Part 7A

Employment income provided through third parties
CHAPTER 1

Application etc

Exclusions

Exclusions: earmarking for employee share schemes (4)
554M
1
This section applies if—
a
there is an arrangement (“B's employee share scheme”) under which, in respect of A's employment with B, a right (“a relevant share option”) may be granted to A—
i
to acquire relevant shares, or
ii
to receive a sum of money the amount of which is to be determined by reference to the market value of any relevant shares at the time the sum is to be paid,
b
the main purpose of the grant of the relevant share option would not be the provision of relevant benefits,
c
the relevant shares would be—
i
shares (including stock) in, or
ii
instruments within paragraph (b) of the definition of “relevant shares” in section 554I(4) issued by,
a trading company or a company which controls a trading company,
d
the grant would be made on terms (“the deferred grant terms”) the main purpose of which is to ensure that the relevant share option is exercisable by A only if a specified exit event, or an exit event within a specified description, occurs, and
e
as at the time the grant is made, there would be a reasonable chance that the specified exit event, or an exit event within the specified description, will occur.
2
Chapter 2 does not apply by reason of a relevant step within section 554B (by reason of which it would otherwise apply) taken by a person (“P”) if—
a
the subject of the relevant step is relevant shares (“earmarked shares”) which are earmarked, or otherwise start being held, solely with a view to providing relevant shares, or paying a sum of money, pursuant to—
i
a relevant share option granted to A under B's employee share scheme as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) in relation to which the requirements of subsection (1)(b) to (e) are met, or
ii
a relevant share option which is expected to be granted to A under B's employee share scheme as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) and in relation to which the requirements of subsection (1)(b) to (e) would be met,
b
the number of relevant shares of any type which are earmarked shares does not exceed the maximum number of relevant shares of that type which might reasonably be expected to be needed for providing shares, or paying a sum of money, pursuant to the relevant share option which is granted or expected to be granted, and
c
there is no connection (direct or indirect) between the relevant step and a tax avoidance arrangement.
3
If the relevant step mentioned in subsection (2) is taken in relation to an expected grant of a relevant share option as mentioned in subsection (2)(a)(ii), subsection (4) applies if—
a
the grant is not made before the end of the date (“the final grant date”) falling immediately after the period of three months starting with the date on which P takes the relevant step, and
b
as at the end of the final grant date, any of the earmarked shares continue to be held by or on behalf of P solely on the basis mentioned in subsection (2)(a).
4
This Part has effect as if a relevant step within section 554B were taken at the end of the final grant date—
a
the subject of which is—
i
the shares which continue to be held as mentioned in subsection (3)(b), and
ii
any relevant income in relation to those shares (see subsection (14)), and
b
by reason of which Chapter 2 is to apply (subject only to section 554A(4)).
5
Subsection (6) applies if, at any time (“
the relevant time
”)—
a
any of the earmarked shares cease to be held by or on behalf of P solely on the basis mentioned in subsection (2)(a), but
b
the shares continue to be held by or on behalf of P on the basis mentioned in section 554B(1)(a) or (b).
6
This Part has effect as if a relevant step within section 554B were taken at the relevant time—
a
the subject of which is—
i
the shares mentioned in subsection (5), and
ii
any relevant income in relation to those shares (see subsection (14)), and
b
by reason of which Chapter 2 is to apply (subject only to section 554A(4)).
7
Subsection (8) applies if—
a
the relevant step mentioned in subsection (2) is taken in relation to a grant of a relevant share option made as mentioned in subsection (2)(a)(i), or
b
the relevant step mentioned in subsection (2) is taken in relation to an expected grant of a relevant share option as mentioned in subsection (2)(a)(ii) and the grant is made before the end of the final grant date,
and the specified exit event, or an exit event within the specified description, occurs.
8
This Part has effect as if a relevant step within section 554B were taken at the end of the exit period—
a
the subject of which is—
i
any of the earmarked shares to which none of subsections (9) to (11) applies, and
ii
any relevant income in relation to any of the earmarked shares mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) (see subsection (14)), and
b
by reason of which Chapter 2 is to apply (subject only to section 554A(4)).
9
This subsection applies to any earmarked shares if—
a
A exercises the relevant share option (wholly or partly) before the end of the exit period and, as a result, receives the shares, and
b
the receipt of the shares gives rise to employment income of A—
i
which is chargeable to income tax or would be chargeable apart from
Chapter 5B of Part 2
, or
ii
which is exempt income.
10
This subsection applies to any earmarked shares if—
a
A exercises the relevant share option (wholly or partly) before the end of the exit period and, as a result, a sum of money is paid to A as mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(ii),
b
the payment of the sum gives rise to employment income of A—
i
which is chargeable to income tax or would be chargeable apart from
Chapter 5B of Part 2
, or
ii
which is exempt income, and
c
the payment represents the proceeds of the disposal of the shares, or the payment is made from another source and, correspondingly, the shares are no longer held by any person in relation to the relevant share option.
11
This subsection applies to any earmarked shares if—
a
the relevant share option becomes exercisable by A before the end of the exit period but the option lapses (in whole or in part) at or before the end of that period, and
b
correspondingly, the shares are no longer held by any person in relation to the relevant share option.
12
In subsections (8), (9)(a), (10)(a) and (11)(a) “
the exit period
” means—
a
the period of six months starting with the date on which the exit event occurs, or
b
if it ends earlier, the period during which the relevant share option is exercisable by A in accordance with the deferred grant terms.
13
If the exit event is an event within section 554I(6)(a), in subsection (12)(a) the reference to six months is to be read as a reference to five years.
14
In subsections (4)(a)(ii), (6)(a)(ii) and (8)(a)(ii) “
relevant income
”, in relation to any earmarked shares, means any income—
a
which, before the relevant step is treated as being taken by subsection (4), (6) or (8) (as the case may be)—
i
arises (directly or indirectly) from the shares, and
ii
is the subject of a relevant step within section 554B taken by P by reason of which Chapter 2 would apply apart from section 554Q, and
b
which, at the time the relevant step is treated as being taken, continues to be held by or on behalf of P on the basis mentioned in section 554B(1)(a) or (b).
Words in s. 554M(9)(b)(i) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 9 para. 48 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 9 paras. 19(2), 47
Pt. 7A inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 2 paras. 52-59 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2011 (c. 11), Sch. 2 para. 1
Words in s. 554M(10)(b)(i) substituted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 9 para. 48 of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2014 (c. 26), Sch. 9 paras. 19(3), 47
Pt. 7A modified (16.11.2017) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), Sch. 11 para. 35(6)
Pt. 7A modified (22.7.2020) by 2017 c. 32, Sch. 11 para. 1A(2)(6) (as inserted by Finance Act 2020 (c. 14), s. 16(3))
Pt. 7A modified (16.11.2017) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2017 (c. 32), Sch. 11 para. 1(8)