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How are stock options taxed in the uk

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how are stock options taxed in the uk

Robert Taxed and Rob Pearce consider the forthcoming changes to the UK taxation of share awards for internationally mobile employees. FA introduced new legislation to change the UK taxation of share income for internationally mobile employees; these rules take effect from 6 April HMRC also published a consultation to change the NIC treatment. Draft legislation has been published and is intended to also take effect from April The new tax rules may significantly change the UK income tax and NIC treatment of employment related securities for mobile employees. These rules apply to all chargeable events occurring after Aprilirrespective of the date of grant. All internationally mobile employees with share income — and their employers — will need to consider the impact of how changes. The UK income tax rules will become the complex and there is a short window in which individuals can take action to mitigate the tax consequences arising from the changes. The NIC rules will look to align NIC with income tax as far as possible. The taxation of employment related securities ERS has always been complicated and when an internationally mobile employee IME is in receipt of ERS income, these complications are multiplied, which creates significant compliance challenges for employers. Currently, the income tax treatment of ERS for an IME depends upon a number of factors, including:. Additional complexity arises when considering the NIC treatment of the awards, as this will often differ from the income tax position. FA contained a number of significant amendments to the UK legislation governing ERS. The majority of the income tax changes enacted are in line with the recommendations made by the Office of Tax Simplification OTS. FA seeks to simplify the income tax treatment of all ERS held by IMEs, where there is a UK chargeable event such as a vesting or how occurring on or after 6 April This will apply regardless of when the award was granted. While these changes will be welcomed by most employers, a number of issues need are be considered before April Options July the government opened a consultation on proposed changes to the NIC rules for ERS income of IMEs. However, as drafted, the proposed legislation does not achieve its objective in the way that employers may have hoped and it raises a number of challenges and questions for employers. This has a significant impact for employees who, for example, were granted share options or restricted shares while not resident in the UK. Under the current rules, these awards will not be subject to income tax in the UK, provided they were not granted in contemplation of UK duties. Where the tax point for these awards occurs on or after 6 Aprilhowever, the tax treatment will be different from what would currently be the case, as illustrated in Example 1. Example 1 illustrates how an employee might have an increased UK tax liability under the new rules. A non-UK resident IME was granted a share option while outside the UK and the grant was not made in contemplation of UK duties. The IME subsequently moves to the UK during the earnings period typically the grant-to-vest period and becomes UK tax resident, spending all of his or her time working in the UK. The IME then exercises the option in the UK while UK resident. Under the current rules, no UK income tax would arise at exercise although a tax liability may arise in the country where the IME was at grant. However, where the exercise occurs after 6 AprilUK income tax will arise at exercise based on, broadly, the days in which the IME was working or resident in the UK over the earnings period. However, other employees might benefit from this change in legislation; in particular, individuals who were granted an option while UK resident and who have moved, or will move, during the earnings period to a country with which the UK does not hold a double tax treaty, as illustrated in Example 2. A UK resident IME was granted a share option while working in the UK. The IME subsequently moves to the United Arab Emirates UAE during the earnings period. The IME then exercises the option in the UAE after ceasing to be UK tax resident. Under the current rules, UK income tax would arise at exercise on the full gain as the IME was UK resident at grant of the option. However, under the new rules, UK income tax will arise at exercise but only on the proportion of the gain that was earned in the UK. While the impact on employees who have been awarded conditional awards or restricted stock are may be less significant, early action should be taken to assess the impact of the proposed changes. While the changes to stock income tax taxed have been legislated as part of FAthe changes to the NIC treatment have yet to be finalised. The consultation on the changes to the NIC treatment closed in October and a response from HMRC is due shortly. However, HMRC intends the changes to the NIC treatment to take effect from the same time as the changes to the tax treatment and to apply to any ERS chargeable events occurring on or after 6 April As with income tax, the current NIC rules relating to ERS income for IMEs are complex. The NIC position can depend on a number of factors, such as:. Most readers will recognise that the NIC position does not always follow the income tax position. In particular, NIC is generally due on ERS income on an all-or-nothing basis — ie NIC is not generally apportioned. Under the proposed new rules, however, liability to NIC on ERS will be based on the amount of time during the earnings period for which the IME is UK insured. Therefore, the proposed new rules may result in both UK inbound and outbound IMEs, who would not currently be liable to NIC on their ERS, becoming liable to NIC on a proportional basis, as illustrated in Example 3. Currently, inbound IMEs who were granted share options before arrival in the UK and where the grant was not made in respect of UK duties do not incur a NIC liability as there is no charge to income tax. Under the proposed new rules, a NIC charge would arise for inbound employees for any part of the grant-to-vest period when the individual is UK insured. Example 3 appears to show that the NIC rules are being aligned to the income tax rules. This was the broad intention of the proposal; however, the key difference is the basis on which the apportionment will be made. While UK insurability and tax residence could be the same, this will not always be the case. A share option is granted while the individual is UK resident and vests on the third anniversary of the date of grant. The IME is assigned to Singapore one year after the grant of the option. The IME then exercises the option immediately on vesting. UK income tax would be due on the apportioned gain based, broadly, on UK residence that is, one-third of the gain. NIC would also be due on the apportioned gain based, however, stock the period for which the IME was UK insured. In the current case, he or she is UK insured for year one when in the UK and year two due to the week rule. As such, NIC will be due on options of the gain. Under the current rules, there would be no NIC as the employee is outside the scope of NIC at the tax point. This is therefore a significant change. A US outbound IME is assigned to the UK but are under US social security by a Certificate of Coverage for two years before being localised to the U. A share option is granted at the end of year one of the UK assignment and exercised immediately on vesting on the third anniversary of the date of grant. UK income tax would be due on the full gain at exercise. However, NIC would be due only on the proportion of the gain at exercise that related to the period for which the IME was UK insured, being two-thirds of the gain, as the individual was insured for only two of the three years in the first year they were covered by a Certificate of Coverage and therefore not UK insured. Stock the proposed rules are to be implemented as they are, NIC and income tax liabilities on the ERS would be calculated based on two different apportioned amounts and RTI reporting may require differing adjustments in the NIC and income tax fields. Although NIC costs will be reduced under some scenarios, we expect NIC costs for UK employers generally to increase. In addition, the proposed changes increase the risk of a double charge to social security arising on the same ERS income. Where an IME moves between the UK and an EC or social security agreement country there cannot be a double charge. It is unclear how the competent authorities will deal with these provisions so there may need to be frantic negotiations to determine how double charges will be avoided. The income tax changes are significant and are likely to affect many employees currently holding share awards. While the changes can be seen as a positive step towards simplifying the income tax treatment of ERS, the current proposals for NIC do not appear to provide the same simplicity. Employers may then need to act quickly to ensure that they can comply with any new rules from 6 April Rob works in the Compensation and Benefits practice at Deloitte, advising companies about their global share plans. Rob has a particular specialism in the UK taxation of incentives for domestic and internationally mobile employees. Rob work in the Social Security Consulting practice at Deloitte. Rob has detailed experience of working on international mobile employment issues over many years. He was previously a technical specialist at HMRC. Artillery House, Artillery Row, London, SW1P 1RT, registered charity no. Skip to main content. Home Features Employment Tax General Features Indirect Tax Inheritance tax International Tax Large Corporate Management of taxes OMB Personal tax Professional Standards Technical Employment Tax General Features Indirect Tax Inheritance Tax International Tax Large Corporate Management of taxes OMB Personal tax Professional Standards Welcomes Recruitment Previous editions About us. A move in the right direction? What is the issue? What does it mean for me? What can I take away? Currently, the income tax treatment of ERS for the IME depends upon a number of factors, including: Income tax FA contained a number of significant amendments taxed the UK legislation the ERS. NIC In July the government opened a consultation on proposed changes to the NIC rules for ERS income of IMEs. Example 1 A options resident IME was granted a share option while outside the UK and the grant was not made in contemplation of UK duties. Example 2 A UK resident IME was granted a share option while working in the UK. Employers should ensure they understand how the new rules will impact their UK withholding and reporting requirements. NIC rules While the changes how the income tax treatment have been legislated as part of FAthe changes to the NIC treatment have yet to be finalised. The NIC position can depend on a number of factors, such as: Example 3 Currently, inbound IMEs who were granted share options before arrival in the UK and where the grant was not made in respect of UK duties do not incur a NIC liability as there is no charge to income tax. See both scenarios set out in Example 4 for further details. A UK outbound IME is assigned to Singapore A share option is granted while the individual is UK resident and vests on the third anniversary of the date of grant. A US outbound IME is assigned to the UK but remains under US social security by a Certificate of Coverage for two years before being localised to the U A share option is granted at the end of year one of the UK assignment and exercised immediately on vesting on the third anniversary of the date of grant. Conclusion The income tax changes are significant and are likely to affect many employees currently holding share awards. Action Points Watch for further announcements regarding the NIC changes. Consider how the income tax and proposed NIC changes will impact your share plans. If necessary ensure that appropriate provisions are made for the increased costs. Ensure payroll teams are notified and can manage their withholding and reporting obligations. Two steps forward, three steps back? More from Robert Jennings. More from Rob Pearce. Where next for VAT? Not so last year. A Thorne in the side. Avoiding a trip up. Why the tax charities? The new dwelling tax. 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