HMRC has published guidance on its views on the recent changes to the tax rules in relation to company windings up.

The Finance Act 2016 introduced a new Targeted Anti-Avoidance Rule (TAAR) to prevent "phoenixism" – broadly where solvent companies are liquidated so that shareholders dispose of their shares to realise a Capital Gains Tax charge rather than paying income tax on the profits that would otherwise be distributed.

The new rules will broadly apply where:

  • individuals hold 5% in the company immediately before winding up;
  • the company was a close company at any point in the two years ending with the winding up;
  • the individual received the distribution and continues to carry on the same trade (whether directly or through a partnership, or a company in which they hold at least 5% of the shares) within two years of the distribution; and
  • avoidance of income tax is the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of the winding up.

The new rules also apply to distributions from a non-resident company that is wound up.

The new guidance can be found here.

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