Finance Act 2001

Income tax: option to acquire shares at nil cost

8 In paragraph 46 (income tax charge on exercise of option to acquire shares at nil cost), for sub-paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) In that case for the purposes of section 135 of the Taxes Act 1988 (taxation of share options) the amount of the gain realised by the exercise of the option is taken to be the amount by which—

(a) the chargeable market value (within the meaning of paragraph 45), exceeds

(b) the amount or value of the consideration given for the grant of the option.

(2A) If the chargeable market value does not exceed the amount or value of the consideration given for the grant of the option, no amount is chargeable to income tax under section 135 of the Taxes Act 1988 (taxation of share options) in respect of the exercise of the option.”