Business Investment Relief (BIR) is a UK tax relief that is designed to encourage non-UK domiciled individuals and UK-resident non-domiciled individuals to invest in UK businesses. The relief applies to income and gains that have arisen overseas, which can be remitted to the UK tax-free if they are invested in certain qualifying UK businesses.
To qualify for BIR, the following conditions must be met:
- The individual must be non-UK domiciled or UK resident non-domiciled.
- The income or gains must have arisen outside the UK.
- The investment must be made in a qualifying UK business, which is defined as a trading company or the holding company of a trading group
- The investment must be made within 45 days of the foreign income or gains being remitted to the UK
If these conditions are met, the individual can benefit from BIR by investing their foreign income or gains in a qualifying UK business. This can be done either directly or through a partnership or trust. The investment can be in the form of shares, loan capital, or the purchase of assets used in the trade.
One of the main benefits of BIR is that it allows non-domiciled individuals to bring their overseas income and gains to the UK without incurring tax charges. However, there are strict rules and conditions that must be followed to qualify for the relief. It is important to seek professional advice before making any investment decisions.