CG76792 | Wasting assets: computation: example 2: using the T(2) formula

From HM Revenue & Customs · Capital Gains Manual

TCGA92/S46

Mr S purchases from a descendant the copyright over the memoirs of a writer 20 years after the end of the year in which the writer died. That copyright is, therefore, a wasting asset since it now has a predictable life of fifty years, see CG76723. He pays the descendant £90,000 for it but does not expect it to have any residual value in fifty years’ time.

After five years, Mr S has to take action to prevent a breach of his copyright. This costs him £10,000 in allowable expenditure on legal fees.

He later sells after twenty years for £80,000.

The computation now becomes:

£
Disposal proceeds80,000
LESSAcquisition cost [E(1)]90,000
Reduction as CG7679136,000
Allowable cost54,000
Legal expenses [E(2)]10,000
T(1) - T(2) = 20 - 15 = 5
L - [T(1) - T(2)] = 50 - 5 = 45
E(2) x=10,000x=3,333
L - [T(1) - T(2)]45
6,667
Allowable expenditure60,66760,667
Gain19,333

NOTE. Companies and other concerns within the charge to Corporation Tax may be able to claim indexation allowance, see CG17200C.