Farmers' averaging profits

A look at the rules relating to the averaging profits of farmers

The rules relating to the averaging profits of farmers and creative artists are in Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (ITOIA 2005), Part 2 Chapter 16 s.221 to s.225.

Farmers and market gardeners in the UK may obtain relief by averaging the profits of consecutive years.

The rules relating to the averaging profits of farmers and creative artists are in Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005 (ITOIA 2005), Part 2 Chapter 16 s 221 to s 225.

Farmers and market gardeners in the UK may obtain relief by averaging the profits of consecutive years.

These rules were originally introduced because it was felt that farmers were suffering from a high effective rate of income taxation, mainly because of fluctuations in profits caused by the weather and increasing influence of world market prices.  

Averaging may help farmers who pay tax at the basic rate one year and higher rate the next, or farmers who are liable to tax in one year but are not liable in the next year.

Farming is defined in Income Tax Act 2007 s 996 as being the occupation of land wholly or mainly for the purposes of husbandry but excluding any market gardening.

Companies, including corporate partners, may not claim farmers' averaging, nor may any other body which is chargeable to corporation tax. Averaging cannot be made in respect of a tax year in which a trade commences or is permanently discontinued.

Claims for the relief must be made within 22 months of the end of the second year of assessment concerned. This means that claims for 2012/13 and 2013/14 must be made by 31 January 2016.

The relief takes the form of averaging the profits of two consecutive years of assessment if the lower of the two profit figures does not exceed 70% of the higher profit figure, or if one of the years has a loss (or nil profits).

There is also a marginal relief which can be claimed when the difference between the profits of two years is not quite enough to qualify for full averaging.

Assessments are computed by averaging the adjusted trading profits and treating the average figure as the trading profit for each of the two years.

Once a claim has been made in respect of any two years, then the averaged figure for the later year must be used in making the claim for averaging with the year next following, and so on. It is profits net of capital allowances (but before loss relief) which are averaged.

Averaging does not apply in calculating profits using the cash basis for small businesses.

Example: normal averaging

Mr Farmer has been farming for many years. 

Mr Farmer adjusted taxable profits are as follows:

Year ended

31.12.2010    £50,000

31.12.2011    £20,000

31.12.2012    (£22,000) loss

31.12.2013    £17,000

31.12.2014    £40,000

The original asset would be as follows:

2010/11Originaly/e31.12.2010£50,000 
 Originaly/e31.12.2011£20,000 
    ÷2 
2010/11Final   £35,000
 Averagey/e

31.12.2011£35,000 
 Originaly/e

31.12.2012Nil 
    ÷2 
2011/12Final   £17,500
Loss reliefs64ITA 2007  (£17,500)
     Nil
2012/13Averagey/e31.12.2012£17,500 
 Originaly/e31.12.2013£17,000 

No averaging since £17,000 is 97% of £17,500.

2012/13Final   £17,500
Less remaining lossOriginal £4,400 (£22,000 - £17,500) £4,500
2013/14    £13,000
      
2013/14Unaveraged originaly/e31.12.2012 £17,000
 Originaly/e31.12.2014 (2014/2015) £40,000
     ÷2
2013/14Final   £28,500

The £22,000 loss is available under s.64 of Income Tax Act 2007 (ITA 2007) against income in 2011-12, with the balance carrying forward against farming profits in 2012/13.

Marginal relief

A form of marginal relief is given where the lower profits exceed 70% but do not exceed 75% of the higher profits.

In these circumstances relief is given by reducing the higher profit and increasing the lower profit by an amount equal to three times the difference between them minus three-quarters of the higher profit.

Adjustment = 3x (0.75 x H) - L, where H is the higher profit and L is the lower profit. 

Example

In two consecutive years Mr Farmer made profits of £40,000 and £29,200.

The claim for full average relief is not possible as the lower profit exceeds 70% of the higher profit figure. However, Mr Farmer is entitled to marginal relief as the lower profit is less than 75% of the higher profit.

The adjustment will be:
3x (0.75 x £40,000 - £29,200) = £2,400

The revised assessment will therefore be:
Year 1 £40,000 - £2,400 = £37,600
Year 2 £29,200 + £2,400 = £31,600

Giving effect of a farmer’s average profit

Averaging claims are made in the return of the later year by including an averaging claim tax adjustment (positive or negative) in that return.

Relief is given by adjusting the tax due for the later of the pair of the years affected and it is not necessary to amend the return for the earlier years.

2013/14 2014/15
Original assessed £40,000Original assessed £22,000
Tax and NIC due £9,014Tax and NIC due £3,482
Average profit £31,000Average profit £31,000
Tax and NIC due on average profit £6,404Tax and NIC due on average profit £4,292
Difference of tax and NIC included in 2014/15
£9,014 - £6,404 = £2,610
Revised tax £1,682 (£4,292-£2,610)
Net tax and NIC due £9,014 (no change)Net tax and NIC £1,682
Net tax and NIC for both years if no average profit claim is made £12,496Net tax and NIC for both years with average profit claim £10,696

From April 2016

New farmers’ averaging requirements will appear in the Finance Bill 2016. 

The essential features will be:

i. no requirement for a volatility test

ii. no requirement for an annual claim 

iii. irrevocable opt-in election for five years 

iv. transitional averaging for newer businesses. 

Assuming it is unchanged, this means that an averaging claim for 2016/17 will result in averaging from 2012/13 to 2016/17 being calculated through five years.