Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003

Time of eligibility to participate

14 (1) The plan must provide that an individual may only participate in an award of shares if the individual is eligible to participate in the award at the appropriate time mentioned below.

(2) In the case of an award of free shares, the appropriate time is the time when the award is made.

(3) In the case of an award of partnership shares where the plan does not provide for an accumulation period, the appropriate time is the time of the deduction of the partnership share money relating to the award.

(4) In the case of an award of partnership shares where the plan does provide for an accumulation period, the appropriate time is the time of the first deduction of partnership share money relating to the award.

(5) In the case of an award of matching shares where the plan does not provide for an accumulation period, the appropriate time is the time of the deduction of the partnership share money relating to the award of partnership shares to which the matching shares relate.

(6) In the case of an award of matching shares where the plan does provide for an accumulation period, the appropriate time is the time of the first deduction of partnership share money relating to the award of partnership shares to which the matching shares relate.

(7) For the purposes of this paragraph an individual is eligible to participate in an award of shares under the plan if and only if the requirements of the plan are met as to—

(a) employment (see paragraph 15),

(b) not participating in other SIPs (see paragraph 18), and

(c) not having a material interest (see paragraph 19).

(8) In the case of an individual within paragraph 8(5) (all-employee nature of plan: non-UK resident taxpayer), the individual is not eligible to participate in an award of shares under the plan unless (in addition to the requirements mentioned in sub-paragraph (7)) any further eligibility requirements of the plan are met.