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16 June 2020
Andy Wood
Under the Standard Calculation, we calculate the profits of the trade that are attributable to the Qualifying IP.
Essentially, we calculate the percentage of IP income as a proportion of total income.
We then take this percentage and apply it to the trading profits.
We then make further adjustments from that base to calculate the Relevant IP Profit which is used to calculate the Patent Box deduction.
The first four stages help us reach what is known as the Qualifying Residual Profit or QRP.
If at this stage, the result is nil or negative, then no more steps are required. If the figure is negative then we have a patent box loss.
If we end up with a positive figure, then we take some further steps.
We then deduct an amount that is attributable to brand type IP. So, for example, where part of the price being paid relates to, say, a trademark.
There are potentially two ways of approaching this:
Where the Company makes patent related profits before grant of the patent is received then it can elect into the regime to receive Patent Box relief on these profits as and when the patent is granted.
In calculating the gross income, we bring in any revenue that would be recognised under GAAP (or would be if the accounts were prepared in accordance with GAAP).
We also specifically exclude finance income including credits from loan relationships and derivative contracts.
First we calculate the Relevant IP Income (RIPI). This includes the following where it is in respect of a qualifying right:
The income figure may also include a notional royalty where, say, a patented machine or process is used to make a non-patented product. This notional royalty is calculated under transfer pricing principles.
Once we have the RIPI figure then we then divide it by the total income figure. This gives us the proportion of the total trade income that consists of patent income.
Firstly, calculate the trading profits of the Company.
However, we also need to make certain adjustments :
Add
Deduct
Secondly, we then apply the % from Step 2 to arrive at the patent related profits.
Once we have calculated the patent related profits. We then need to deduct the profits which the business would have made in the absence of the IP.
This is called the routine return.
The routine return is 10% x specific expenses
These are:
These should be apportioned between patent and non-patent profits.
The relevant proportion of the routine return is then deducted from the patent related profits.
What we are left with at the end of Stage 4 is called the Qualifying Residual Profit (“QRP”)
If we are left with nil or a negative figure, then no more steps required. If the figure is negative then we have a patent box loss.
If we are left with a positive figure, then we take some further steps.
These are alternative steps. One can either elect for small claim treatment (simple) under step 5 or, instead, calculate the marketing asset return under step 6.
The purpose of these steps is to prevent any return produced by marketing assets from benefiting from the 10% Patent Box rate.
Broadly applies where Relevant IP Profit for all trades of the Company do not exceed £1m.
The patent box profit amount on which relief is based on the lower of:
Generally, this substantially reduces the amount of patent box relief potentially available. As such, a Company might prefer to use STEP 6 instead.
Step 6 sets out an alternative where Step 5 is not, or cannot, be used.
Firstly, we need to calculate the excess of:
The Notional Marketing Royalty is calculated under transfer pricing principles using the OECD transfer pricing Guidelines.
We are talking about the royalties for the use of marking assets. Marketing assets are:
If the excess is less than 10% of the profits after stage 4 then no adjustment is required
If the excess is 10% or more of the profit then one must deduct it from the figure arrived at after step 4.
Where a company makes patent related profits before the grant of the patent then it can elect in to the regime to receive benefit from the Patent Box.
However, to prevent companies from gaining the benefit for products which are not patentable, the benefit of the Patent Box is not received until the patent is granted.
When the patent is granted – the accumulated profits for the pending period are then included in the calculation.
Once we have gone through the steps set out above, we have calculated RIPP or patent box profit.
We now deduct any Patent Box losses.
If, after deducting those losses, we are left with an excess, we can then apply the patent box deduction
The RIPP / patent box profit x ((19%-10%) / 19%)
Calculate this for each trade.
This deduction is the deducted from the trading profits to give a revised profit figure that is to be subjected to corporation tax.
If you have any queries about this article or Patent Box in general, then please do get in touch.