Finance Act 2000

Conditions of liability where intermediary is a company E+W+S+N.I.

3 (1) Where the intermediary is a company the conditions are that the intermediary is not an associated company of the client that falls within sub-paragraph (2) and either— E+W+S+N.I.

(a) the worker has a material interest in the intermediary, or

(b) the payment or benefit mentioned in paragraph 2(1)(b)—

(i) is received or receivable by the worker directly from the intermediary, and

(ii) can reasonably be taken to represent remuneration for services provided by the worker to the client.

(2) An associated company of the client falls within this sub-paragraph if it is such a company by reason of the intermediary and the client both being under the control—

(a) of the worker, or

(b) of the worker and another person.

(3) A worker is treated as having a material interest in a company if—

(a) the worker, alone or with one or more associates of his, or

(b) an associate of the worker, with or without other such associates,

has a material interest in the company.

(4) For this purpose a material interest means—

(a) beneficial ownership of, or the ability to control, directly or through the medium of other companies or by any other indirect means, more than 5% of the ordinary share capital of the company; or

(b) possession of, or entitlement to acquire, rights entitling the holder to receive more than 5% of any distributions that may be made by the company; or

(c) where the company is a close company, possession of, or entitlement to acquire, rights that would in the event of the winding up of the company, or in any other circumstances, entitle the holder to receive more than 5% of the assets that would then be available for distribution among the participators.

(5) In sub-paragraph (4)(c) “participator” has the meaning given by section 417(1) of the Taxes Act 1988.