What is Tonnage Tax?
Taxable profit of shipping companies is calculated through Tonnage Tax. It is a taxation mechanism used to calculate shipping related profits for Corporation Tax (CT) of qualifying shipping companies. However, to be considered as a qualified shipping company, it should pay Corporation Tax, operate qualifying ships and should also ‘strategically and commercially manage’ its fleet from the UK. In short, it means real and effective management must take place inthe UK, generating real economic activity. Once an organisation qualifies on all the above mentioned parameters the shipping related profits are calculated onthe tonnage of the ships used in the company’s shipping trade.

Significance of the Tonnage Tax
To encourage shipping groups to locate their business in the UK, the Tonnage tax was introduced as an incentive. Introduced in 2000, the objective was to create a viable business environment for international shipping companies based in the UK. The aim was also to enable the growth and renewal of existing UK-based shipping companies while at the same time attracting investments from investors across the globe. Another impact of the taxation mechanism was that it addressed the decline in the UK merchant fleet. Subsequently, as a result the number of shipping companies based in the UK has not only increased and has also led to an increase in the number of individuals employed by the UK shipping industry.
Application of Tonnage Tax
Tonnage tax is applicable on ship operators who transport goods or people at sea (Say for instance, container lines and ferry/cruise companies) or for services offered at sea (like safety standby vessels). But for qualification companies should be operating ships from the UK. It is a mechanism which excludes vessel financiers and vessels leased out on bareboat charter terms.
The UK tonnage tax rules could be applicable either on the world's largest container and cruise ship operators or also on a company operating a single platform supply vessel. Further, Tax payers are further encouraged to get into a "pre-clearance" process with HMRC, the UK’s tax authority so priorsteps can give a good idea about the level of intervention by UK authorities in each particular case seeking application of tonnage tax.
Calculation of Tonnage Tax profit
Conditions to qualify for Tonnage Tax
For any ship looking to qualify for Tonnage tax it must be:
However, the following ships are not entitled for Qualification:
Comparing UK Tonnage Tax with Other Taxes
In spite of so many tonnage tax regimes across Europe, the basic qualification rules and how the systems operate fundamentally the same across Europe. However, the UK is the only system which obliges tonnage tax companies for training of cadets and this adds a cost to operating in the Tonnage Tax. While this also acts as a barrier to many of the largest shipping fleets entering UK tonnage tax because not only due to the cost but also the practical limits of just how many candidates want to be seafarers.
Also UK tonnage tax companies need not fly UK flags neither do they need to employ UK officers or crew. While there is sufficient commercial management activity in the UK technical management does not need totake place in the UK. Since moving into UK tonnage tax is only concerned with moving management level employees into the UK. Now this is where, UK tonnage tax has been able to score over other regimes as international employees are willing to move to the UK than other European countries.
Conclusion
Objectives of those who introduced tonnage tax have been achieved and in the current scenario the positive economic impact of tonnage tax continues to justify its existence. Application of the tonnage tax has also led to the renewal and growth of existing UK-based shipping companies, while at the same time also attracting investments. What’s more, the number of shipping companies based in the UK has increased and it in effect has also led to an increase in the number of individuals employed by the UK shipping industry.
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