Taxation logo taxation mission text

Since 1927 the leading authority on tax law, practice and administration

New queries, issue 4207

26 May 2009
Issue: 4207 / Categories: Forum & Feedback
HMRC enquiry in goodwill valuation; dealing with the 50% tax rate; dealing with VAT liabilities of two companies; National Insurance and post office

An amortisation argument

In its year ended 28 February 2005 my client company purchased goodwill and other assets in a general stores business from a partnership. There are no related parties between the director and the partners who sold the business to the company.

The fact that the goodwill had been acquired as part of a new business and was being amortised was explained in a covering letter sent to HMRC with the 2005 accounts.

HMRC have raised an enquiry into accounts for the year ended 28 February 2007 asking for details of the method of valuing goodwill and I have declined to continue correspondence on the grounds that the enquiry is out of time. HMRC says that to verify the validity of the amortisation such details are required.

In my view this should have been looked at within the time limits applying to the 2005 year....

If you or your firm subscribes to Taxation.co.uk, please click the login box below:

If you are not a subscriber but are a registered user or have a free trial, please enter your details in the following boxes:

Alternatively, you can register free of charge to read a limited amount of subscriber content per month.
Once you have registered, you will receive an email directing you back to read this item in full.

Please reach out to customer services at +44 (0) 330 161 1234 or 'customer.services@lexisnexis.co.uk' for further assistance.

back to top icon