Finance Act 2003 (c. 14)

(The document as of February, 2008)

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Tax exemption on acquisition

425 No charge in respect of acquisition in certain cases

(1) Subsection (2) applies if the employment-related securities--

(a) are restricted securities, or a restricted interest in securities, by virtue of subsection (2) of section 423 (provision for transfer, reversion or forfeiture) at the time of the acquisition, and

(b) will cease to be restricted securities, or a restricted interest in securities, by virtue of that subsection within 5 years after the acquisition (whether or not they may remain restricted securities or a restricted interest in securities by virtue of the application of subsection (3) or (4) of that section).

(2) No liability to income tax arises in respect of the acquisition, except as provided by--

(a) Chapter 3 of this Part (acquisition by conversion),

(b) Chapter 3C of this Part (acquisition for less than market value), or

(3) But the employer and the employee may elect that subsection (2) is not to apply to the employment-related securities.

(4) An election under subsection (3)--

(a) is to be made by agreement by the employer and the employee, and

(b) is irrevocable.

(5) Such an agreement--

(a) must be made in a form approved by the Board of Inland Revenue, and

(b) may not be made more than 14 days after the acquisition.

Tax charge on post-acquisition chargeable events

426 Charge on occurrence of chargeable event

(1) This section applies if a chargeable event occurs in relation to the employment-related securities.

(2) The taxable amount determined under section 428 counts as employment income of the employee for the relevant tax year.

(3) The "relevant tax year" is the tax year in which the chargeable event occurs.

(4) Section 427 explains what are chargeable events for the purposes of this section.

(5) This section is subject to section 429 (case outside charge under this section).

427 Chargeable events

(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 426 (charge on occurrence of chargeable event).

(2) Any of the events mentioned in subsection (3) is a "chargeable event" in relation to the employment-related securities.

(3) The events are--

(a) the employment-related securities ceasing to be restricted securities, or a restricted interest in securities, in circumstances in which an associated person is beneficially entitled to the employment-related securities after the event,

(b) the variation of any restriction relating to the employment-related securities in such circumstances (without the employment-related securities ceasing to be restricted securities or a restricted interest in securities), and

(c) the disposal for consideration of the employment-related securities, or any interest in them, by an associated person otherwise than to another associated person (at a time when they are still restricted securities or a restricted interest in securities).

(4) For the purposes of this Chapter there is a variation of a restriction relating to the employment-related securities if any restriction in relation to them is removed or varied.

428 Amount of charge

(1) The taxable amount for the purposes of section 426 (charge on occurrence of chargeable event) is--

---

(2) UMV is what would be the market value of the employment-related securities immediately after the chargeable event but for any restrictions.

(3) IUP is--

---

where--

IUMV is what would have been the market value of the employment-related securities at the time of the acquisition but for any restrictions, and
DA is the total of any deductible amounts.

(4) PCP is the aggregate of the result of the application of the formula--

IUP - PCP - OP

on each previous event (if any) occurring since the acquisition that was a chargeable event for the purposes of section 426 in relation to the employment-related securities (and so is nil if there has not been such a previous event).

(5) OP is--

---

where AMV is the actual market value of the employment-related securities immediately after the chargeable event.

(6) CE is any expenses incurred by the holder of the employment-related securities in connection with--

(a) the employment-related securities ceasing to be restricted securities or a restricted interest in securities,

(b) the variation of a restriction relating to the employment-related securities, or

together (if the chargeable event is one within section 427(3)(a) or (b) (lifting of restrictions and variation of restriction)) with any consideration given for the employment-related securities ceasing to be restricted securities or a restricted interest in securities or the variation of a restriction relating to the employment-related securities.

(7) For the purposes of this section each of the following is a "deductible amount"--

(a) the amount of any consideration given for the acquisition of the employment-related securities,

(b) any amount that constituted earnings from the employee's employment under Chapter 1 of Part 3 (earnings) in respect of the acquisition of the employment-related securities,

(c) any amount that counted as employment income in relation to the employment-related securities under Chapter 2 or 4 of this Part as originally enacted,

(d) if the employment-related securities were acquired on a conversion of other employment-related securities, any amount that counted as employment income of the employee under Chapter 3 of this Part (including that Chapter as originally enacted) (convertible securities) by reason of the conversion, and

(e) if the acquisition of the employment-related securities was pursuant to a securities option, any amount that counted as employment income of the employee under section 476 (or section 476 or 477 as originally enacted) (acquisition of securities pursuant to securities option) by reason of the acquisition.

(8) If the employment-related securities are convertible securities, or an interest in convertible securities, their market value is to be determined for the purposes of this section as if they were not.

(9) Where the chargeable event is one within section 427(3)(c) (disposal) and CD is less than AMV, the taxable amount for the purposes of section 426 is the amount determined under subsection (1) multiplied by--

---

where--

CD is the consideration given for the employment-related securities, and
AMV is the actual market value of the employment-related securities immediately after the chargeable event.

429 Case outside charge under section 426

(1) Section 426 (charge on occurrence of chargeable event) does not apply if--

(a) the employment-related securities are shares (or an interest in shares) in a company of a class,

(b) the provision by virtue of which the employment-related securities are restricted securities, or a restricted interest in securities, applies to all the company's shares of the class,

(c) all the company's shares of the class (other than the employment-related securities) are affected by an event similar to that which is a chargeable event in relation to the employment-related securities, and

(d) subsection (3) or (4) is satisfied.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(c) shares are affected by an event similar to that which is a chargeable event in relation to the employment-related securities--

(a) in the case of a chargeable event within section 427(3)(a) (lifting of restrictions), if the provision mentioned in subsection (1)(b) ceases to apply to them,

(b) in the case of a chargeable event within section 427(3)(b) (variation of restriction), if that provision is varied in relation to them in the same way as in relation to the employment-related securities, or

(3) This subsection is satisfied if, immediately before the event that would be a chargeable event, the company is employee-controlled by virtue of holdings of shares of the class.

(4) This subsection is satisfied if, immediately before that event, the majority of the company's shares of the class are not held by or for the benefit of any of the following--

(a) employees of the company,

(b) persons who are related to an employee of the company,

(d) employees of any associated company of the company, or

(e) persons who are related to an employee of any such associated company.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4) a person is related to an employee if--

(a) the person acquired the shares pursuant to a right or opportunity available by reason of the employee's employment, or

(b) the person is connected with a person who so acquired the shares or with the employee and acquired the shares otherwise than by or under a disposal made by way of a bargain at arm's length from the employee or another person who is related to the employee.

430 Election for outstanding restrictions to be ignored

(1) The employer and the employee may elect that--

(a) on a chargeable event the taxable amount for the purposes of section 426 is to be determined by applying section 428(1) as if it did not include a reference to OP, and

(b) sections 426 to 429 are not to apply to the employment-related securities after that chargeable event.

(2) An election under this section--

(a) is to be made by agreement by the employer and the employee, and

(b) is irrevocable.

(3) Such an agreement--

(a) must be made in a form approved by the Board of Inland Revenue, and

(b) may not be made more than 14 days after the chargeable event.

Supplementary

431 Election for full or partial disapplication of this Chapter

(1) The employer and the employee may elect in relation to employment-related securities which are restricted securities or a restricted interest in securities that--

(a) for the relevant tax purposes their market value at the time of the acquisition is to be calculated as if they were not, and

(b) sections 425 to 430 are not to apply to the employment-related securities.

(2) Or the employer and the employee may elect in relation to employment-related securities which are restricted securities or a restricted interest in securities that--

(a) for the relevant tax purposes their market value at the time of the acquisition is to be calculated, and

(b) sections 425 to 430 are to apply to the employment-related securities,

as if any specified restriction did not apply to the employment-related securities.

(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) "the relevant tax purposes" are--

(a) determining any amount that is to constitute earnings from the employment under Chapter 1 of Part 3 (earnings),

(b) determining the amount of any gain realised on the occurrence of an event that is a chargeable event by virtue of section 439(3)(a) (conversion),

(d) determining any amount that counts as employment income of the employee under Chapter 5 of this Part (securities acquired pursuant to securities option).

(4) An election under this section--

(a) is to be made by agreement by the employer and the employee, and

(b) is irrevocable.

(5) Such an agreement--

(a) must be made in a form approved by the Board of Inland Revenue, and

(b) may not be made more than 14 days after the acquisition.

432 Definitions

(1) In this Chapter--

"interest", in relation to securities,
"securities",
"securities option", and
"shares",

have the meaning indicated in section 420.

(2) In this Chapter "market value" has the meaning indicated in section 421(1).

(3) For the purposes of this Chapter sections 421(2) and 421A apply for determining the amount of the consideration given for anything and section 421I applies for determining the amount of the consideration given for the acquisition of employment-related securities.

(4) In this Chapter--

"the acquisition",
"the employee" (except in section 429),
"the employer",
"the employment", and
"employment-related securities",

have the meaning indicated in section 421B(8).

(5) In this Chapter "associated person" has the meaning indicated in section 421C.

(6) In this Chapter--

"associated company", and
"employee-controlled",

have the meaning indicated in section 421H.

(7) In this Chapter--

"restricted interest in securities", and
"restricted securities",

have the meaning indicated in sections 423 and 424.

(8) In this Chapter "restriction", in relation to securities or an interest in securities, means provision relating to the securities or interest which is made by any contract, agreement, arrangement or condition and to which any of subsections (2) to (4) of section 423 applies.

(9) In this Chapter "variation", in relation to a restriction, has the meaning indicated in section 427(4).

(10) In this Chapter "convertible securities" has the same meaning as in Chapter 3 of this Part (see section 436). " .

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) has effect on and after such day as the Treasury may by order made by statutory instrument appoint but does not affect any securities, or interests in securities, acquired before 16th April 2003.

(3) Section 431 has effect in relation to securities, or interests in securities, acquired before the day appointed under sub-paragraph (2)--

(a) with the substitution in subsections (1)(b) and (2)(b) for "sections 425 to 430" of "section 426 as originally enacted and sections 426 to 430 as substituted by paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 22 to the Finance Act 2003", and

(b) with the substitution in subsection (5)(b) for "the acquisition" of "the day appointed under paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 22 to the Finance Act 2003".

(4) But sub-paragraph (3) does not apply where in relation to the securities or interest in securities an amount counts as employment income of the employee under section 427 or 449 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1) as originally enacted.

4 (1) For Chapter 3 of Part 7 substitute--

" Chapter 3 Convertible securities

Introduction

435 Application of this Chapter

This Chapter applies to employment-related securities if they are--

(a) convertible securities, or

(b) an interest in convertible securities,

at the time of the acquisition.

436 "Convertible securities"

For the purposes of this Chapter securities are convertible securities if--

(a) they confer on the holder an immediate or conditional entitlement to convert them into securities of a different description,

(b) a contract, agreement, arrangement or condition authorises or requires the grant of such an entitlement to the holder if certain circumstances arise, or do not arise, or

(c) a contract, agreement, arrangement or condition makes provision for the conversion of the securities (otherwise than by the holder) into securities of a different description.

Tax relief on acquisition

437 Adjustment of charge

For the purposes of--

(a) any liability to tax under Chapter 1 of Part 3 (earnings), Chapter 10 of Part 3 (taxable benefits: residual liability to charge) or Chapter 5 of this Part (acquisition of securities pursuant to securities option), and

(b) the operation of Chapter 3C of this Part (acquisition of securities for less than market value),

the market value of the employment-related securities is to be determined as if they were not convertible securities or an interest in convertible securities.

Tax charge on post-acquisition chargeable events

438 Charge on occurrence of chargeable event

(1) This section applies if a chargeable event occurs in relation to the employment-related securities.

(2) The taxable amount determined under section 440 counts as employment income of the employee for the relevant tax year.

(3) The "relevant tax year" is the tax year in which the chargeable event occurs.

(4) Section 439 explains what are chargeable events for the purposes of this section.

(5) This section is subject to section 443 (case outside charge under this section).

439 Chargeable events

(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 438 (charge on occurrence of chargeable event).

(2) Any of the events mentioned in subsection (3) is a "chargeable event" in relation to the employment-related securities.

(3) The events are--

(a) the conversion of the employment-related securities (or the securities in which they are an interest) into securities of a different description in circumstances in which an associated person is beneficially entitled to the securities into which the employment-related securities are converted,

(b) the disposal for consideration of the employment-related securities, or any interest in them, by an associated person otherwise than to another associated person (at a time when they are still convertible securities or an interest in convertible securities),

(c) the release for consideration of the entitlement to convert the employment-related securities (or the securities in which they are an interest) into securities of a different description, and

(d) the receipt by an associated person of a benefit in money or money's worth in connection with the entitlement to convert (other than securities acquired on the conversion of the employment-related securities or consideration such as is mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c)).

(4) A benefit received on account of any disability (within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) of the employee is to be disregarded for the purposes of subsection (3)(d).

440 Amount of charge

(1) The taxable amount for the purposes of section 438 (charge on occurrence of chargeable event) is--

AG - CE

(2) AG is the amount of any gain realised on the occurrence of the chargeable event.

(3) CE is the amount of any consideration given for the entitlement to convert the employment-related securities or the securities in which they are an interest together with the amount of any expenses incurred by the holder of the employment-related securities in connection with the conversion, disposal, release or receipt.

(4) Section 441 explains what is the amount of any gain realised on the occurrence of a chargeable event.

(5) Section 442 explains whether consideration is given for the entitlement to convert the employment-related securities or the securities in which they are an interest and, if it is, what is its amount.

441 Amount of gain realised on occurrence of chargeable event

(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 440 (amount of charge on occurrence of chargeable event).

(2) The amount of the gain realised on the occurrence of an event that is a chargeable event by virtue of section 439(3)(a) (conversion) is--

---

(3) The amount of the gain realised on the occurrence of an event that is a chargeable event by virtue of section 439(3)(b) (disposal) is--

DC - CMVERS

(4) The amount of the gain realised on the occurrence of an event that is a chargeable event by virtue of section 439(3)(c) (release of entitlement to convert) is the amount of the consideration received by an associated person in respect of the release.

(5) The amount of the gain realised on the occurrence of an event that is a chargeable event by virtue of section 439(3)(d) (receipt of benefit) is the amount or market value of the benefit.

(6) CMVCS--

(a) if the employment-related securities are securities, is the market value at the time of the chargeable event of the securities into which they are converted (determined, where those securities are themselves convertible securities, as if they were not), or

(b) if the employment-related securities are an interest in securities, is the same proportion of that market value as the market value of the interest in the securities in which the employment-related securities are an interest bears to the market value of those securities.

(7) CMVERS is the market value of the employment-related securities at the time of the chargeable event determined as if they were not convertible securities or an interest in convertible securities.

(8) CC is the amount of any consideration given for the conversion of the employment-related securities.

(9) DC is the amount of the consideration given on the disposal.

442 Amount of consideration given for entitlement to convert

(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 440 (amount of charge on occurrence of chargeable event).

(2) Consideration is to be regarded as given for the entitlement to convert the employment-related securities (or the securities in which they are an interest) if (and only if) ACS exceeds NCMV.

(3) The amount of the consideration to be regarded as so given is the amount of the excess.

(4) ACS is the amount of the consideration given for the acquisition of the employment-related securities.

(5) NCMV is the market value of the employment-related securities at the time of the acquisition, determined as if they were not convertible securities or an interest in convertible securities.

443 Case outside charge under section 438

(1) Section 438 (charge on occurrence of chargeable event) does not apply if--

(a) the employment-related securities are shares (or an interest in shares) in a company of a class,

(b) all the company's shares of the class are convertible securities,

(d) subsection (3) or (4) is satisfied.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(c) shares are affected by an event similar to that which is a chargeable event in relation to the employment-related securities--

(a) in the case of a chargeable event within section 439(3)(a) (conversion), if they are converted into securities of a different description,

(b) in the case of a chargeable event within section 439(3)(b) (disposal), if they are disposed of,

(c) in the case of a chargeable event within section 439(3)(c) (release of entitlement to convert), if the entitlement to convert them into securities of a different description is released, or

(d) in the case of a chargeable event within section 439(3)(d) (receipt of benefit), if a similar benefit is received in respect of the entitlement to convert them.

(3) This subsection is satisfied if, immediately before the event that would be a chargeable event, the company is employee-controlled by virtue of holdings of shares of the class.

(4) This subsection is satisfied if, immediately before that event, the majority of the company's shares of the class are not held by or for the benefit of any of the following--

(a) employees of the company,

(b) persons who are related to an employee of the company,

(d) employees of any associated company of the company, or

(e) persons who are related to an employee of any such associated company.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4) a person is related to an employee if--

(a) the person acquired the shares pursuant to a right or opportunity available by reason of the employee's employment, or

Supplementary

444 Definitions

(1) In this Chapter--

"interest", in relation to securities,
"securities", and
"shares",

have the meaning indicated in section 420.

(2) In this Chapter "market value" has the meaning indicated in section 421(1).

(4) In this Chapter--

"the acquisition",
"the employee" (except in section 443), and
"employment-related securities",

have the meaning indicated in section 421B(8).

(5) In this Chapter "associated person" has the meaning indicated in section 421C.

(6) In this Chapter--

"associated company", and
"employee-controlled",

have the meaning indicated in section 421H.

(7) In this Chapter "convertible securities" has the meaning indicated in section 436. " .

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) has effect on and after the day appointed under paragraph 3(2) (so that, apart from section 437, the provisions of Chapter 3 of Part 7 as substituted by that sub-paragraph apply on and after that day in relation to employment-related securities irrespective of the date of the acquisition).

5 (1) After Chapter 3 of Part 7 insert--

" Chapter 3A Securities with artificially depressed market value

Introduction

446A Application of this Chapter

(1) This Chapter applies in certain cases where the market value of employment-related securities (or other relevant securities or interests in securities) is reduced by things done otherwise than for genuine commercial purposes.

(2) The following are among the things that are, for the purposes of this Chapter, done otherwise than for genuine commercial purposes--

(a) anything done as part of a scheme or arrangement the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, of which is the avoidance of tax or national insurance contributions, and

(b) any transaction between companies which are members of the same group on terms which are not such as might be expected to be agreed between persons acting at arm's length (other than a payment for group relief).

(3) In subsection (2)(b)--

(a) "group" means a company and its 51% subsidiaries, and

(b) "group relief" has the same meaning as in section 402(6) of ICTA.

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