440 Surcharge on undistributed investment and estate income

Summary

This section provides for an additional charge of corporation tax (referred to as a “surcharge”) on close companies at the rate of 20 per cent of the excess of the aggregate of the distributable investment income and the distributable estate income over the distributions made for an accounting period. There is no surcharge where the excess is €2,000 (€635 for accounting periods ending on or before 31 December 2012) or less and marginal relief is provided where the excess is slightly more. There are provisions to prevent the relief being abused by the setting up of a number of associated companies.

The amount on which the surcharge is made is not to exceed the accumulated undistributed income at the end of the accounting period with the addition of any transfers to capital reserves, bonus issues or other transactions on or after 27 November, 1975 which would reduce the accumulated income available for distribution.

Section 434 provides for the definition of terms used in this section and for the calculation of the various amounts referred to (and should be referred to in calculating any surcharge).

Details

(1)(a) An additional charge of corporation tax at the rate of 20 per cent is imposed on the excess of the distributable estate and investment income over the distributions for the accounting period.

(1)(b) There is no surcharge where the excess, in the case of a single company or a group of associated companies, does not exceed €2,000 (€635 for accounting periods ending on or before 31 December 2012). Marginal relief is provided where the excess is somewhat more than €2,000.

(2) The amount on which the surcharge is made cannot exceed the accumulated undistributed income at the end of the accounting period after taking account of any transfer to capital reserves or bonus issues or any other transaction occurring on or after 27 November, 1975 which would have the effect of artificially reducing such accumulated income.

(3) In applying subsection (1) to an accounting period, a dormant associated company is to be disregarded if it was dormant throughout the accounting period (or dormant throughout the entire part of the accounting period for which it was associated).

(4) An associated company must be counted for the purposes of the surcharge even if it was an associated company for part only of the accounting period concerned. Two or more associated companies of another company are to be counted even if they were associated with that other company for different parts of the period.

(6) The surcharge is to be charged for the earliest accounting period which ends at a time which is 12 months or more after the end of the accounting period in which the surcharge arose. The surcharge is treated as corporation tax of that period. If, however, there is no such later accounting period, the surcharge is to be charged for the accounting period in which it arises.

(7) The corporation tax provisions regarding assessment and collection apply to the surcharge.

(8) A company aggrieved by an assessment made under this section may appeal the assessment by notice in writing to the Appeal Commissioners. An appeal must be within 30 days after the date of the notice of assessment. The Appeal Commissioners will hear and determine an appeal in the manner provided for in Part 40A of the Act.

A company may not appeal if they have not filed a self assessed return and paid the amount due in accordance with their own self assessment, (where the person was required to file a return).

Relevant Date: Finance Act 2021