Introduction Background Note
27.Capital allowances allow the cost of capital assets to be written off against taxable profits. Not all expenditure qualifies for allowances.
28.BPRA aims to bring long-term vacant business properties in disadvantaged areas back into business use. It does this by providing a 100 per cent capital allowance for the capital costs incurred of renovating, converting or repairing certain business properties that have been unused for at least a year in assisted areas of the United Kingdom. A writing down allowance of 25 per cent on the straight line basis is also available, where the 100 per cent initial allowance is not claimed, or not claimed in full. It therefore offers both an enhanced rate of allowance and a relief for otherwise irrecoverable expenditure.
29.Following an increase in DOTAS (Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes) disclosures involving BPRA (which appeared to contain features aimed at exploiting the relief in ways that Parliament had not intended), a written ministerial statement by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury was published on 18 July 2013 authorising HMRC to conduct a technical review of the BPRA legislation with a view to making its policy purpose clearer, more certain in its application and at the same time reducing the risk of exploitation. Following the publication of that statement, HMRC published a Technical Note inviting comments on legislative proposals, with a view to introducing new legislation in 2014.
30.Following the responses to the Technical Note, draft legislation was published in December for consultation. Following that consultation the section published in December has been amended to address some of the concerns expressed. This section clarifies the expenditure eligible for relief. It also requires that where expenditure is incurred for works and services to be carried out over a period of time, or in the future, those works and services must be complete within 36 month to prevent some, or all, the relief given in respect of the expenditure being withdrawn.
31.The section also includes a provision designed to ensure that BPRA remains fully compliant with the GBER rules about the cumulation of State aid, and ensures that businesses can only claim BPRA or another State aid but not both.
32.The legislation presently prevents a balancing adjustment being made if certain balancing events take place more than seven years after the time when the qualifying building was first used or suitable for letting. This period will be reduced to five years.