Tax information exchange and FATCA

FORTHCOMING CHANGES: The UK is due to implement the OECD’s Cryptoasset Reporting Framework (CARF) into domestic law with effect from 1 January 2026. The implementing measure is the Reporting Cryptoasset Service Providers (Due Diligence and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/744), which was laid before the House of Commons on 25 June 2025. On the same day, HMRC published tax impact and information notes (TIIN) for the measure. HMRC has also published guidance on reporting under the CARF.

The government has also introduced legislation amending the domestic law implementing the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the UK’s obligations under the Intergovernmental Agreement with the US for the implementation of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). The principal legislation is the International Tax Compliance Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/878) and the amending measure is the International Tax Compliance (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/740). The amendments implement the OECD’s 2023 changes to the CRS and introduce other changes ‘to make the UK’s implementation of the rules more effective’ (Explanatory Memorandum, para 5.5). The principal changes are to include e-money

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Market value, distributions and notional transactions—key SDLT lessons from Tower One St George Wharf Ltd v HMRC

Tax analysis: In Tower One St George Wharf Ltd v HMRC, the Court of Appeal considered the basis on which stamp duty land tax (SDLT) should be assessed and whether that resulted in SDLT being paid on the market value, the actual consideration paid, or on some other basis for a complex transaction within a corporate group. The taxpayer argued that the ‘Case 3’ exception under section 54(4) of the Finance Act 2003 (FA 2003) applied, which would result in SDLT being charged on the actual consideration. HMRC argued that the exception did not apply, which would result in SDLT being paid on the market value of the property. Alternatively, HMRC argued that if the exception did apply then the anti-avoidance provisions at section 75A FA 2003 applied, potentially resulting in an even higher SDLT charge. The Court of Appeal held that although the Case 3 exception applied, the anti-avoidance provision in FA 2003, s 75A also applied. This resulted in SDLT being assessed on an aggregate amount that was even higher than the property's market value (although HMRC did not seek to increase its assessment beyond market value). Therefore, the appeal was dismissed. As explained by Jon Stevens, partner, and Rory Clarke, solicitor, at DWF Law LLP, this decision deals with the interaction of a number of complex SDLT provisions and clarifies the SDLT provisions relating to transfers to connected companies and the SDLT anti-avoidance provisions, with implications for corporate structuring and tax planning.

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