I have a cleint who is a farmer, in last years tax return 2014/2015 farmers averaging was applied to his profits from YE 31/10/2013 and YE 31/10/2014 which resulted in a tax saving as he was not therefore paying tax at the higher rate (this was the first year farmers averaging was applied). This years profits YE 31/10/15 are much less and if I apply farmers averagaing he will pay more tax. My question is can I opt out of farmers averaging for the 2015/2016 tax year? His profits will most likely now stay in the basic rate tax band but If need be could I then reapply farmers averaging for the 2016/2017 tax year if I had opted out in the previous year? I read on the HMRC site about Farmers Averaging changing to 3 and 5 years.
Many Thanks
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Averaging elections change the profit taxable for the 2 years concerned only. An election can be revoked if other computations for different combinations prove more beneficial.
If not revoked you are not committed to carry on averaging - you make new choices each year
From 6 April 2016 farmers have the option to elect for averaging for either a 2 or 5 year period but the choice is theirs. New ITTOIA 2005 s222(A) was inserted by FA 2016 with effect for tax year 2016-17 and subsequent years. option