Finance Act 2004

88 Shares under approved plans and schemes U.K.

(1) The Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 is amended as follows.

(2) Omit section 421G (exclusion from Chapters 2 to 4 of Part 7 of shares awarded or acquired under approved plan or scheme).

(3) In Chapter 2 of Part 7 (restricted securities), after section 431 insert—

“431A Shares under approved plan or scheme

(1) Where employment-related securities are restricted securities or a restricted interest in securities, the employer and the employee are to be treated as making an election under section 431(1) in relation to the employment-related securities if they are shares, or an interest in shares, to which this subsection applies.

(2) Subsection (1) applies to—

(a) shares awarded or acquired under an approved share incentive plan (within the meaning of Chapter 6 of this Part) in circumstances in which (in accordance with section 490) no liability to income tax arises,

(b) shares acquired by the exercise of a share option granted under an approved SAYE option scheme (within the meaning of Chapter 7 of this Part) in circumstances in which (in accordance with section 519) no liability to income tax arises,

(c) shares acquired by the exercise of a share option granted under an approved CSOP scheme (within the meaning of Chapter 8 of this Part) in circumstances in which (in accordance with section 524) no liability to income tax arises, and

(d) shares acquired by the exercise of a qualifying option within the meaning of section 527(4) (enterprise management incentives) in circumstances in which (in accordance with section 530) no liability to income tax arises.”.

(4) In section 489 (operation of tax advantages in connection with approved share incentive plans), after subsection (3) insert—

“(4) And those sections do not apply if the main purpose (or one of the main purposes) of the arrangements under which the shares in question are awarded or acquired is the avoidance of tax or national insurance contributions.”.

(5) In sections 505 and 506 (charge on shares ceasing to be subject to approved share incentive plan), after subsection (4) insert—

“(4A) Any tax due under subsection (2) or (3) is reduced by the amount or aggregate amount of any tax paid by virtue of Chapter 3B of this Part in relation to the shares.”.

(6) In section 519(1) (approved SAYE option schemes: no charge in respect of exercise of option) insert at the end “and

(c) the avoidance of tax or national insurance contributions is not the main purpose (or one of the main purposes) of any arrangements under which the option was granted or is exercised.”.

(7) In section 524(1) (approved CSOP schemes: no charge in respect of exercise of option) insert at the end “and

(c) the avoidance of tax or national insurance contributions is not the main purpose (or one of the main purposes) of any arrangements under which the option was granted or is exercised.”.

(8) Section 701 (PAYE: meaning of “asset”) is amended as follows.

(9) In subsection (2)(c)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (ia), for the words after “employee” substitute “ under a scheme approved under Schedule 4 (approved CSOP schemes) in circumstances in which Condition A or B as set out in section 524(2) or (2A) is met; ”,

(b) omit sub-paragraph (ii), and

(c) in sub-paragraph (iii), after “1996” insert “ where the avoidance of tax or national insurance contributions is not the main purpose (or one of the main purposes) of any arrangements under which the right was obtained or is exercised ”.

(10) After subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) does not apply to shares after their acquisition as mentioned in that paragraph.”.

(11) This section has effect on and after 18th June 2004 and (so far as it does not relate to the award or acquisition of shares) applies in relation to shares awarded or acquired before that date as well as in relation to those awarded or acquired on or after that date.

(12) Where section 431A(1) of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (c. 1) (as inserted by subsection (3)) has effect (by virtue of subsection (11)) in relation to shares acquired before 18th June 2004, it applies in relation to them so as to treat an election under section 431(1) of that Act as made in relation to them on that date.

(13) For the purposes of the application of Chapter 3B of Part 7 of that Act (securities with artificially enhanced market value) by reason of subsections (2) and (11) in relation to shares acquired before 18th June 2004, section 446O of that Act (meaning of “relevant period”) has effect as if they were acquired on that date.