1
May
2007
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have now published guidance on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which became available on 1 January 2007.
Among the main issues clarified are the following:
- the prohibition on distributions to 10 per cent shareholders will apply only where the shareholder in question is a company. However, the prohibition on distributions where the REIT is a 'close' company, owned by a small number of non-corporate shareholders, remains; and
- groups of companies can opt to be treated as a group REIT or the principal company of a group can opt for single-company REIT status.
Most importantly, however, HMRC have indicated that they are willing to enter into discussions in cases in which the classification of rental income to be received (schedule D or schedule A) is a grey area. This will be crucial in a REIT.
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