Corporation Tax Act 2009 section 138

Payments by companies liable to pool betting duty

Section 138 provides a special tax deduction for companies that pay pool betting duty, allowing them to deduct certain qualifying payments made as a consequence of reductions in that duty.

• Companies liable to pool betting duty may claim a trading deduction for qualifying payments made as a consequence of any reduction in pool betting duty.
• Qualifying payments are those made to promote safety or comfort at football grounds, or to support athletic sports, games, or the arts.
• The deduction applies regardless of which specific reduction in pool betting duty gave rise to the payment, and regardless of which body receives the payment.
• Without this special rule, such payments would likely be disallowed as not being made wholly and exclusively for the purposes of the company's trade.