From 2016/17 onwards farmers now have the option to smooth out their profits over two or five tax years as the result of a change in Finance Act 2016.

Farmers’ and market gardeners’ profits often fluctuate wildly from one year to the next and the tax rules for many years have allowed them to average their profits in order to smooth out those fluctuations.

It is expected that there could be even greater fluctuations as the result of changes to subsidies and support payments following Britain’s exit from the EU so 2 or 5-year averaging will need to be carefully considered. We can of course assist you in this decision process.