Group
In general terms, a group of companies is a parent company together with all its subsidiaries and appropriate proportionate interests in associated undertakings and joint ventures.
In practice the exact membership of the group may differ for financial reporting purposes and for tax purposes. It may also differ in its details for different tax purposes.
For financial reporting purposes, the membership of the financial reporting group is almost always mandatory/automatic.
For most UK tax purposes, companies which are eligible to be grouped may usually elect to be grouped for tax purposes, but group treatment is not generally mandatory. More broadly, similar relationships in respect of direction and control in any diversified organisation, regardless of the precise legal ownership structure.
