (exclusion of undeveloped market value of land) applies to the buyer as if the time of the buyer’s acquisition of the interest in land were—

(a) the time of the seller’s acquisition of the interest, or

(b) if there is a sequence of acquisitions within subsection (1), the time when the interest was acquired by the company which is the seller in the first acquisition in the sequence.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), section 405 (qualifying expenditure where buildings or structures cease to be used) applies to the buyer as if the time of the buyer’s acquisition of the interest in land were the time of the seller’s acquisition of the interest.

(7) If there is a sequence of acquisitions within subsection (1), section 405 applies as if—

(a) the time of the acquisition were the time when the interest was acquired by the company which is the seller in the first acquisition in the sequence, but

(b) the allowances and balancing charges to be taken into account in calculating (under section 405(3)) the unrelieved value of the buildings or structures included any allowances or charges made to or on any seller in the sequence.

413 Transfers of mineral assets within group: supplementary

(1) For the purposes of section 412, a company is a group company in relation to another company if—

(a) it controls, or is controlled by, the other company, or

(b) both companies are under the control of another person.

(2) Section 412 does not apply if—

(a) section 410 (UK oil licences: limit is original licence payment) applies to the acquisition, or

(b) the acquisition is a sale in respect of which an election is made under section 569 (election to treat sale as being for an alternative amount).

(3) Section 412 applies regardless of section 568 (sales between connected persons etc., or to obtain tax advantage, treated as at market value).

(4) Section 412 does not affect any expenditure that is treated as qualifying expenditure on mineral exploration and access under—

• section 407(5) (acquisition of mineral asset owned by previous trader), or

• section 408(2) (acquisition of oil licence from non-trader).