For a micro entity (turnover of £10.2 million or less, £5.1 million or less on its balance sheet and 50 employees or less).
Many companies are lucky enough to have large cash balances in their accounts, perhaps from built up profits, needing emergency funds or capital for future investment and the majority will simply let this build in bank accounts paying very little (if any) interest.
The banks know this and given the tax implications of extracting this money from the business often being great, they will often pay no interest what-so-ever!!
So, what can be done? Some types of investments are recognised as being particularly suitable for business’s and therefore interest and growth is returned to the business “tax paid” ensuring no additional liability to you regardless of being a sole trader, partnership or Limited Company.
Here’s how it works:
Other important points:
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For a micro entity (turnover of £10.2 million or less, £5.1 million or less on its balance sheet and 50 employees or less).
The bond is simply shown in the balance sheet at the end of the company’s accounting period at the original premium amount, regardless of the actual surrender value. No annual gain (or loss) is recognised in the company accounts, meaning no corporation tax consequences arise. The company achieves tax deferral until there is a disposal event such as full surrender, partial surrender or death of last life assured.
In this case, the balance sheet at the end of the accounting period will include the bond at its surrender value at that date. That means the movement in value (either a gain or loss) has been processed through the profit and loss account. That movement has corporation tax consequences. The company does not achieve tax deferral since the increase in value will be subject to corporation tax (any decrease is potentially relievable for corporation tax purposes).
‘Micro entities’ can use historic cost accounting for insurance bonds. Larger companies use fair value rules when accounting for insurance bonds.
It had been the case previously that ‘small’ companies used historic cost, with large companies obliged to use fair value. The reason for this was that small companies used a set of less complicated accounting standards known as the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (FRSSE) which permitted historic cost accounting. FRSSE was however withdrawn, meaning the majority of large and medium-sized UK entities now apply FRS 102 (see below) when preparing their annual financial statements. As mentioned above, ‘micro entities’ eg contractor type companies, will use historic cost accounting for insurance bonds.
With a micro entity being small in size, it can enjoy the least complex and comprehensive financial reporting requirements possible by applying FRS 105. Overall, the financial accounts will be straightforward, require limited disclosure of information and will be constrained as regards accounting policies. In particular, no assets can be measured at fair value or a revalued amount. In other words, historic cost will apply. Note that the company may opt up to a more comprehensive accounting regime if it considers that FRS 105 doesn’t meet its needs.
Accounting standards are complex and the recognition of the bond in the accounts is, in every case, a matter for the accountant to determine.
FRS 102 is the main new UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP) standard. It replaces all of the current Financial Reporting Standards (FRSs) and Statement of Standard Accounting Practices (SSAPs).
FRS102 replaces over 70 accounting standards and Urgent Issues Task Force interpretations, spanning more than 2,400 pages with one succinct standard of a little over 300 pages. It reflects developments in the way businesses operate and uses up-to-date accounting treatment and language. In short, FRS102 is concerned with wider issues than insurance bonds.
While format requirements of the Companies Act remain, in many cases the terminology used in FRS 102 differs from old UK GAAP. For example, a profit and loss account is now an “income statement” under FRS102, and a balance sheet is a “statement of financial position”.
Under FRS102, “basic financial instruments” (see the definition of basic financial instruments below) can be valued at historic cost but a typical insurance bond would not fall within the definition. Insurance bonds falling outside the definition of a ‘basic financial instrument’ will be accounted for under the fair value regime.
When the company makes a part or full disposal, this is called a ‘related transaction’. The profit (or loss) on that is treated as a non-trading credit (NTC) or a non-trading debit (NTD). Where the bond in question is onshore, then relief is obtained for the basic rate tax deemed paid within the fund. This amounts to 25% of the NTC profit on disposal. That amount can be offset against the company’s overall corporation tax liability for the accounting period in question. If it exceeds the company’s tax liability then the excess is not repayable and neither can it be set off against any prior or future accounting periods.
There is a category of businesses called ‘small entities’. A company will qualify if it does not exceed two or more of the following criteria:
These entities are required to use the FRS102 accounting rules outlined above (ie fair value for a typical insurance bond) but have reduced presentation and disclosure requirements
Very small companies (eg contractor type companies) can continue with historic cost. A company qualifies if it doesn’t exceed two or more of the following criteria:
Under this regime, no assets can be measured at fair value or a revalued amount and instead must be held at cost.
Do the normal bond chargeable event rules apply to companies?
No. Following Finance Act 2008, the loan relationship rules apply and not chargeable event gain rules (5%s do not apply to companies). As mentioned above, the loan relationship rules have a much wider remit that just investment bonds.
Offshore bonds
The examples below consider a company investing in a UK bond. If the company invests offshore then the position is as follows.
In the same manner as a UK bond, under fair value rules, any increase in value will be subject to corporation tax with any decrease potentially relievable for corporation tax purposes. When the company makes a full or part disposal and a profit arises, there will be no grossing up of that profit required and accordingly no tax treated as paid for offset against the company’s corporation tax liability. This is logical, as that mechanism is in place simply to give the company a measure of relief similar to the basic rate tax treated as paid on chargeable event gains on UK policies owned by non-corporates (ie individuals and trustees).
If a micro entity invests in an offshore bond, then how is that taxed under historic cost rules? As with a UK bond, no annual gain (or loss) is recognised in the company accounts, meaning no corporation tax consequences arise. When the company makes a full or part disposal and a profit arises, then no ‘basic rate’ adjustment mechanism is required and that profit is taxable at the prevailing corporation tax rates.
Fair Value Ltd has an accounting date of 31 March. In September 2016 it invests £200,000 in a UK bond which is valued at £220,000 by 31 March 2017.
Accounting Period Ended (APE) 31 March 2017 - bond valued at £220,000
- Non-trading credit (NTC) £20,000 x 20% = £4,000
APE 31 March 2018 - bond valued at £215,000
- Non-trading debit (NTD) £5,000 (no tax payable)
In October 2018 the company surrenders 50% for £120,000 when the bond is worth £240,000. By 31 March 2019, bond is valued at £127,500
APE 31 March 2019
50% of bond surrendered for proceeds of £120,000
50% of value at 31 March 2018 (£107,500)
NTC on part surrender £12,500
Also there is an overall profit of £20,000 (50% yielded proceeds of £120,000 yet 50% of premium cost £100,000). Gross up @ 100/80 = £25,000. Therefore tax credit = £5,000
Annual movement £127,500 less 50% of £215,000 = £20,000
Total NTCs £12,500 + £5,000 + £20,000 = £37,500
@ 19% = £7,125
Tax credit (£5,000)
Tax due £2,125
Reconciliation
31 March 2017 - tax paid £4,000
31 March 2018 - tax relieved against other profits (£950)
31 March 2019 - tax paid £2,125
In total the company has so far suffered £5,175 corporation tax.
No tax will have been payable on the encashment due to the tax paid within the fund. So the company should only have paid tax on the overall growth. At 31 March 2019 the bond is worth £127,500. Bearing in mind that only 50% of the bond remains in force, then how much was 50% of original premium? The answer is £100,000. Therefore, since inception the 50% remaining in the bond has grown by £27,500 and if corporation tax rates had remained at 20% then that would have given rise to a figure of £5,500 tax suffered. The tax suffered was only £5,175, and the reduction of £325 can be explained as follows:
31 March 2018 – (£5,000) relieved at 19% rather than 20% = (£50)
31 March 2019 – £37,500 taxed at 19% rather than 20% = £375
Difference £325
Example continued – encashing a bond
Now let’s assume that Fair Value Ltd encashes the bond in April 2019 for £127,500. The bond has therefore not changed in value since 31 March 2019. This disposal occurs in APE 31 March 2020.
The full surrender is called a ‘related transaction’. This means we recognise the fact that the life fund has suffered tax at a rate equal to basic rate.
We must calculate ‘PC’ which is the profit from the contract.
PC equals proceeds of £127,500 less £100,000 (50% of original cost) = £27,500
PC is also obtained by summing the previous NTCs & NTD shown in Appendix II = £20,000 less £5,000 plus £12,500 = £27,500
PC must be grossed up to reflect the tax suffered within the fund
Corporation tax due on the NTC = £6,875 x 19% = £1,306
Tax treated as paid = (£6,875)
Available for offset = £5,569
The company invested £200,000 and it has received proceeds of £120,000 plus £127,500. Total gain therefore of £47,500. Given that this is an onshore bond then the company would not expect to pay any corporate tax due to the tax suffered within the fund.
31 March 2017 - £4,000 tax paid
31 March 2018 - (£950) tax relieved against other profits
31 March 2019 - £2,125 tax paid
31 March 2020 - (£5,569) tax relieved against other profits
Total (£394)
If corporation tax rates had remained at 20% then the above total would have reconciled to zero. This would have been achieved as follows:
31 March 2017 - £4,000 tax paid
31 March 2018 - (£1,000) tax relieved against other profits
31 March 2019 - £2,500 tax paid
31 March 2020 - (£5,500) tax relieved against other profits
Total (£Nil)
Example continued – identical investment but historic cost accounting
Let’s now consider the exact same bond purchase and surrender as was the case for Fair Value Ltd, but let’s assume a micro entity using historic cost accounting.
Micro Entity Ltd also has an accounting date of 31 March. In September 2016 it too invests £200,000 in a UK bond. In October 2018 it also surrenders 50% for £120,000 when bond is worth £240,000. And it also encashes the bond in April 2019 for £127,500.
APE 31 March 2017 – changes in value during an accounting period are not recognised under historic cost accounting. Therefore no tax consequences.
APE 31 March 2018 – changes in value during an accounting period are not recognised under historic cost accounting. Therefore no tax consequences.
APE 31 March 2019 – gain of £20,000 but no corporation tax due as a result of tax suffered within the fund.
APE 31 March 2020 – gain of £27,500 but no corporation tax due as a result of tax suffered within the fund.
Definition of a basic financial instrument
An insurance bond would need to satisfy the following conditions contained in 11.9 of FRS102
An insurance bond would need to satisfy the following conditions contained in 11.9 of FRS102
(a) Returns to the holder are:
(i) a fixed amount;
(ii) a fixed rate of return over the life of the instrument;
(iii) a variable return that, throughout the life of the instrument, is equal to a single referenced quoted or observable interest rate (such as LIBOR); or
(iv) some combination of such fixed rate and variable rates (such as LIBOR plus 200 basis points), provided that both the fixed and variable rates are positive (eg an interest rate swap with a positive fixed rate and negative variable rate would not meet this criterion). For fixed and variable rate interest returns, interest is calculated by multiplying the rate for the applicable period by the principal amount outstanding during the period.
(b) There is no contractual provision that could, by its terms, result in the holder losing the principal amount or any interest attributable to the current period or prior periods. The fact that a debt instrument is subordinated to other debt instruments is not an example of such a contractual provision.
(c) Contractual provisions that permit the issuer (the borrower) to prepay a debt instrument or permit the holder (the lender) to put it back to the issuer before maturity are not contingent on future events other than to protect:
(i) the holder against the credit deterioration of the issuer (eg defaults, credit downgrades or loan covenant violations), or a change in control of the issuer; or
(ii) the holder or issuer against changes in relevant taxation or law.
(d) There are no conditional returns or repayment provisions except for the variable rate return described in (a) and prepayment provisions described in (c).
For some further key points on investing as a ltd company click here!
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