CG25392A - Remittance basis: accounts denominated in foreign currencies - restriction of certain losses

Examples
Example A1
Example A2
Example B1
Example B1

Special computational rules were introduced by TCGA92/Sch8A and are effective from 16/12/2009. These corrected a gap in the existing CGT rules for foreign currency bank accounts (FBCAs). These rules cease to apply on 5 April 2012 following amendments to TCGA92/S252.

A foreign currency bank account is an asset within the scope of CGT (CG78320+) and a withdrawal of funds from a FCBA constitutes a disposal (or part-disposal) of the account on which a capital gain or loss arises.

When a remittance is made from a FBCA the withdrawal of funds also represents consideration for disposal of the whole or part of the FBCA for CGT purposes. Prior to 16/12/2009 Section 37 TCGA applied in this situation to exclude from the calculation of the capital gain or loss arising on disposal (or part-disposal) of the FCBA the whole of, or the relevant part of, the withdrawal that was taxable as remitted income.

The exclusion of consideration from the capital gains computation under section 37 could produce an anomalous result. For example:

An individual paid salary in foreign currency of FC 40,000

In year 1 this is paid into a FCBA abroad.

FC1.00 = £0.50. So for CGT purposes, the cost of acquiring the FCBA is £20,000.

In year 2 he transfers the whole FC 40,000 to the UK.

At this point FC1.00 = £0.60 and he receives a credit of £24,000 in his UK sterling bank account.

For income tax purposes the taxable amount is £24,000 (the value of FC40,000 at the time of remittance). For CGT purposes the computation was as follows:

- Amount
Consideration for disposal of the FCBA £24,000
Less exclusion under section 37 TCGA £24,000
- Nil
Acquisition cost £20,000
Loss £20,000

This loss for CGT purposes is excessive, because the individual has incurred no real loss in these circumstances. It arose because the TCGA rules adjust the consideration for the disposal of the FCBA, but there is no requirement to remove the relevant income element from the allowable cost of the FCBA. The loss is an arithmetical anomaly.

Sch8A TCGA 1992 applies from 16/12/2009 to remove this anomaly.

The calculation of the gain or loss is now calculated as follows:

  • Look at the total remittance and identify the part of the withdrawal that is taxable as remitted income. This is called ‘the section 37 amount’.
  • Then proceed under A or B below, depending on whether the amount remitted is wholly or partially the section 37 amount.

There were further changes introduced from 6 April 2012 for foreign currency bank accounts and guidance is from CG78320 onwards.

A - Remittance is wholly the section 37 amount

  1. Where the section 37 amount is the whole of the balance on the account, the loss arising on the disposal will not be an allowable loss for CGT purposes.
  2. Where the section 37 amount is only part of the balance on the account, do not apply the normal part-disposal formula in section 42 TCGA. Instead:
  • Apportion the allowable cost of the account between the part disposed of and the remainder in proportion to the amounts withdrawn and retained. The loss on the disposal will not be an allowable loss for CGT purposes.

B - Remittance is partially the section 37 amount

  1. Treat the disposal as two disposals, one comprising the section 37 amount and the other comprising the balance of the remittance.

Where the two disposals are of the whole of the balance on the account, so there is altogether a full disposal of the account:

  • Apportion the allowable cost of the account between the two disposals in proportion to the sums comprised in each disposal and compute the gain or loss on each disposal accordingly.
  • The loss arising on the disposal related to the section 37 amount will not be an allowable loss for CGT purposes and the gain or loss arising on the other disposal will be chargeable or allowable in the normal way.
  1. Where the two disposals together comprise only part of the account, so that there is a part-disposal of the account do not apply the normal part-disposal formula in section 42 TCGA. Instead:
  • Apportion the allowable cost of the account between the two disposals and the remainder in proportion to the sums comprised in each disposal and the balance remaining in the account and compute the gain or loss on each disposal accordingly.
  • The loss arising on the disposal related to the section 37 amount will not be an allowable loss for CGT purposes and the gain or loss arising on the other disposal will be chargeable or allowable in the normal way.

Examples

Example A1

A1. Account contains foreign currency (FC) 20,000, cost £10,000. FC 20,000 is taken from the account and remitted at the same time when its value is £12,000. The entire remittance is chargeable to income tax.

There is no split between a section 37 amount and another amount because section 37 applies to the whole remittance.

- Amount Amount
Gross consideration - £12,000
Less section 37 adjustment - £12,000
Net consideration - Nil
Allowable expenditure £10,000 -
Loss - (£10,000)

Loss of £10,000 is not an allowable loss.

Example A2

A2. Account contains FC 50,000, cost £40,000. FC 30,000 is remitted when its value is £18,000. The entire remittance is chargeable to income tax.

There is no split between a section 37 amount and another amount because the section 37 amount relates to the whole remittance.

Expenditure is allocated pro-rata:

- Amount
To the section 37 amount, 30/50 x £40,000 = £24,000
To the remainder, 20/50 x £40,000 = £16,000

The section 37 amount computation:

- Amount
Gross consideration £18,000
Less section 37 adjustment £18,000
Net consideration Nil
Expenditure £24,000
Loss (£24,000)

Loss of £24,000 is not an allowable loss.

The allowable expenditure remaining for the balance of the bank account is £16,000, apportioned as above.

Example B1

B1. Account contains FC 30,000, cost £30,000. FC 30,000 is remitted when its value is £27,000, of which FC 20,000, with a value of £18,000, is chargeable to income tax.

The section 37 amount is £18,000 (representing FC 20,000). Non-section 37 amount is £9,000 (representing FC 10,000).

Expenditure is allocated pro rata:

- Amount
To the section 37 amount 20/30 x £30,000 = £20,000
To non-section 37 amount 10/30 x £30,000 = £10,000

The section 37 amount computation:

- Amount
Gross consideration £18,000
Less section 37 adjustment £18,000
Net consideration Nil
Allocated expenditure £20,000
Loss (£20,000)

Loss of £20,000 is not an allowable loss.

Non-section 37 amount computation:

- Amount Amount
Consideration - £9,000
Allowable expenditure £10,000 -
Loss - (£1,000)

Loss of £1,000 is allowable in the normal way.

Example B2

B2. Account contains FC 200,000, cost £160,000. FC 120,000 is remitted when its value is £120,000, of which FC 20,000, with a value £20,000, is chargeable to income tax.

The remittance is split between a section 37 amount of £20,000 (representing FC 20,000) and a non-section 37 amount of £100,000 (representing FC 100,000).

The part-disposal A/(A+B) formula does not apply. Instead, expenditure is allocated pro-rata:

- Amount Amount
To the section 37 amount, 20/200 x £160,000 = £16,000 -
To the non-section 37 amount, 100/200 x £160,000 - = £80,000
To the remainder, 80/200 x £160,000 - = £64,000

The section 37 amount computation:

- Amount
Gross consideration £20,000
Less section 37 adjustment £20,000
Net consideration Nil
Expenditure £16,000
Loss (£16,000)

Loss of £16,000 is not an allowable loss.

Non-section 37 amount computation:

- Amount Amount
Consideration - £100,000
Allowable expenditure £80,000 -
Chargeable gain - £20,000

Total chargeable gain £20,000.

The allowable expenditure remaining for the balance of the bank account is £64,000, apportioned as above.