Major changes will shortly come into force in relation to UK-tax approved stock plans. While the recently announced increases in the participation limits applying to the UK’s all-employee plans are welcome, major revisions are on the way in relation to how existing UK tax-approved stock plans are administered by the UK tax authorities. The process for establishing such plans is also about to undergo significant change. Any corporation operating a UK tax-approved stock plan – including as a sub-plan to its global employee stock plan – should now familiarise itself with the new rules (known as “self-certification”). This is important in terms of both efficient plan administration and ensuring that appropriate processes are in place to manage these changes in order to avoid the imposition of financial penalties or any risk to the tax-advantaged nature of the plan. This webcast will provide an overview of the new regime – including a review of material published in this year’s “Budget” (the UK’s annual fiscal statement) – and provide practical guidance as to what corporations should now be doing to adapt to the new regime.
