Tax Rates and Allowances 2018

Capital allowances - plant and machinery

2018/19

2017/18

  • The cost of purchasing capital equipment in a business is not a revenue tax deductible expense. However tax relief is available on certain capital expenditure in the form of capital allowances.
  • Plant and machinery allowances may be available on items such as machines, equipment, furniture, certain fixtures in a building ('integral features'), computers, cars, vans and similar equipment used in a business. 
  • There are special rules for cars and certain 'environmentally friendly' equipment.
  • Plant and machinery allowances may be available to owners of commercial property which is let out to a business.
  • The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) gives a 100% write-off on most types of plant and machinery (but not cars) up to an annual limit.
  • Writing down allowances (WDA) are given for expenditure for which AIA is not, or cannot be, claimed.

AIA

  • The AIA may need to be shared between certain businesses under common ownership.

AIA limits - companies

Expenditure incurred:

Annual limit

£

From 1 January 2016

200,000

AIA limits - sole traders and partnerships

Expenditure incurred:

Annual limit

£

From 1 January 2016

200,000

Other plant and machinery allowances

  • Expenditure upon which AIA is not given/claimed will obtain relief through the 'main rate pool' or the 'special rate pool' rather than each item being dealt with separately.
  • The annual rate of WDA is 18% in the 'main rate pool' and 8% in the 'special rate pool'.
  • A 100% first year allowance (FYA) may be available on certain energy efficient plant and cars.

Cars

  • For expenditure incurred on cars, costs are generally allocated to one of the two plant and machinery pools.
  • AIA is not available on any car but a 100% first year allowance may be available on certain cars. To qualify for first year allowance, the car must be purchased new.

Cars acquired from April 2018

Emissions (g/km)

Pool

Allowance

≤50

Main rate

100% FYA

≤ 110

Main rate

18% WDA

>110

Special rate

8% WDA

© 2018. This publication is published for the information of clients. It provides only an overview of the regulations in force at the date of publication and no action should be taken without consulting the detailed legislation or seeking professional advice. Therefore no responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material contained in this publication can be accepted by the authors or the firm.