Entrepreneur's Relief - the Basics

From 6 April 2008 disposals of qualifying businesses and business assets have been eligible for Entrepreneurs’ Relief.

In simple terms, it allows business owners to reduce their Capital Gains Tax liability to the equivalent of 10 per cent of the chargeable gain.

The following notes will give you some idea of the conditions attached to Entrepreneurs’ Relief. The list is not exhaustive.

1. Relief is only available to individuals;
2. Disposal can include all or part of a business;
3. Disposal must include the sale of shares in the owner’s company;
4. The person making the disposal needs to own at least 5 per cent of the voting shares and be an officer or employee;
5. The company must be a trading company; and
6. All qualifying conditions must be met for at least 12 months.

Relief does not apply:

• to the sale of assets without the sale of the business; or
• on the cessation of trade.

The relief will be available to set off against any number of qualifying gains up to a lifetime limit  which was £2 million until 23 June 2010 and is now in £5 million.

HMRC Guidance