CIRD27050 - Finance leasing of intangible assets: lessors: general
CTA09/PART8/S854 and SI2002/1967
Why special rules are needed
Unlike the position of finance lessees of intangible assets (CIRD27030), CTA09/PART8 would not apply to a finance leased asset in the hands of a finance lessor without modification. In particular this is because such an asset is classified for accounting purposes as a ‘financial asset’ in the hands of the lessor and would therefore be excluded from CTA09/PART8 under the rule described in CIRD25050. That classification follows from the treatment of the finance lessor as a provider of finance rather than the provider of an asset.
The special rules
S854 therefore sets out a regulation-making power to bring finance leased assets within CTA09/PART8 in the hands of lessors and to make special provision for them. These regulations are in SI2002/1967 and are reproduced in CIRD27090.
The regulations:
- take effect from 1 April 2002;
- require an intangible asset to be brought within CTA09/PART8 in the hands of the finance lessor notwithstanding that it is regarded as a financial asset of the lessor under UK generally accepted accounting practice;
- make a number of exclusions from this requirement (CIRD27060);
- modify the computational rules for assets brought within CTA09/PART8 in this way (CIRD27070); and
- provide special rules for the case where a company starts to finance lease an intangible asset, having previously used it for other purposes (CIRD27080).
Definition of finance lease
A finance lease carries its meaning for accounting purposes (see CIRD27020) and includes hire purchase, conditional sale, or other arrangements which have a similar character to a finance lease (and so are accounted for in the same way).
This definition is set out in S853(4) (formerly FA02/SCH29/PARA104 (4), to which the regulations refer).