Finance Bill 2018

For taxation purposes, Capital Allowances are deemed to be amounts a business can deduct from its profits in respect of “qualifying Capital Expenditure” which was incurred on the provision of certain assets (i.e. plant and machinery) used for the purposes of the trade.

As depreciation is not allowable for the purposes of calculating tax, Capital Allowances allow the taxpayer to write off the cost of the asset over a certain period of time.

The 2018 Finance Act introduced the following amendments to Capital Allowances as follows:

Accelerated Capital Allowances for Energy-Efficient Equipment

Section 285A TCA 1997 came into effect on 9^th October 2008 to provide relief to companies purchasing energy efficient equipment for the purposes of their trade.

This Capital Allowance Relief was provided in the form of a deduction which equalled 100% of the value of the equipment in the year of purchase provided certain conditions were met (see Schedule 4A TCA 1997).  In other words, this relief reduces the taxable profits, in year one, by the full amount incurred on the purchase of the equipment.

Finance Act 2017 amended the definition of “relevant period.”  As a result, the qualifying period was extended until 31^st December 2020.

On 14^th February 2018, Revenue issued eBrief No. 22/2018 confirming that the Tax and Duty Manual has been updated to reflect the extension of the relief to 31st December 2020.

Section 17 FA 2018 contains further amendments to the scheme.

It sets out criteria as to which products qualify for accelerated wear and tear allowances.

To qualify for the relief, the equipment must be new.

Section 17 FA 2018 makes reference to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) being allowed to establish and maintain a list of energy-efficient equipment under the scheme.  In summary, in order for energy equipment to qualify for the accelerated capital allowances, it must appear on the SEAI list.  These amendments remove the requirement for government to issue Statutory Instruments, on a regular basis, setting out the criteria for “qualifying assets.”

This section of legislation comes into operation on 1st January 2019.

Energy-efficient equipment that has not been approved but is deemed to be plant and machinery can of the normal wear and tear allowances being 12½% over an eight year period.

Capital allowances on childcare and fitness centre equipment and buildings

Section 12 Finance Act 2017 introduced a new accelerated capital allowances regime for capital expenditure incurred on the purchase of equipment and buildings used for the purposes of providing childcare services or fitness centre facilities to employees.

The section amended the Taxes Consolidation Acts 1997 to include two new sections: s285B TCA 1997 and s843B TCA 1997.

The Relief was subject to a Commencement Order which was never issued.

Section 19 of Finance Act 2018 amends Parts 9 and 36 as well as Schedule 25B of the TCA 1997.

The scheme commences from 1^st January 2019.

Finance Act 2018 amends the definition of “qualifying expenditure” making the relief available to all employers, as opposed to just those carrying on a trade which wholly/mainly involves childcare services or the provision of facilities in a fitness centre.   In other words, the relief will be available to all employers since the restriction that the relief is only available to trades consisting wholly/mainly of the provision of childcare services or fitness facilities has been removed.

Where a person has incurred “qualifying expenditure” on “qualifying plant or machinery” a 100% wear and tear allowance is allowed in the year in which the equipment is first used in the business under Section 285B TCA 1997.

Section 843B TCA 1997 allows employers to claim accelerated industrial buildings allowances of 15% for six years and 10% for the seventh year in relation to capital expenditure incurred on the construction of “qualifying premises” i.e. qualifying expenditure on a building or structure in use for the purpose of providing childcare services or fitness centre facilities to employees of the company.

The facilities must be for the exclusive use of the employees and can be neither accessible nor available for use by the general public.

The relief will not be available to commercial childcare or fitness businesses nor will it be available to investors.

Accelerated Capital Allowances for gas vehicles and refuelling equipment

Section 18 Finance Act 2018 introduced accelerated allowances for gas vehicles and refuelling equipment which provides for an accelerated capital allowances rate of 100% on “qualifying expenditure” incurred between 1^st January 2019 and 31^st December 2021.  This section amends the Tax Consolidation Act of 1997 by inserting Section 285C.

Qualifying expenditure is defined as capital expenditure incurred during the relevant period on the provision of “qualifying refuelling equipment” or “qualifying vehicles” used for the purposes of carrying on a trade.

“Qualifying refuelling equipment” includes the following:

• a storage tank for gaseous fuel
• a compressor, pump, control or meter used for the purposes of refuelling gas vehicles or
• equipment for supplying gaseous fuel to the fuel tank of a gas vehicle.

The equipment in question must be new and installed at a gas refuelling station

“Qualifying vehicle” is defined as a gas vehicle, which is constructed or adapted for:

• the conveyance of goods or burden of any description
• the haulage by road of other vehicles or
• the carriage of passengers.

The vehicles in question must be new and do not include private passenger cars.

This section comes into operation on 1^st January 2019.

Disclaimer This article is for guidance purposes only. Please be aware that it does not constitute professional advice. No liability is accepted by Accounts Advice Centre for any action taken or not taken based on the information contained in this article. Specific, independent professional advice, should always be obtained in line with the full, complete and unambiguous facts of each individual situation before any action is taken or not taken.  Any and all information is subject to change.