In , Pliers wrote:


I hope someone can advise me about my mother's income tax self
assessment
for 08-09 where one of her financial statements has an entry for
on UK Government stock. One figure is a gross interest, fair enough.
Then
another entry shows "Accrued Interest Paid" which is a negative
number.


Was the stock purchased during that tax year? If so, your mother would
have had to pay the seller for the interest that the stock had earned
since the previous interest payment date (6-monthly for most gilts);
then on the next interest payment date, your mother receives a full 6
months worth of interest, but for tax purposes can then set off the
cost of the accrued interest paid out on purchase.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/guidance/ais.htm

might help

--
Roger Morton