36 Queen Street, London, EC4R 1BN | +44 (0)20 7242 2642
Spectros International plc v. Madden (Inspector of Taxes) [1997] STC 114 (Ch D)

Capital gains tax. Disposal consideration. Purchaser of company agrees to discharge debt.Spectros disposed of the common stock in its subsidiary SIH. The agreed purchase price was $20,001,000, but at the time of purchase SIH had a liability of $20 million to a bank; the money borrowed had previously been paid to Spectros by SIH in the form of a dividend. The purchaser agreed to discharge the liability to the bank, and in the event only paid $1,000 for the common stock. On the facts in this case, the effect of the sale agreement and related agreements was that the disposal price of the common stock was indeed $20,001,000.David Goldberg KC and Hugh McKay appeared for the taxpayer

Latest news:

Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers shortlisted for Tax Set of the Year
Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers is delighted to have been shortlisted for Tax Set of the Year in this year’s Chambers UK Bar Awards 2025.
16 Sep 2025
Nicola Shaw KC wins Tax Silk of the Year at Legal 500 UK Bar Awards
Nicola Shaw KC has been awarded the Tax Silk of the Year
30 Sep 2024
GITC Review
Previous issues of the GITC Review are available under the ‘Articles’ Section of this website.
Read GITC review
Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.