Companies that make profits from their businesses in the UK are
required to pay taxes to the government which are administered by Her
Majesty's Revenue and Customs. This tax is referred to as corporate tax.
The tax is also levied on permanent business establishments owned by
people who are not UK residents but who trade in the EU. There are many
such establishments that remit billions of pounds in tax every year and
this is the reason why the tax is a very important revenue generating
source for the government. The tax has been going through many changes
since it was established over six decades ago.
For example, companies were initially required to pay income tax on their profits just the same way that individual do. However this was changed in 1995 after it was seen fit for them to pay the tax under a different structure. Under such arrangements, individuals who got dividends according to their shares after the company announces its profits were also subjected to the tax but it was handled by the company. The only exception was when the individual was subjected to surtax because in such a situation, he was required to meet the extra taxes on his own.
The companies was required to pay an additional profit tax that was deducted from the profits. In the beginning, the rates were too high. However, they have been reducing significantly over the years and this is the reason why they are significantly lower at the moment compared to where they were in the beginning. Some of the aspects of the taxes have been abolished completely by the successive regimes. For example, in 1999, the Advance Corporation Tax, which was a major component of the old taxation structure was done away with. However, the companies which still had tax liabilities were still required to settle them.
There also have been measures taken by successive governments to increase the amount of money that they collect through this tax. For example, in 2002, businesses in the oil and gas industry were required to pay a ten percent supplementary charge on their profits. This has created many advantageous situations for the government. One of them is that the government enjoys a cash flow from it. This does not only apply to the oil and gas industry businesses. For instance, those that deal with life insurance have had special requirements directed at them and which have greatly changed the way through which they pay their taxes.
The parliament controls how corporate tax can be collected. For instance, it is required to be passed by the parliament every year because unless this is done, there will be no authority for anyone to collect it. There however are many other things that determine how it can be charged. For instance, the period over which it can be charged depends ion the financial year if that specific company. This refers to the twelve month period over which the company prepares its accounts. Every company has it's own financial year.
For example, companies were initially required to pay income tax on their profits just the same way that individual do. However this was changed in 1995 after it was seen fit for them to pay the tax under a different structure. Under such arrangements, individuals who got dividends according to their shares after the company announces its profits were also subjected to the tax but it was handled by the company. The only exception was when the individual was subjected to surtax because in such a situation, he was required to meet the extra taxes on his own.
The companies was required to pay an additional profit tax that was deducted from the profits. In the beginning, the rates were too high. However, they have been reducing significantly over the years and this is the reason why they are significantly lower at the moment compared to where they were in the beginning. Some of the aspects of the taxes have been abolished completely by the successive regimes. For example, in 1999, the Advance Corporation Tax, which was a major component of the old taxation structure was done away with. However, the companies which still had tax liabilities were still required to settle them.
There also have been measures taken by successive governments to increase the amount of money that they collect through this tax. For example, in 2002, businesses in the oil and gas industry were required to pay a ten percent supplementary charge on their profits. This has created many advantageous situations for the government. One of them is that the government enjoys a cash flow from it. This does not only apply to the oil and gas industry businesses. For instance, those that deal with life insurance have had special requirements directed at them and which have greatly changed the way through which they pay their taxes.
The parliament controls how corporate tax can be collected. For instance, it is required to be passed by the parliament every year because unless this is done, there will be no authority for anyone to collect it. There however are many other things that determine how it can be charged. For instance, the period over which it can be charged depends ion the financial year if that specific company. This refers to the twelve month period over which the company prepares its accounts. Every company has it's own financial year.