Are market data subscription costs allowable as an incidental cost of acquisition and disposal

I have shares of an LSE listed ETF in a brokerage account. The brokerage charges for real time market data, providing data that is significantly delayed for free. I pay for the market data subscription so that I know the price at which I am acquiring and disposing of the ETF. I would not be paying for this subscription if I was not making the trades. CG15250 - "Expenditure: incidental costs of acquisition and disposal" states: "Allowable incidental costs are limited to [...] - costs reasonably incurred in making any valuation or apportionment required for the purposes of the Capital Gains Tax computation. [...] You should not allow a deduction for subscriptions for periodicals or for publications by analysts, stockbrokers or other professional advisers, whether for public or private circulation. Other similar types of expenditure are not allowable." Can you confirm if the fees and taxes incurred by the purchase of market data subscriptions for the valuation of financial instruments are allowable as an incidental cost of acquisition and disposal under CG15250 / TCGA92/S38? Thank you!

Hi

No these are not allowable as per the guidance - You should not allow a deduction for subscriptions for periodicals or for publications by analysts, stockbrokers or other professional advisers, whether for public or private circulation.

Thank you