HC Deb 24 March 1986 vol 94 cc726-8

Resolved, That the following provisions shall have effect for the period beginning 25th March 1986 and ending 31 days after the earliest of the dates mentioned in section 50(2) of the Finance Act 1973 (1) In section 55 of the Finance Act 1927 and in section 4 of the Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1928 (reconstructions and amalgamations) in paragraph (B) of subsection (1) for the words "not be chargeable" there shall be substituted the words "be chargeable at the rate mentioned in subsection (9) of this section" and for the words "nor shall any such duty be chargeable" there shall be substituted the word "or".

(2) In consequence, each of those sections shall be further amended as follows—

  1. (a) at the beginning of paragraph (B) of subsection (1) there shall be inserted the words "If a claim is made under this section";
  2. (b) in paragraph (a) of the proviso to subsection (1) the words from "either it" to "liable or" and from "either that" to "duty or" shall be omitted, and in paragraph (c) of that proviso the words "for exemption" shall be omitted;
  3. (c) in subsection (2) for the words "for exemption under paragraph (B) of subsection (1) of" there shall be substituted the word "under";
  4. (d) in subsection (5) the words "for exemption" shall be omitted;
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  6. (e) in subsection (6), in paragraph (a) the words "for expemption from duty" shall be omitted, in paragraph (c) for the word "exemption" there shall be substituted the word "claim", and in the words following paragraph (c) for the word "exemption" there shall be substituted the word "claim", for the word "remitted" (in the first place where it occurs) there shall be substituted the word "unpaid" and the words from "in the case of duty remitted under paragraph (A)" to "the said subsection" shall he omitted;
  7. (f) in subsection (7) for the words "for exemption from duty under subsection (1) of" there shall be substituted the word "under", for the words "such exemption" there shall be substituted the words "such a claim to be allowed" and for the words "have been remitted" there shall be substituted the words "not have been chargeable".

(3) At the end of each of those sections there shall be inserted— (9) The rate is the rate of 50p for every £100 or part of £100 of the amount or value of the consideration for the sale to which the instrument gives effect.

(4) In paragraph 12 of Schedule 18 to the Finance Act 1980 (demergers) for sub-paragraph (1) there shall be substituted— (1) If a document executed solely for the purpose of effecting an exempt distribution is chargeable with stamp duty under the heading 'Conveyance or Transfer on Sale' in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891, the rate at which the duty is charged under that heading shall be the rate of 50p for every £100 or part of £100 of the amount or value of the consideration for the sale to which the document gives effect. (1A) If a document executed solely for the purpose of effecting an exempt distribution is chargeable with stamp duty under the heading "Conveyance or Transfer on Sale" in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891, it shall not be treated as duly stamped unless it is stamped in accordance with section 12 of the Stamp Act 1891 with a particular stamp denoting that it is duly stamped.

(5) In paragraph 12(3) of Schedule 18 to the Finance Act 1980 for the words "this paragraph" there shall be substituted the words "sub-paragraph (2) above".

(6) In section 78 of the Finance Act 1985 (takeovers) the following shall be substituted for subsection (2)— (2) If the instrument transferring the shares in company B by way of the exchange is chargeable with stamp duty under the heading 'Conveyance or Transfer on Sale' in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891, the rate at which the duty is charged under that heading shall be the rate of 50p for every £100 or part of £100 of the amount or value of the consideration for the sale to which the instrument gives effect.

(7) In section 79 of the Finance Act 1985 (voluntary winding-up: transfer of shares) the following shall be substituted for subsection (2)— (2) If the instrument transferring the shares in company B to company A is chargeable with stamp duty under the heading 'Conveyance or Transfer on Sale' in Schedule 1 to the Stamp Act 1891, the rate at which the duty is charged under that heading shall be the rate of 50p for every £100 or part of £100 of the amount or value of the consideration for the sale to which the instrument gives effect.

(8) In section 78 and in section 79 of the Finance Act 1985

  1. (a) in subsection (3) for the word "ignored" there shall be substituted the words "treated as reduced by 50 per cent.";
  2. (b) subsection (9) shall be omitted;
  3. (c) in subsection (10) for "(3)" there shall be substituted "(2) or (3)".

(9) This Resolution applies to any instrument which is executed after 24th March 1986 unless—

  1. (a) it is executed in pursuance of an unconditional contract made on or before 18th March 1986, or
  2. (b) it transfers stock or marketable securities and is executed in pursuance of a general offer (for the stock or securities) which became unconditional as to acceptances on or before 18th March 1986.

And it is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution should have statutory effect under the provisions of section 50 of the Finance Act 1973.