On 27 March 2020 the Government announced that it intends to introduce legislation to ensure farmers who had to cull their herds due to Mycoplasma Bovis (M bovis) will not face an undue tax burden. These rules are intended to apply retrospectively from the 2018 income year.

It is proposed that the rules will apply to farmers who have:

• Culled breeding livestock (including breeding replacements) because of M bovis; and
• They used, and continue to use, the national standard cost scheme or self-assessed cost scheme for their breeding livestock; and
• Have substantially replaced that culled livestock within 12 months.

If a farmer qualifies, they will be allowed to spread the “additional income” derived as a result of the cull of that livestock over the following six years.

For example:

We can assist you with understanding how this applies to your business, please give your advisor a call.