Introduction Background Note
7.A company is defined as ‘close’ in Corporation Act 2010 (CTA 2010) if it is controlled by five or fewer participators or any number of directors who are participators, or if more than half the company’s assets would be distributed to five or fewer participators or to any number of directors in a winding up. Section 442 CTA 2010 provides that a company is not treated as a close company if it is not UK resident.
8.The change to the definition of a close company for the purposes of this relief has been made to ensure that the legislation is compatible with EU law.
9.The addition of the definition of ‘close investment-holding company’ is made because section 34 CTA 2010 is to be repealed as a result of the adoption of a single rate of corporation tax for companies (other than those with oil and gas ring fence profits) from Financial Year 2015.