VCM53030 | VCT: investor CG deferral relief: which investments qualify?

TCGA92/SCH5C/PARA1 (2)

To qualify for deferral relief the taxpayer must have received ‘front-end’ income tax relief on the subscription, see VCM51020 onwards. The maximum amount of deferral relief which could be claimed in any one tax year was the total amount subscribed up to £100,000 for shares issued in that one tax year. But a gain of more than £100,000 could be deferred by subscriptions for shares issued in different tax years.

An investor who was unable to obtain the full amount of ‘front-end’ income tax relief available because his or her income tax liability was insufficient could still claim deferral relief on the full amount which would qualify for ‘front-end’ income tax relief. For example, an investor subscribes £100,000 for 100,000 VCT shares which are issued in the same tax year as the subscription is made. Because his or her income tax liability was insufficient the investor’s ‘front-end’ income tax relief is restricted to £12,000 but he or she could claim deferral relief up to the full subscription of £100,000 for shares issued in that tax year.

Deferral relief was not available if the investor’s income tax liability was nil before taking account of ‘front-end’ income tax relief. In these circumstances no ‘front-end’ income tax relief is actually given and as a result deferral relief is not available.