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Use the Intangible fixed assets template to deal with intangible assets (such as goodwill, patents and other intellectual property) under the corporate intangibles regime in Part 8 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009 (CTA 2009). For each asset you choose how relief is given — on the accounts (amortisation) basis, under a fixed-rate election, or outside the regime for pre-2002 assets — and the template calculates the deduction, tracks the tax written-down value, and deals with disposals.

Table of contents 

When should I use this template?

Use it where the company holds intangible fixed assets within the CTA 2009 Part 8 regime and has charged amortisation, impairment or a profit/loss on disposal in the accounts, or where a fixed-rate election applies.

Before you start

A business type must be selected in the Business type section of the Return information template. If none is selected, the template shows a warning and cannot calculate. The template opens in landscape orientation to fit the analysis.

The schedule is populated from the Intangibles Fixed Asset Register — you must star that register for the assets to flow through (if it is not starred, the template shows a note prompting you to star it). The opening book value for each asset should equal the net book value at the end of the prior year in the Intangibles Fixed Asset Register.

How do I categorise each intangible?

Each intangible is analysed under a category that determines how relief is given:

  • Accounts (amortisation) basis — relief follows the amortisation / impairment charged in the accounts (the default for assets within the regime).
  • Fixed rate relief (4%) — the election (CTA 2009 s730) to take relief at a fixed 4% of cost per year instead of the accounts amortisation.
  • Fixed rate relief (6.5%) — the restricted relief at 6.5% of cost per year for qualifying goodwill and other relevant assets acquired on or after 1 April 2019 (where linked to qualifying intellectual property).
  • Pre-2002 — assets held before the regime began (broadly pre-1 April 2002); these fall outside Part 8 and are generally dealt with under the chargeable gains rules.
You can set a default tax treatment for a whole category by selecting the treatment on the category header row, rather than setting it asset by asset — useful where all the assets in a category share the same basis.

How does the analysis work?

The template is built from several tables:

  • a net book value (NBV) table, reconciling the amortisation, impairment and revaluation in the accounts;
  • a tax written-down value (TWDV) table, showing the amount allowable / (taxable) as trading amortisation under the chosen category; and
  • a credits on disposal of s815 assets table, for assets where an election under CTA 2009 s815 has been made.

The reconciliation covers both amortisation / impairment / revaluation and the profit / (loss) on disposal, so the schedule ties back to the accounts; Silverfin flags any difference.

What flows through to the rest of Corporation Tax?

The amount allowable / (taxable) as trading amortisation and any credit on disposal of s815 assets feed the adjustment to profit for the relevant business type, so the intangibles relief (or charge) is reflected in the tax computation.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my Intangible fixed assets schedule empty?

It is populated from the Intangibles Fixed Asset Register — star that register so the assets flow through.

How do I take the fixed-rate election?

Categorise the asset as Fixed rate relief (4%) (the s730 election), or Fixed rate relief (6.5%) for qualifying goodwill / relevant assets acquired from 1 April 2019. Otherwise relief follows the accounts amortisation.

Can I set the treatment for a whole category at once?

Yes — select the tax treatment on the category header row to set a default for all assets in that category.

What about pre-2002 assets?

Categorise them as Pre-2002; they are generally dealt with under the chargeable gains rules rather than as trading amortisation.

What is a s815 election?

An election under CTA 2009 s815 to exclude certain amounts from the intangibles regime; the template has a dedicated table for credits arising on disposal of s815-elected assets.