What happens if I want to sell my business?
Business owners that choose to sell or dispose of a business will face a number of tax challenges, which is why it is wise to plan ahead well in advance.
It is important to be aware of the rules governing Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in the UK – a tax that sole traders, self-employed business owners and business partnerships will incur on all ‘gains’ when selling or disposing of a business asset, such as land and buildings, plant and machinery, or even the entire business itself.
There are a number of CGT reliefs available to business owners, such as Entrepreneur’s Relief (ER) which can make for some significant tax savings.
ER enables business owners to pay a lower rate of CGT upon the sale or disposal of a business. In instances where ER applies, the rate of CGT paid can be reduced to just 10 per cent.
In order to qualify for ER, however, the business must be either a personal trading company or an unincorporated business and a number of complex qualifying conditions need to be met.
It is important that business owners seek tailored advice in this respect – as the sale needs to be structured in the correct way in order for CGT to apply.
ER is not the only way in which business owners can benefit from substantial CGT savings when selling or disposing of a business. Depending on future intentions, it might be worth exploring roll-over relief, which enables sellers to defer CGT if their gains from a sale are to be reinvested in new business assets, or hold-over relief, which can defer CGT in instances where the business or asset is being ‘transferred’ to a spouse or civil partner as opposed to being sold.
Regardless of your circumstances, seeking appropriate tax planning advice is crucial to ensure that your business disposal is tax efficient.
To find out how the team at AGS Accountants and Business Advisors can help, please get in touch today.
