Non tax-advantaged share option schemes

Produced by a Tolley Personal Tax expert

Personal Tax

Guidance

Summary

As with any other discretionary option plan, a non tax-advantaged share option plan involves the granting of a specific number of options to an individual. These options provide that the individual can, at an agreed date or point in time, acquire a given number of shares (the underlying shares) for a fixed price. These share schemes used to be known as ‘unapproved’ share option plans.

Given that there is both no up-front cost to acquiring the options and no requirement for the individual to pay over any monies unless the underlying shares increase in value, there is little risk attached to the receipt of options. As a result, the tax treatment and tax rates applicable will often appear to be very similar to cash bonuses.

Key considerations

Grant of options

The terms of the options need to be set out in a suitable legal document known as ‘the Rules’. The Rules govern all pertinent matters between the company and employee and, given the tax complexities that can occur in such arrangements, a suitable and up

Continue reading the full document

To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™

TAKE A FREE TRIAL NOW

Popular Articles

Owner-Managed Businesses

Trade or hobby

Trade or hobbyInteraction of hobby farming rules and commercialityFarming has its own set of ‘hobby farming rules’, which historically have stated that a profit must be made every six years. This is known as ‘the five-year rule’, in that there can be five years of losses but there must be a profit

14 Jul 2020 13:50 | Produced by Tolley Read more

Employment Tax

Non-business expenses

Non-business expensesIntroductionIn order for an expense to be tax deductible it must be incurred because of an employee’s employment. Any non-business related expense is, therefore, not relievable except in some very particular circumstances.This guidance note deals with three separate issues. The

14 Jul 2020 12:16 | Produced by Tolley Read more

Exemption ― insurance ― overview

Exemption ― insurance ― overviewThis guidance note provides an overview of the VAT treatment of insurance products and should be read in conjunction with the Insurance ― specific transactions and Exemption ― insurance ― brokers and agents guidance notes.Is insurance exempt from VAT?Supplies of

��Ƶ