Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Know-how definition

What does Know-how mean? Know-how describes practical technical or commercial information—typically confidential—that enables a business to perform processes, make products or deliver services more effectively. It covers methods, formulas, designs, operating procedures and problem-solving techniques, whether recorded or retained in an individual’s memory. It is a descriptive term rather than a defined statutory concept and is not a property right in itself. In the UK and Ireland it is commonly protected as confidential information under the law/equitable duty of confidence (e.g. Coco v A N Clark; Saltman Engineering). Where the information satisfies the statutory definition of a trade secret, additional remedies apply under the Trade...

UK tax: Patent capital allowances—scope, trade and non-trade pools, 25% writing-down allowances, balancing adjustments, licences and future rights, connected-party limits, and corporate IFA regime interaction

Published by a LexisNexis Tax expert

Practice notes

Capital allowances

Capital allowances can provide a deduction for capital spending on acquiring two specified categories of intangible fixed asset (IFA):

patents (addressed in this Practice Note), and
know-how (see Practice Note: Know-how allowances)

Typically, these reliefs are mainly available to individuals and other unincorporated businesses for new acquisitions. They are not available to anyone carrying on a trade that uses the cash basis.

For companies, patent allowances arise only for qualifying capital expenditure where the acquirer is not within the corporate IFA tax regime for the patent concerned. Broadly, a company’s acquisition of a patent from an unconnected party on or after 1 April 2002, or from a connected party on or after 1 July 2020, will generally not result in a patent allowance. For further detail on when a patent falls within the corporate IFA tax regime, see the Practice Notes What is an intangible fixed asset? and Excluded intangible fixed assets. Patent allowances are available on qualifying expenditure incurred on the purchase of patent rights...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...