Registered social landlords |
Address
The Pre Budget Report announced that the changes to the partial exemption special method regime proposed in the 2006 Budget will come into effect on 1 April 2007.
Under these proposals taxpayers are required to sign a declaration that any proposed special method is ‘fair and reasonable’ before HM Revenue & Customs (‘HMRC’) will give approval for its use.
Previously HMRC would have approved a partial exemption special method without such a declaration being signed by a taxpayer. The new declaration procedure means that, if at any time HMRC find a “fair and reasonable” declaration made by the taxpayer to be incorrect, they can serve a notice to override the partial exemption method from its effective date (subject to the three year cap).
This will apply to all methods agreed with HMRC on or after 1 April 2007. This means businesses that have not concluded their negotiations with HMRC regarding the operation of a partial exemption special method before 1 April 2007 will be required to make this declaration (as well as those businesses that begin the process after 1 April 2007).
In respect of what is ‘fair and reasonable’, in many cases there is likely to be a range of possible methods that will provide a fair and reasonable result. The taxpayer must then consider objectively whether a method is fair and reasonable even where HMRC have previously consented to, or opposed, the use of similar methods.
For further information, download our publication below.



Registered Social Landlords