Glossary

Tax-deductible interest

Tax-deductible interest is business borrowing interest you can set against profits for corporation tax, provided it is incurred wholly and exclusively for the trade.

2 min read

AllowableAgainst profits
Wholly & exclusivelyFor the business

Definition

Tax-deductible interest is interest on borrowing used for business purposes, which reduces taxable profit if it meets the wholly-and-exclusively test. Most trading-company loan interest qualifies, though the corporate interest restriction can cap deductions for very large groups (over £2m net interest). It lowers the net-of-tax cost of the debt.

In plain terms

Interest that passes the test is shared with the taxman — it comes off your profit before tax is worked out, so it costs you less.

Why it matters for your company

Keep borrowing for genuine business use and clear records, and take advice on large interest bills. See net-of-tax cost and the answer on whether business loan interest is tax deductible.

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