Summer Budget 2015: Simplification of consortium relief rules

Consortium relief is a form a group relief which can provide loss relief within groups of companies where there is a less than 75% interest between subsidiary and parent.  The new rules expand the number of groups this relief can apply to.

Broadly, where a group of companies have at least a 75% shareholding interest connection in each other they will form a group relief group and any losses arising can be allocated around the group to minimise the UK corporation tax charge. 

A consortium company is one which is more than 75% owned by other companies each with at least 5% holdings (referred to as consortium members).  Consortium companies and consortium members can relieve losses arising between each other to reduce their overall UK corporation tax charge, this is commonly referred to as consortium relief.

Previously if a non-UK (or EEA) resident company (referred to as a link company) existed between the consortium member and the consortium company consortium loss relief would not be available. 

The summer 2015 budget has announced that for groups with a financial year stating on or after 10 December 2014 the link company can be resident anywhere in the world and consortium relief will still be available between UK consortium members and UK consortium companies. For international groups this change may mean that loss relief is more widely available going forward.