Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988

Shareholdings, loans etc. U.K.

135 Gains by directors and employees from share options. U.K.

(1) M1 Subject to section 185, where a person realises a gain by the exercise, or by the assignment or release, of a right to acquirbe shares in a body corporate obtained by that person as a director or employee of that or any other body corporate, he shall be chargeable to tax under Schedule E on an amount equal to the amount of his gain, as computed in accordance with this section.

(2) M2 Without prejudice to section 185, where tax may by virtue of this section become chargeable in respect of any gain which may be realised by the exercise of a right which is not capable of being exercised more than seven years after it is obtained, tax shall not be chargeable under any other provision of the Tax Acts in respect of the receipt of the right.

(3) M3 Subject to section 136(4)—

(a) the gain realised by the exercise of any such right at any time shall be taken to be the difference between the amount that a person might reasonably expect to obtain from a sale in the open market at that time of the shares acquired and the amount or value of the consideration given whether for them or for the grant of the right; and

(b) the gain realised by the assignment or release of any such right shall be taken to be the difference between the amount or value of the consideration for the assignment or release and the amount or value of the consideration given for the grant of the right;

(a just apportionment being made of any entire consideration given for the grant of the right to acquire those shares and other shares or otherwise for the grant of the right to acquire those shares and for something besides).

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) above, neither the consideration given for the grant of the right nor any such entire consideration as is mentioned in that subsection shall be taken to include the performance of any duties in or in connection with the office or employment by reason of which the right was granted, and no part of the amount or value of the consideration given for the grant shall be deducted more than once under that subsection.

(5) M4 Where such a right as is mentioned in subsection (1) above is obtained as mentioned therein and is capable of being exercised later than seven years after it is obtained, and the receipt of the right is chargeable to tax under any other provision of the Tax Acts, then—

(a) the tax so charged shall be deducted from any tax which is chargeable under subsection (1) above by reference to the gain realised by the exercise, assignment or release of that right; and

(b) for the purpose of any such charge to tax in relation to the receipt of the right, the value of the right shall be taken to be not less than the market value at the time the right is obtained—

(i) of the shares which may be acquired by the exercise of the right, or

(ii) of shares for which shares so acquired may be exchanged,

reduced by the amount or value (or, if variable, the least amount or value) of the consideration for which the shares may be so acquired.

(6) M5 subject to subsection (7) below, a person shall, in the case of a right granted by reason of his office or employment, be chargeable to tax under this section in respect of a gain realised by another person—

(a) if the right was granted to that other person, or

(b) if the other person acquired the right otherwise than by or under an assignment made by way of a bargain at arm’s length, or if the two are connected persons at the time when the gain is realised,

but in a case within paragraph (b) above the gain realised shall be treated as reduced by the amount of any gain realised by a previous holder on an assignment of the right.

(7) A person shall not be chargeable to tax by virtue of subsection (6)(b) above in respect of any gain realised by another person if the first-mentioned person was divested of the right by operation of law on his bankruptcy or otherwise, but the other person shall be chargeable to tax in respect of the gain under Case VI of Schedule D.

(8) M6 In any case where—

(a) a person has obtained any such right to acquire shares as is mentioned in subsection (1) above (“the first right”); and

(b) as to any of the shares to which the first right relates, he omits or undertakes to omit to exercise the right or grants or undertakes to grant to another a right to acquire the shares or any interest in them; and

(c) in consideration for or otherwise in connection with that omission, grant or undertaking, he receives any benefit in money or money’s worth;

he shall be treated for the purposes of this section and section 136 as realising a gain by the assignment or release of the first right, so far as it relates to the shares in question, for a consideration equal to the amount or value of the benefit referred to in paragraph (c) above.

(9) Where subsection (8) above has had effect on any occasion, nothing in that subsection affects the application of this section in relation to a gain realised on a subsequent occasion, except that on that subsequent occasion so much of the consideration given for the grant of the first right as was deducted on the first occasion shall not be deducted again.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 135 applied (6.3.1992 with effect as mentioned in s. 289(1)(2) of the amending Act) by Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (c. 12), ss.120, 289 (with ss. 60, 101(1), 171, 201(3)).

Marginal Citations

M1 Source—1970 s.186(1); 1984 s.38

M2 Source—1970 s.186(2); 1972 s.77(1); 1984 s.38

M3 Source—1970 s.186(3)

M4 Source—1972 s.77(1)-(3)

M5 Source—1970 s.186(4), (5)

M6 Source—1970 s.186(5A), (5B); 1986 s.26(1)

136 Provisions supplementary to section 135. U.K.

(1) M7 If a right to acquire shares in a body corporate is assigned or released in whole or in part for a consideration which consists of or comprises another right to acquire shares in that or any other body corporate, that other right shall not be treated as consideration for the assignment or release, but section 135 and this section shall apply in relation to it as they apply in relation to the right assigned or released and as if the consideration for its acquisition—

(a) did not include the value of the right assigned or released, but

(b) did include the amount or value of the consideration given for the grant of the right assigned or released so far as that has not been offset by any valuable consideration for the assignment or release other than the consideration consisting of the other right.

(2) M8 If—

(a) as a result of two or more transactions a person ceases to hold a right to acquire shares in a body corporate and he or a connected person comes to hold another right to acquire shares in that or any other body corporate (whether or not acquired from the person to whom the other right was assigned), and

(b) any of those transactions was effected under arrangements to which two or more persons holding rights in respect of which tax may be chargeable under this section were parties,

those transactions shall be treated for the purposes of subsection (1) above as a single transaction whereby the one right is assigned for a consideration which consists of or comprises the other right.

(3) Subsection (2) above applies in relation to two or more transactions whether they involve an assignment preceding, coinciding with or subsequent to an acquisition.

(4) In the case of a right to acquire shares granted before 3rd May 1966—

(a) the amount of the gain realised at any time by the exercise, or by the assignment or release, of the right shall not exceed the difference between the market value of those shares at that time and their market value on 3rd May 1966 (and no gain shall be treated as so realised unless the later value exceeds the earlier value); and

(b) subsection (2) of section 135 shall not affect tax chargeable under Case I of Schedule E in respect of the receipt of the right, but the amount, if any, on which tax is so chargeable shall be taken into account under subsection (3)(a) and (b) of that section in relation to the gain realised by the exercise or by the assignment or release, of the right as if that amount formed part (in addition to any other amount) of the consideration for the grant of the right.

(5) For the purposes of this section and section 135—

(a) references to the release of a right include references to agreeing to the restriction of the exercise of the right;

(b) “director” means—

(i) in relation to a body corporate the affairs of which are managed by a board of directors or similar body, a member of that board or similar body;

(ii) in relation to a body corporate the affairs of which are managed by a single director or similar person, that director or person;

(iii) in relation to a body corporate the affairs of which are managed by the members themselves, a member of the body corporate;

and includes any person who is to be or has been a director;

(c) M9 “employee”, in relation to a body corporate, includes any person taking part in the management of the affairs of the body corporate who is not a director, and includes a person who is to be or has been an employee; and

(d) M10 in so far as the context permits, “shares” includes stock;

and this section and section 135 shall apply in relation to any securities issued by a body corporate as they apply to shares in that body corporate.

(6) M11 Where in any year of assessment a body corporate grants a right in respect of which tax may become chargeable under section 135, or allots or transfers any shares in pursuance of such a right, or receives notice of the assignment of such a right or provides any benefit in money or money’s worth—

(a) for the assignment or for the release in whole or in part of such a right; or

(b) for or in connection with an omission or undertaking to omit to exercise such a right; or

(c) for or in connection with the grant or undertaking to grant a right to acquire shares or an interest in shares to which such a right relates;

it shall deliver particulars thereof in writing to the inspector not later than 30 days after the end of that year.

Marginal Citations

M7 Source—1970 s.186(6)

M8 Source—1970 s.186(7)

M9 Source—1970 ss.186(10)(c), 224(1)

M10 Source—1970 s.186(10)(d)

M11 Source—1970 s.186(11); 1986 s.26(2)

137 Payment of tax under section 135 by instalments. U.K.

M12 (1) In any case where—

(a) for any year of assessment a person is chargeable to tax under Schedule E, by virtue of section 135, on an amount equal to a gain realised by the exercise of a right to acquire shares which was obtained before 6th April 1984; and

(b) the shares acquired in the exercise of that right were acquired for a consideration which, subject to subsection (2) below, was not less than the market value (determined as for the purposes of the 1979 Act) of shares of the same class at the time the right was granted or, if the right was granted before 6th April 1982, 90 per cent. of that market value; and

(c) following an assessment for the year in which that right was exercised (“the relevant year”) an amount of tax chargeable by virtue of section 135 in respect of the amount referred to in paragraph (a) above and exceeding £250 is payable to the collector pursuant to regulations under section 203; and

(d) the person concerned makes an election in accordance with subsection (3) below, he shall be entitled to pay tax by instalments in accordance with subsection (4) below.

(2) Shares which are acquired for a consideration less than that required by paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above by reason only of a diminution in the market value of shares of that class (determined as for the purposes of the 1979 Act) which is attributable solely to the share capital of the company issuing the shares being varied after the right to acquire the shares was granted, shall for the purposes of that paragraph be regarded as having been acquired for a consideration not less than that required by that paragraph.

(3) An election under this section shall be made by notice to the inspector before the expiry of the period of 60 days beginning immediately after the end of the relevant year.

(4) Where an election has been made under this section the tax referred to in subsection (1)(c) above shall, subject to subsection (5) and (6) below, be paid in five equal instalments as follows—

(a) the first shall be due and payable at the expiry of the period of 14 days beginning on the date on which application for the tax is made pursuant to regulations under section 203;

(b) the fifth shall be due and payable on the last day of the fifth year following the end of the relevant year; and

(c) the second, third and fourth instalments shall be due on such dates as will secure, so far as may be, that the interval between any two consecutive dates is the same.

(5) In any case where the date which, apart from this subsection, would be the due date for the fifth instalment of tax under subsection (4) above is earlier than the due date referred to in paragraph (a) of that subsection, all five instalments shall be due on the later date.

(6) Tax which, by virtue of an election under this section, is not yet due and payable in accordance with subsection (4) above may nevertheless be paid at any time and shall become due and payable forthwith if the person who made the election becomes bankrupt under the law of any part of the United Kingdom.

(7) Subject to any other provision of the Income Tax Acts requiring income of any description to be treated as the highest part of a person’s income, for the purposes of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) above in determining what tax is chargeable on a person by virtue of section 135 in respect of the amount referred to in paragraph (a) of that subsection, that amount shall be treated as the highest part of his income for the relevant year.

Marginal Citations

M12 Source—1982 s.40; 1984 s.39(7), (8)

138 Share acquisitions by directors and employees. U.K.

(1) Subject to section 185and the following provisions of this section, where a person has acquired or acquires shares or an interest in shares in a body corporate in pursuance of a right conferred on him or opportunity offered to him as a director or employee of that or any other body corporate, and not in pursuance of an offer to the public—

(a) M13 if the market value of the shares at the end of the period mentioned in subsection (9)below exceeds their market value at the time of the acquisition, he shall be chargeable to tax under Schedule E for the year of assessment in which that period ends on an amount equal, except as provided by subsection (8)below, to the excess (or, if his interest is less than the full beneficial ownership, such part of that amount as corresponds to his interest);

(b) M14 if he receives, by virtue of his ownership of or interest in the shares, any benefit not received by the majority of persons who—

(i) hold shares forming part of the ordinary share capital of the same body corporate; and

(ii) have acquired the shares otherwise than as mentioned above;

and the benefit is not otherwise chargeable to income tax, he shall be chargeable to tax under Schedule E for the year of assessment in which he receives the benefit on an amount equal to the value of the benefit;and any amount chargeable under this subsection shall be treated as earned income, whether or not it would otherwise fall to be so treated.

(2) Subsection (1)above does not apply if the acquisition—

(a) M15 was made in pursuance of arrangements under which employees of a body corporate receive as part of their emoluments shares or interests in shares in that body or in a body controlling it to an extent determined in advance by reference to the profits of either body; and

(b) M16 where the arrangements were made or modified after 22nd March 1973,was of shares or an interest in shares which satisfy the conditions set out in subsection (4)(a)below and the arrangements satisfy the condition set out in subsection (4)(b)below.

(3) Subsection (1)(a)above does not apply if—

(a) M17 the acquisition was an acquisition of shares in a body and either of the following conditions was satisfied immediately after the acquisition, namely—

(i) that the shares were not subject to such restrictions as are specified in subsection (6)below, and were not exchangeable for shares subject to such restrictions, and the majority of the available shares of the same class was acquired otherwise than as mentioned in subsection (1)above; or

(ii) that the shares were not subject to such restrictions as are specified in paragraph (a)or (b)of subsection (6)below and were not exchangeable for shares subject to such restrictions, and the majority of the available shares of the same class was acquired by persons who were or had been employees or directors of, or of a body controlled by, that body and who were together able as holders of the shares to control that body; or

(b) M18 the acquisition was an acquisition after 5thApril 1984of an interest in shares which consists of units in an authorised unit trust and—

(i) prior to the acquisition the unit trust was approved by the Board for the purposes of this section and, at the time of the acquisition, continues to be so approved, and

(ii) the condition set out in subsection (7)below is fulfilled with respect to the body corporate (in that subsection referred to as “the relevant company”)directorship of or employment by which gave rise to the right or opportunity by virtue of which the acquisition was made; or

(c) M19 the acquisition took place before 6th April 1981.

(4) The conditions referred to in subsection (2)(b)above are as follows—

(a) M20 that the shares—

(i) are not subject to such restrictions as will or may result in the person acquiring the shares or an interest in the shares obtaining a benefit through an increase, subsequent to the acquisition, of the value or the value to him of the shares or interest; and

(ii) cannot (whether by one transaction or a series of transactions)be exchanged for or converted into shares which are subject to such restrictions; and

(iii) are either shares of a class quoted on a recognised stock exchange or are shares in a company which is not under the control of another company;

(b) M21 that the arrangements allow every full-time employee of the company concerned who—

(i) has been a full-time employee of that company for a continuous period of not less than five years, and

(ii) is chargeable to tax in respect of his employment under Case I of Schedule E, and

(iii) is not less than 25years old,

to acquire shares or interests in shares of the same class on similar terms.

(5) M22 For the purposes of subsection (3)(a)above—

(a) shares in a body are available shares if they are not held by or for the benefit of an associated company of that body; and

(b) shares are exchangeable for other shares if (whether by one transaction or a series of transactions)they can be exchanged for or converted into the other shares.

(6) M23 The restrictions referred to in subsection (3)(a)above are—

(a) restrictions not attaching to all shares of the same class; or

(b) restrictions ceasing or liable to cease at some time after the acquisition; or

(c) restrictions depending on the shares being or ceasing to be held by directors or employees of any body corporate (other than such restrictions imposed by a company’s articles of association as require shares to be disposed of on ceasing to be so held).

(7) M24 The condition referred to in subsection (3)(b)above is fulfilled with respect to the relevant company if, for no continuous period of one month or more, throughout which any director or employee of the relevant company either—

(a) has, by virtue of his office or employment, any such right or opportunity as is referred to in subsection (1)above to acquire units in the unit trust, or

(b) retains any beneficial interest in any units in the unit trust which he acquired in pursuance of such a right or opportunity,

do investments in the relevant company and in any other company in relation to which the relevant company is an associated company make up more than 10per cent. by value of the investments subject to the trusts of the unit trust.

(8) M25 The amount on which or on part of which the person making the acquisition is chargeable to tax under subsection (1)(a)above (“the chargeable amount”)shall, in the following cases, be reduced as follows, that is to say—

(a) where, in accordance with the terms on which the acquisition of the shares was made, the consideration for the acquisition is subsequently increased, the chargeable amount shall be reduced by an amount equal to the increase; and

(b) where, in accordance with those terms, the shares are subsequently disposed of for a consideration which is less than their market value at the time of the disposal, the chargeable amount shall be reduced so as to be equal to the excess of that consideration over the market value of the shares at the time of the acquisition;

and similarly where the interest acquired is less than the full beneficial ownership, and such assessments, alterations of assessments or repayments of tax shall be made as may be necessary to give effect to the reduction.

(9) The period referred to in subsection (1)(a)above is a period ending at the earliest of the following times—

(a) the expiration of seven years from the acquisition of the shares or interest in the shares;

(b) the time when the person making the acquisition ceases to have any beneficial interest in the shares;

(c) in relation only to a person who acquires shares, the time when by reason of their ceasing to be subject to such restrictions as are specified in subsection (6)above either of the conditions in subsection (3)(a)above would be satisfied in relation to the shares if they had been acquired at that time;

and for the purposes of subsection (1)(a)and paragraph (b)above a person whose beneficial interest in shares is reduced shall be treated as ceasing to have an interest in such part of the shares as is proportionate to the reduction.

(10) M26 Subsection (11)below applies where—

(a) a person has acquired shares or an interest in shares as mentioned in subsection (1)above (and the shares which he acquires or in which he acquires an interest are in sub-paragraphs (b)and (c)and subsection (11)below referred to as “the original shares”);and

(b) the circumstances of his acquisition of the original shares are such that the application of subsection (1)(a)above is not excluded; and

(c) after 18th March 1986by virtue of his holding of the original shares or the interest in them he acquires (whether or not for consideration)additional shares or an interest in additional shares (and the shares which he so acquires or in which he so acquires an interest are in subsection (11)below referred to as “the additional shares”).

(11) Where this subsection applies—

(a) the additional shares or, as the case may be, the interest in them shall be treated as having been acquired as mentioned in subsection (1)above and in circumstances falling within subsection (10)(b)above and, for the purposes of subsection (9)(a)above, as having been acquired at the same time as the original shares or the interest in them;

(b) for the purposes of subsections (1)(a)and (8)above, the additional shares and the original shares shall be treated as one holding of shares and the market value of the shares comprised in that holding at any time shall be determined accordingly (the market value of the original shares at the time of acquisition being attributed proportionately to all the shares in the holding); and

(c) for the purposes of those subsections, any consideration given for the acquisition of the additional shares or the interest in them shall be taken to be an increase falling within subsection (8)(a)above in the consideration for the original shares or the interest in them.

(12) M27 Subsection (1)(b)above does not apply where the benefit is received by virtue of a person’s ownership of or of an interest in shares which were acquired before 6th April 1972 F1 .

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 138, 139 repealed by Finance Act 1988 (c. 39) ss. 88, 148, Sch.14 Part VI in respect of shares issued on or after 26 October 1987, subject to transitional arrangements.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 138 applied (6.3.1992 with effect as mentioned in s. 289(1)(2) of the amending Act) by Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (c. 12), ss.120, 289 (with ss. 60, 101(1), 171, 201(3)).

Marginal Citations

M13 Source—1972 s.79(1), (4)

M14 Source—1972 c.79(1), (7)

M15 Source—1972 s.79(2)(b), (3)(b), (8)

M16 Source—1973 Sch.8 1

M17 Source—1972 s.79(2)(c); 1973 Sch.8 4(1)(a)

M18 Source—1972 s.79(2)(bb); 1984 s.40(1)

M19 Source—1972 s.79(6)

M20 Source—1973 Sch.8 1(b), 3; 1974 s.20(2)

M21 Source—1973 Sch.8 2

M22 Source—1972 s.79(2)(c); 1973 Sch.8 4(1)(a)

M23 Source—1972 s.79(2A); 1973 Sch.8 4(1)(b)

M24 Source—1972 s.79(2B); 1984 s.40(2)

M25 Source—1972 s.79(5), (6); 1973 Sch.8 4(1)(c); 1986 s.26(4)

M26 Source—1972 s.79(5A), (5B); 1986 s.26(3), (6)

M27 Source—1972 s.79(3)(a); 1974 s.20(1)(b)

139 Provisions supplementary to section 138. U.K.

(1) M28 Where—

(a) a director or employee of a body corporate acquires shares in pursuance of an opportunity to acquire shares of that class offered to directors and employees of the body in their capacity as such (“the discount offer”);and

(b) the discount offer is made in conjunction with an offer to the public (“the main offer”)under which shares of the same class may be acquired on the same terms, except that a discount in price is offered to directors and employees; and

(c) the director or employee is chargeable to tax under Schedule E on an amount equal to the discount in the price of the shares acquired by him; and

(d) at least 75per cent. of the aggregate number of shares of the class in question which are acquired in pursuance of the discount offer and the main offer taken together are shares acquired in pursuance of the main offer,

he shall be treated for the purposes of section 138(1)as acquiring the shares in pursuance of an offer to the public.

(2) Where a director or employee acquires an interest in shares, subsection (1)above shall apply as if the references in that subsection to the acquisition of shares were references to the acquisition of an interest in shares.

(3) M29 For the purposes of section 138and this section, where a person acquires any shares or an interest in shares in a body corporate in pursuance of a right conferred on him or opportunity offered to him as a person connected with a director or employee of that or any other body corporate, the shares or interest shall be deemed to be acquired by the director or employee, and section 32A(4)of the 1979Act shall apply with the necessary modifications; and where that person receives a benefit as mentioned in section 138(1)(b)the benefit shall be deemed to be received by the director or employee.

(4) For the purposes of section 138,a person who disposes of shares or an interest in shares otherwise than by a bargain at arm’s length with a person who is not connected with him shall be deemed not to cease to have a beneficial interest in the shares.

(5) M30 Where in any year of assessment a person acquires shares or an interest in shares as mentioned in section 138(1) (disregarding subsections (1)and (2)above),the body from which the shares are or the interest is acquired shall deliver to the inspector within 30days of the end of that year particulars in writing of the shares and the acquisition.

(6) M31 The Board may by notice require the managers or trustees of any unit trust scheme which is an authorised unit trust approved by the Board for the purposes of section 138to furnish to the Board within such time as they may direct (but not being less than 30days)such information as the Board think necessary for the purposes of enabling them to determine—

(a) whether the condition in subsection (7)of that section is being or has at any time been fulfilled; and

(b) the liability to tax of any unit holder whose rights were acquired as mentioned in subsection (1)of that section.

(7) M32 Subject to subsection (9)below, in determining for the purposes of section 138 (including any valuation made for those purposes)whether shares which, or interests in which, have been acquired or are or are to be acquired by any person are subject to any restrictions, there shall be regarded as a restriction attaching to the shares any contract, agreement, arrangement or condition by which his freedom to dispose of the shares or any interest in them or to exercise any right conferred by them is restricted or by which such a disposal or exercise may result in any disadvantages to him or a person connected with him, except where the restriction is imposed as a condition of a loan which is not a related loan as defined by subsection (8)below.

This subsection does not apply where the person acquired the shares before 19th October 1972.

(8) A loan made to any person is a related loan for the purposes of subsection (7)above if—

(a) it is made, arranged, guaranteed or in any way facilitated by—

(i) the body corporate of which he is a director or employee, or

(ii) an associated company of that body, or

(iii) if that body or an associated company of it is a close company, any person having a material interest in the close company; or

(b) it is made to a person connected with another person and would have been such a loan if it had been made to that other person;

but a loan made by the body corporate, associated company or person mentioned in paragraph (a)above is not a related loan if that body, company or person carries on a business of making personal loans and the loan is made in the ordinary course of that business.

(9) For the purposes of section 138(3)(a),shares acquired by any person shall not, by virtue of subsection (7)above, be regarded as subject to any restriction by reason only of any contract, agreement, arrangement or condition providing for the disposal of the shares, when that person ceases to hold the office or employment by virtue of which he acquired the shares, to a person nominated in accordance with the contract, agreement, arrangement or condition if he is required to dispose of them at a price not exceeding their market value.

(10) M33 Any reference in subsection (7)above to a contract, agreement, arrangement or condition does not include a reference to so much of any contract, agreement, arrangement or condition as contains provisions similar in purpose and effect to any of the provisions of the Model Rules set out in the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Companies issued by the Stock Exchange in November 1984.

(11) In section 138and this section— M34

• “associated company” has the meaning given by section 416;

• “control” has the meaning given by section 840;

• “director” includes a person who is to be a director;

• “employee” includes a person who is to be an employee;

• “full-time”, in relation to an employee, means required to devote substantially the whole of his time to service as an employee;

• “shares” includes stock and securities and references to an interest in any shares include references to the proceeds of sale of part of the shares; and

• “units”, in relation to an authorised unit trust, means an entitlement to a share in the investments subject to that trust.

(12) For the purposes of section 138and this section, section 168(11)shall apply for determining whether a person has a material interest in a company, but with the omission of the words following “ 417(3) ”.

(13) M35 If, on a person ceasing to have a beneficial interest in any shares, he acquires, after 18th March 1986,other shares or an interest in other shares and the circumstances are such that, for the purposes of sections 78to 81of the 1979Act (reorganisations etc.)the shares in which he ceases to have a beneficial interest constitute original shares and the other shares constitute a new holding—

(a) section 78of that Act (which equates the original shares with the new holding)shall apply for the purposes of this section and section 138;

(b) if any such consideration is given for the new holding as is mentioned in section 79(1)of that Act, it shall be treated for the purposes of this section and section 138as an increase falling within section 138(8)(a)in the consideration for the shares; and

(c) if any such consideration is received for the disposal of the original shares as is mentioned in section 79(2)of the 1979Act—

(i) the consideration shall be apportioned among the shares comprised in the new holding, and

(ii) the amount which, apart from this paragraph, would at any subsequent time be the market value of any of those shares shall be taken to be increased by the amount of the consideration apportioned to them;

and in paragraphs (a)to (c)above “the original shares” shall be construed in accordance with sections 78to 81of the 1979Act.

(14) M36 In any case where section 138(1)applies and the acquisition was an acquisition of units in an authorised unit trust—

(a) any reference in section 138(1)(a), (8)or (9)or subsection (4)above or section 32A(4)of the 1979Act to shares shall be construed as references to units; and

(b) any reference in those provisions to an interest in shares shall be omitted F2 .

Textual Amendments

F2 Repealed by 1988(F) s.148and Sch.14 Part VIin relation to acquisitions on or after 26October 1987.

Marginal Citations

M28 Source—1972 s.79(1A), (1B); 1984 s.41(1)

M29 Source—1972 s.79(10), (11)

M30 Source—1972 Sch.12 3; 1984 s.41(2)

M31 Source—1972 Sch.12 3A; 1984 s.40(4)

M32 Source—1973 Sch.8 5-7; 1982 s.41

M33 Source—11982 s.41; 1986 s.23(4)

M34 Source—1973 Sch.8 35; 1972 Sch.12 6, 8

M35 Source—1972 s.79(6A); 1986 s.26(5)

M36 Source—1972 s.79(4A); 1984 s.40(3)

140 Further interpretation of sections 135 to 139. U.K.

M37 (1) For the purposes of section 135, 136, 138 or 139, a right to acquire shares is obtained by a person as a director or employee (within the meaning of the section in question) of a body corporate—

(a) if it is granted to him by reason of his office or employment as such a director or employee who is chargeable to tax in respect of that office or employment under Case I of Schedule E; or

(b) if the right is assigned to him and was granted by reason of any such office or employment of his to some other person;

and paragraph (a) above shall apply to a right granted by reason of a person’s office or employment after he has ceased to hold it if it would apply to a right so granted in the last chargeable period in which he did hold it.

(2) M38 For those purposes any question whether a person is connected with another shall be determined in accordance with section 839.

(3) M39 For those purposes—

• “market value” has the same meaning as, for the purposes of the 1979 Act, it has by virtue of section 150 of that Act; and

• “securities” has the meaning given by section 254(1).

Marginal Citations

M37 Source—1970 s.186(9); 1972 Sch.12 7

M38 Source—1970 s.186(10)(b); 1972 Sch.12 9

M39 Source—1972 s.77(3), 79(12), Sch.12 6; 1970 s.186(10)

Valid from 31/07/1998

[F3 140A Conditional acquisition of shares. U.K.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a beneficial interest in any shares in a company (“the employee"s interest’) is acquired by any person (“the employee") as a director or employee of that or another company; and

(b) the employee acquires that interest on terms that make his interest in the shares only conditional.

(2) If the terms on which the employee acquires the employee’s interest are such that his interest in the shares in question will or might continue to be only conditional until a time more than five years after his acquisition of the interest, tax shall be chargeable under Schedule E in respect of that interest on the basis that it is emoluments of the office or employment concerned.

(3) In any other case, there shall (subject to the following provisions of this section) be no tax chargeable on the employee under Schedule E in respect of his acquisition of the interest except any tax which is so chargeable by virtue only of section 135 or 162.

(4) If, in a case falling within subsection (2) or (3) above—

(a) the shares cease, without the employee ceasing to have a beneficial interest in them, to be shares in which the employee’s interest is only conditional, or

(b) the employee, not having become chargeable by virtue of this subsection in relation to the shares, sells or otherwise disposes of the employee’s interest or any other beneficial interest in them,

he shall, for the year of assessment in which they so cease, or in which the sale or other disposal takes place, be chargeable to tax under Schedule E on the amount specified in subsection (5) below.

(5) That amount is the amount (if any) by which the sum of the deductible amounts is exceeded by the market value of the employee’s interest immediately after that interest ceases to be only conditional or, as the case may be, at the time of the sale or other disposal.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) above the market value of the employee’s interest at any time is the amount that might reasonably be expected to be obtained from a sale of that interest in the open market at that time.

(7) For those purposes the deductible amounts are—

(a) the amount or value of the consideration given for the employee’s interest;

(b) any amounts on which the employee has become chargeable to tax under Schedule E in respect of his acquisition of the employee’s interest;

(c) any amounts on which the employee has, by reference to an event occurring not later than the time of the event by virtue of which a charge arises under this section, become chargeable to tax in respect of the shares under section 78 or 79 of the M40 Finance Act 1988 (unapproved employee share schemes).

(8) Where the employee dies holding the employee’s interest this section shall have effect—

(a) as if he had disposed of that interest immediately before his death; and

(b) as if the market value of the interest at the time of that disposal were to be determined for the purposes of subsection (5) above on the basis-

(i) that it is known that the disposal is being made immediately before the employee’s death; and

(ii) that any restriction on disposal subject to which the employee holds the shares is to be disregarded in so far as it is a restriction terminating on his death.

(9) Any reference in this section or section 140B or 140C to shares in a company includes a reference to securities issued by a company; and the references in subsection (7)(c) above to an event include references to the expiry of a period.]

Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 140A-140C inserted (with application in accordance with s. 50(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 50(1)

Marginal Citations

M40 1988 c. 39.

Valid from 31/07/1998

[F3 140B Consideration for shares conditionally acquired. U.K.

(1) This section applies in relation to any shares for determining the amount or value of the consideration referred to in section 140A(7)(a).

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, that consideration is any given by—

(a) the employee; or

(b) in a case where section 140H(1)(b) applies and the shares were acquired by another person, that other person,

in respect of the acquisition of an interest in the shares.

(3) The amount or value of the consideration given by any person for an interest in the shares shall include—

(a) the amount or value of any consideration given for a right to acquire those shares; and

(b) the amount or value of any consideration given for anything by virtue of which the employee’s interest in the shares ceases to be only conditional.

(4) Where any consideration is given partly in respect of one thing and partly in respect of another, the amount given in respect of the different things shall be determined on a just and reasonable apportionment.

(5) The consideration which for the purposes of this section is taken to be given wholly or partly for anything shall not include the performance of any duties of or in connection with the office or employment by reference to which the interest in the shares in question has been acquired by a person as a director or employee of a company.

(6) No amount shall be counted more than once in the computation of the amount or value of any consideration.

(7) Subsections (1) to (3) of section 136 shall apply for determining for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) above the amount or value of the consideration given for a right to acquire any shares as they apply for determining such an amount for the purposes of section 135.]

Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 140A-140C inserted (with application in accordance with s. 50(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 50(1)

Valid from 31/07/1998

[F3 140C Cases where interest to be treated as only conditional. U.K.

(1) For the purposes of sections 140A and 140B (but subject to the following provisions of this section) a beneficial interest in shares is only conditional for so long as the terms on which the person with that interest is entitled to it—

(a) provide that, if certain circumstances arise, or do not arise, there will be a transfer, reversion or forfeiture as a result of which that person will cease to be entitled to any beneficial interest in the shares; and

(b) are not such that, on the transfer, reversion or forfeiture, that person will be entitled in respect of his interest to receive an amount equal to or more than the amount that might reasonably be expected (if there were no provision for transfer, reversion or forfeiture) to be obtained from a sale of that interest in the open market at that time.

[F4 (1A) A person shall not for the purposes of sections 140A and 140B be taken, in relation to any shares in a company or any security, to have an interest which is only conditional by reason only that one or more of subsections (2) to (4) below applies in relation to him.]

(2) [F5 This subsection applies in relation to a person if], in a case where there is no restriction on the meeting of calls by that person, the shares—

(a) are unpaid or partly paid; and

(b) may be forfeited for non-payment of calls.

(3) [F6 This subsection applies in relation to a person if] the articles of association of the company require him to offer the shares for sale [F7 or transfer them][F8 if he ceases to be an officer or employee of the company or of one or more group companies or of any group company.]

[F9 (3A) This subsection applies in relation to a person if he may be required to offer the shares for sale or transfer them, if, as a result of misconduct, he ceases to be an officer or employee of the company or of one or more group companies or of any group company.]

(4) [F10 This subsection applies in relation to a person if] the security may be redeemed on payment of any amount.

(5) In subsection (1) above the references, in relation to the terms of a person’s entitlement, to circumstances arising include references—

(a) to the expiration of a period specified in or determined under those terms or the death of that person or any other person; and

(b) to the exercise by any person of any power conferred on him by or under those terms.

[F11 (6) For the purposes of this section—

(a) a company is a “group company” in relation to another company if they are members of the same group, and

(b) companies are taken to be members of the same group if, and only if, one is a 51 per cent. subsidiary of the other or both are 51 per cent. subsidiaries of a third company.]]

Textual Amendments

F3 Ss. 140A-140C inserted (with application in accordance with s. 50(4) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 50(1)

F4 S. 140C(1A) inserted (retrospectively) by Finance Act 1999 (c. 16), s. 43(2)(7)

F5 Words in s. 140C(2) substituted (retrospectively) by Finance Act 1999 (c. 16), s. 43(3)(7)

F6 Words in s. 140C(3) substituted (retrospectively) by Finance Act 1999 (c. 16), s. 43(3)(7)

F7 Words in s. 140C(3) inserted (retrospectively) by Finance Act 1999 (c. 16), s. 43(4)(a)(7)

F8 Words in s. 140C(3) substituted (retrospectively) by Finance Act 1999 (c. 16), s. 43(4)(b)(7)

F9 S. 140C(3A) inserted (retrospectively) by Finance Act 1999 (c. 16), s. 43(5)(7)

F10 Words in s. 140C(4) substituted (retrospectively) by Finance Act 1999 (c. 16), s. 43(3)(7)

F11 S. 140C(6) added (retrospectively) by Finance Act 1999 (c. 16), s. 43(6)(7)

Valid from 31/07/1998

[F12 140D Convertible shares. U.K.

(1) This section applies where a person (“the employee") has acquired convertible shares in a company as a director or employee of that or another company.

(2) For the purposes of this section shares are convertible wherever they—

(a) confer on the holder an immediate or conditional entitlement to convert them into shares of a different class; or

(b) are held on terms that authorise or require the grant of such an entitlement to the holder if certain circumstances arise, or do not arise.

(3) The employee shall be chargeable to tax under Schedule E if, at a time when he has a beneficial interest in them, the shares are converted into shares of a different class in pursuance of any entitlement to convert them that has been conferred on the holder.

(4) A charge by virtue of this section shall be a charge for the year of assessment in which the conversion occurs on the amount of the gain from the conversion.

(5) The amount of the gain from the conversion is the amount (if any) by which the market value at the time of the conversion of the shares into which the convertible shares are converted exceeds the sum of the deductible amounts.

(6) The deductible amounts are—

(a) the amount or value of any consideration given for the convertible shares;

(b) the amount or value of any consideration given for the conversion in question;

(c) any amounts on which the employee has become chargeable to tax under Schedule E in respect of his acquisition of those shares;

(d) any amounts on which the employee has, by reference to an event occurring not later than the time of the conversion, become chargeable to tax in respect of the shares under section 78 or 79 of the M41 Finance Act 1988 (unapproved employee share schemes);

(e) if the convertible shares were acquired through a series of conversions each of which was a taxable conversion, the amount of the gain from each conversion, so far as not falling within paragraph (c) above.

(7) In subsection (6) above the reference to a taxable conversion is a reference to any conversion which—

(a) gave rise to a gain on which the employee was chargeable to tax by virtue of this section, or

(b) would have given rise to such a gain but for the fact that the market value of the shares at the time of the conversion did not exceed the sum of the deductible amounts.

(8) Tax shall not be chargeable by virtue of this section if—

(a) the conversion is a conversion of shares of one class only (“the original class") into shares of one other class only (“the new class");

(b) all shares of the original class are converted into shares of the new class; and

(c) one of the conditions in subsection (9) below is fulfilled.

(9) The conditions referred to in subsection (8) above are—

(a) that immediately before the conversion the majority of the company’s shares of the original class are held otherwise than by or for the benefit of—

(i) directors or employees of the company;

(ii) an associated company of the company; or

(iii) directors or employees of such an associated company;

and

(b) that immediately before the conversion the company is employee-controlled by virtue of holdings of shares of the original class.

(10) Tax shall not be chargeable by virtue of this section where the interest which the employee acquires in the shares into which the convertible shares are converted is an interest which (within the meaning given for the purposes of section 140A by section 140C) is only conditional.]

Textual Amendments

F12 Ss. 140D-140F inserted (with application in accordance with s. 51(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 51(1)

Marginal Citations

M41 1988 c. 39.

Valid from 31/07/1998

[F12 140E Consideration for convertible shares. U.K.

(1) This section applies in relation to any shares for determining the amount or value of the consideration referred to in section 140D(6)(a) or (b).

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the consideration referred to in section 140D(6)(a) is any consideration given by—

(a) the employee; or

(b) in a case where section 140H(1)(b) applies and the shares were acquired by another person, that other person,

in respect of the acquisition of the shares.

(3) The amount or value of the consideration given by any person for any shares shall include the amount or value of any consideration given for a right to acquire those shares.

(4) Where any consideration is given partly in respect of one thing and partly in respect of another, the amount given in respect of the different things shall be determined on a just and reasonable apportionment.

(5) The consideration which for the purposes of this section is taken to be given wholly or partly for anything shall not include the performance of any duties of or in connection with the office or employment by reference to which the shares in question have been acquired by a person as a director or employee of a company.

(6) No amount shall be counted more than once in the computation of the amount or value of any consideration.

(7) Subsections (1) to (3) of section 136 shall apply for determining for the purposes of subsection (3) above the amount or value of the consideration given for a right to acquire any shares as they apply for determining such an amount for the purposes of section 135.]

Textual Amendments

F12 Ss. 140D-140F inserted (with application in accordance with s. 51(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 51(1)

Valid from 31/07/1998

[F12 140F Supplemental provision with respect to convertible shares. U.K.

(1) Where—

(a) a person has an interest in any convertible shares at the time of his death,

(b) those shares are converted into shares of a different class either on his death or within the following twelve months, and

(c) the conversion takes place wholly or partly as a consequence of his death,

section 140D shall have effect as if the conversion had taken place immediately before his death and had been in pursuance of an entitlement to convert conferred on the deceased.

(2) In section 140D(2) the references, in relation to the terms of a person’s entitlement, to circumstances arising include references—

(a) to the expiration of a period specified in or determined under those terms or the death of that person or any other person; and

(b) to the exercise by any person of any power conferred on him by or under those terms.

(3) For the purposes of section 140D, the market value of any shares at any time is the amount that might reasonably be expected to be obtained from a sale of the shares in the open market at that time.

(4) In this section and section 140D “associated company” has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of Part XI by virtue of section 416.

(5) For the purposes of section 140D a company is employee-controlled by virtue of holdings of shares of a class if—

(a) the majority of the company’s shares of that class (other than any held by or for the benefit of an associated company) are held by or for the benefit of employees or directors of the company or a company controlled by the company; and

(b) those directors and employees are together able as holders of the shares to control the company.

(6) The provisions of sections 140D and 140E and this section apply in relation to an interest in shares as they apply in relation to shares.

(7) Section 840 (control) applies for the purposes of this section.]

Textual Amendments

F12 Ss. 140D-140F inserted (with application in accordance with s. 51(3) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 51(1)

Valid from 31/07/1998

[F13 140G Information for the purposes of sections 140A to 140F. U.K.

(1) Where—

(a) any person provides any individual with an interest in shares which is only conditional, and

(b) the circumstances are such that—

(i) the acquisition of that interest by that individual,

(ii) its subsequently ceasing to be only conditional,

(iii) its subsequent disposal, or

(iv) the death of the individual,

gives rise or may give rise to a charge under section 140A on that individual,

each of the relevant persons shall deliver to an officer of the Board particulars in writing of the interest and its provision.

(2) Where—

(a) a person has an interest in any shares which is only conditional,

(b) those shares cease to be shares in which that person’s interest is only conditional or are disposed of or that person dies, and

(c) that event gives rise to a charge under section 140A(4),

each of the relevant persons shall deliver to an officer of the Board particulars in writing of the shares and the event.

(3) Where—

(a) any person has provided any individual with any convertible shares in a company,

(b) those shares are subsequently converted into shares of a different class, and

(c) the circumstances are such that the conversion gives rise or may give rise to a charge under section 140D on that individual,

each of the relevant persons shall deliver to an officer of the Board particulars in writing of the shares and their conversion.

(4) For the purposes of this section the relevant persons are—

(a) the person who is providing, or who provided, the shares in question; and

(b) the person under or with whom the office or employment is or was held by reference to which the charge may arise or has arisen.

(5) Particulars required to be delivered under this section must be delivered no later than thirty days after the end of the year of assessment in which the interest is provided, the event occurs or the conversion takes place.

(6) Expressions used in this section and in section 140A or 140D above have the same meanings in this section as in section 140A or, as the case may be, section 140D.]

Textual Amendments

F13 S. 140G inserted (31.7.1998) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 52(1)

Valid from 31/07/1998

[F14 140H Construction of sections 140A to 140G. U.K.

(1) For the purposes of sections 140A to 140G and this section, a person acquires any shares or securities as a director or employee of a company if—

(a) he acquires them in pursuance of a right conferred on him, or an opportunity offered to him, by reason of his office or employment as a director or employee of the company; or

(b) the shares or securities are, or a right or opportunity in pursuance of which he acquires them is, assigned to him after being acquired by, conferred on or, as the case may be, offered to some other person by reason of the assignee’s office or employment as a director or employee of the company.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, the references in subsection (1) above to a right or opportunity conferred or offered by reason of a person’s office or employment shall be taken to include—

(a) a reference to one so conferred or offered after he has ceased to hold it; and

(b) a reference to one that arises from the fact that any shares which a person acquires as a director or employee (or is treated as so acquiring by virtue of this paragraph) are convertible for the purposes of section 140D.

(3) For the purposes of this section—

(a) the references in subsections (1) and (2) above to a person’s office or employment are references only to an office or employment in respect of which he is chargeable to tax under Case I of Schedule E; but

(b) subsection (2)(a) above shall not apply where a right or opportunity conferred or offered in the last chargeable period in which the office or employment was held by the person in question would not have fallen to be taken into account for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above.

(4) Without prejudice to subsection (2)(b) above where—

(a) a person has acquired an interest in any shares or securities which is only conditional or has acquired any convertible shares,

(b) he acquired that interest or those shares as a director or employee of a company, or is treated by virtue of this subsection as having done so, and

(c) as a result of any two or more transactions—

(i) he ceases to be entitled to that interest or those shares, and

(ii) he or a connected person becomes entitled to any interest in any shares or securities which is only conditional or to any convertible shares,

he shall be treated for the purposes of sections 140A to 140G as if the interest or shares to which he becomes entitled were also acquired by him as a director or employee of the company in question.

(5) Sections 140C and 140D(2) have effect for the purposes of subsection (4) above as they have effect for the purposes of sections 140A and 140B and section 140D respectively.

(6) References in sections 140A to 140G or this section to the terms on which a person is entitled to an interest in shares or securities include references to any terms imposed by any contract or arrangement or in any other way.

(7) References in this section to shares or to securities include references to an interest in shares or, as the case may be, securities.

(8) Subsection (5) of section 136 applies for the purposes of sections 140A to 140G and this section as it applies for the purposes of that section but as if—

(a) references to a body corporate were references to a company;

(b) at the end of paragraph (d) there were inserted “or any other interest of a member of a company"; and

(c) the words after paragraph (d) were omitted.

(9) Section 839 applies for the purposes of this section.]

Textual Amendments

F14 S. 140H inserted (31.7.1998) by Finance Act 1998 (c. 36), s. 53