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A company is an association of individuals formed for some common purpose. Where such an association is incorporated (ie it is a body corporate with perpetual succession) it is a legal person separate and distinct from the individual members of the company. Therefore, if A and B are the members of AB Ltd, there are three legal persons: A, B and AB Ltd. However, an unincorporated company is not a legal person, and is not in law distinguishable from its members¹. In this paragraph the terms 'body corporate' and 'company' are treated as synonymous, except where the context otherwise requires.

The VAT legislation refers to 'a body corporate'², and is therefore concerned with:

1. Ìý

   •ÌýÌýÌýÌý companies registered under the Companies Acts

2. Ìý

   •ÌýÌýÌýÌý companies created by Act of Parliament

3. Ìý

   •ÌýÌýÌýÌý bodies incorporated under other Acts of Parliament, such as the Building Societies Acts, the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, the Credit Unions Act and the Further and Higher Education Act

4. Ìý

   •ÌýÌýÌýÌý limited liability partnerships registered under the Limited Liability Partnerships