Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 1st September 2003.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001( 4 ).

Amendment of the principal Regulations

3. The principal Regulations are amended as follows.

4. In regulation 1(2) (interpretation)—

(a) omit the definition of “convertible shares”;

(b) in the definition of “readily convertible asset” for the words from “section 203F” to the end substitute “section 702 of ITEPA 2003( 5 ) as amended by the Finance Act 2003;”;

(c) after the definition of “regular interval” insert—

“ “restricted securities” and “restricted interest in securities” have the meanings given in sections 423 and 424 of ITEPA 2003 ( 6 ) as substituted by the Finance Act 2003; ” ; and

(d) after the definition of “secondary contributor” insert—

“ “securities” and “securities option” have the meaning given by section 420 of ITEPA 2003 ( 7 ) as substituted by the Finance Act 2003; ” .

5. —(1) Amend regulation 22 (payment to be treated as earnings)( 8 ) as follows.

(2) In the heading for “Payment” substitute “Amounts”.

(3) In paragraph (1) for “(2) to (5)” substitute “(2) to (8)”.

(4) For paragraphs (3) to (5) substitute—

“ (3) The amount specified in this paragraph is the amount equal to the cash equivalent in respect of car fuel which is treated as earnings from the employment of the earner for income tax purposes by virtue of section 149 of ITEPA 2003.

(4) The amount specified in this paragraph is the amount which is treated as earnings from the employment of the employed earner by virtue of section 222(2) of ITEPA 2003 ( 9 ) .

(5) The amount specified in this paragraph is the amount which counts as employment income of the employed earner under Chapter 2 of Part 7 of ITEPA 2003 computed in accordance with section 428 of ITEPA 2003 ( 10 ) in respect of conditional shares or interests in conditional shares acquired before 16th April 2003.

• References in this paragraph and paragraph (6) to ITEPA 2003 are to that Act as originally enacted.

(6) The amount specified in this paragraph is the amount which counts as employment income of the employed earner by virtue of Chapter 4 of Part 7 of ITEPA 2003 (shares: post-acquisition charges) in respect of shares or interests in shares acquired before 16th April 2003.

(7) The amounts specified in this paragraph are those—

(a) which count as employment income of the employed earner in relation to employment-related securities (within the meaning given by section 421B(8) of ITEPA 2003 ( 11 ) ); and

(b) to which section 698 of ITEPA 2003 ( PAYE : special charges on employment-related securities) ( 12 ) applies.

• References in this paragraph to ITEPA 2003 are to that Act as amended by Schedule 22 to the Finance Act 2003.

(8) The amount specified in this paragraph is the amount—

(a) which counts as employment income of the employed earner by virtue of sections 500 to 508 of ITEPA 2003; and

(b) in respect of which income tax is recoverable in accordance with PAYE regulations. ” .

6. —(1) Amend regulation 40 (prescribed emoluments in respect of which Class 1A contributions not payable)( 13 ) as follows.

(2) In the heading, and in paragraph (1), for “emoluments” substitute “general earnings”( 14 ).

(3) In each of paragraphs (2) to (6) for “emoluments”—

(a) where it occurs for the first time substitute “general earnings”; and

(b) where it occurs for the second time substitute “those”.

(4) For paragraph (4)(b) substitute—

“ (b) are not removal expenses to which section 271 of ITEPA 2003 applies. ” .

(5) Omit paragraph (6)(a).

(6) After paragraph (6) insert—

“ (6A) The general earnings prescribed by this paragraph are those by way of any benefit—

(a) pursuant to a retirement benefits scheme which is not “non-approved” for the purpose of section 387(2) of ITEPA 2003; or

(b) to which section 386 of ITEPA 2003 (charge on payments to non-approved retirement benefits schemes) does not apply by virtue of section 390 of that Act. ” .

(7) In paragraph (7)( 15 )—

(a) for the words from the beginning of the paragraph to “by virtue of” substitute—

• “ The general earnings prescribed by this paragraph are so much of any general earnings as are not charged to income tax as employment income by virtue of; ”

(b) omit sub-paragraphs (b), (d) and (g) to (o); and

(c) for the words from “Sub-paragraphs (b) and (q) do not” to the end of the paragraph substitute—

• “ Sub-paragraph (f) applies only to Scotland and sub-paragraph (q) does not apply to Northern Ireland. ” .

(8) In paragraph (8) omit the definition of “emolument”.

7. —(1) Amend Schedule 2 (calculation of earnings for the purposes of earnings-related contributions in particular cases) as follows.

(2) In paragraph 5 for “the amount of income likely to be chargeable to tax under Schedule E”, in each place where it occurs, substitute “the amount of general earnings”.

(3) For paragraph 7 and the heading preceding it substitute—

“ Convertible and restricted interests in securities and convertible and restricted securities

7. The amount of earnings comprised in any payment by way of the conferment of—

(a) a convertible interest in securities;

(b) a restricted interest in securities; or

(c) an interest in convertible or restricted securities,

falling to be taken into account in computing a person’s earnings from employed earner’s employment shall be computed in the same manner, and shall be taken into account at the same time, as applies under Chapters 1 to 5 of Part 7 of ITEPA 2003, as substituted or inserted by Schedule 22 to the Finance Act 2003 ( 16 ) , for the purpose of computing his employment income. ” .

(4) Omit paragraphs 8 to 10.

(5) For paragraph 11 and the heading preceding it substitute—

“ Exercise of a replacement right to acquire shares, obtained as an earner before 6th April 1999

11. —(1) This paragraph applies if—

(a) an earner obtained, before 6th April 1999, a right to acquire shares in a body corporate;

(b) the earner subsequently obtained a replacement right (within the meaning given in paragraph 16A(3) of Part 9 of Schedule 3 ( 17 ) );

(c) the replacement right is exercised;

(d) paragraph 11A of this Schedule ( 18 ) does not apply; and

(e) paragraph 16A of Part 9 of Schedule 3 does not apply because sub-paragraph (4) of that paragraph is not satisfied.

(2) If this paragraph applies, the amount of earnings comprised in any payment realised by the exercise of the replacement right shall be calculated or estimated in accordance with sub-paragraph (3).

(3) The basis for calculating the amount of a gain realised by the exercise of the replacement right shall be the best estimate that can reasonably be made of the amount found as follows. ” .

(6) In paragraph 11A(2) after “paragraph 16” insert “or 16A”.

(7) Omit paragraph 12.

8. Amend Schedule 3 (payments to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings for the purposes of earnings-related contributions) in accordance with regulations 9 to 13.

9. In Part 1 (introductory), in paragraph 1(5)(d), for “share incentives” substitute “incentives by way of securities”.

10. —(1) Amend Part 3 (payments by way of readily convertible assets which are not disregarded as payments in kind) as follows.

(2) For paragraphs 1 and 2 substitute—

“ 1. A readily convertible asset within the meaning of section 702 of ITEPA 2003 ( 19 ) .

2. An asset which, in accordance with section 697 of ITEPA 2003 (PAYE: enhancing the value of an asset), would be treated, for the purposes of section 696 of that Act, as a readily convertible asset. ” .

11. In Part 4 (payments by way of specific assets not disregarded as payments in kind)—

(a) for paragraph 1 and the heading preceding it substitute—

“ Securities

1. Securities. ” ;

(b) omit paragraphs 2 to 5;

(c) omit paragraphs 7 and 8; and

(d) in paragraph 11(a) (certificates conferring rights in respect of assets) for “1 to 4” substitute “1”.

12. —(1) Amend Part 9 as follows.

(2) For the heading substitute—

“ Incentives by way of securities. ”

(3) For paragraph 1 and the heading preceding it substitute—

“ Certain payments by way of securities, restricted securities and restricted interests in securities, and gains arising from them, disregarded

1. Payments by way of securities, restricted securities and restricted interests in securities, and gains arising from them, are disregarded in the calculation of an employed earner’s earnings to the extent mentioned in this Part. ” .

(4) Omit paragraph 2.

(5) For paragraph 3 (rights to acquire shares) and the heading preceding it substitute—

“ Rights to acquire securities

3. A payment by way of a right to acquire securities. ” .

(6) Omit paragraphs 3A( 20 ) and 4.

(7) For paragraph 5 and the heading preceding it substitute—

“ Priority share allocations

5. A payment by way of an allocation of shares in priority to members of the public in respect of which no liability to income tax arises by virtue of section 542 of ITEPA 2003. ” .

(8) In paragraph 6 for “paragraph 34 of Schedule 8 to the Finance Act 2000.” substitute “paragraph 44 of Schedule 2 to ITEPA 2003.”.

(9) For paragraph 7 and the heading preceding it substitute—

“ Shares under share incentive plans

7. A payment by way of an award of shares under a share incentive plan within the meaning of Schedule 2 to ITEPA 2003.

Securities and interests in securities which are not readily convertible assets

7A. A payment by way of the acquisition of securities, interests in securities or securities options in connection with employed earner’s employment if, or to the extent that, what is acquired is not a readily convertible asset.

Here “acquisition” includes acquisition pursuant to an employment-related securities option within the meaning of section 471(5) of ITEPA 2003 as substituted by the Finance Act 2003 ( 21 ) . ” .

(10) Omit paragraph 8.

(11) For paragraph 9 and the heading preceding it substitute—

“ Restricted securities and restricted interests in securities

9. —(1) A payment by way of the acquisition of restricted securities, or a restricted interest in securities, where those securities are, or that interest is, employment-related, if no charge to income tax arises under section 425 of ITEPA 2003 ( 22 ) other than by virtue of subsection (2) of that section.

• This is subject to the following qualification.

(2) This paragraph does not apply if an election has been made as mentioned in subsection (3) of section 425 of ITEPA 2003.

(3) References in this paragraph to section 425 of ITEPA 2003 are to that section as substituted by paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 22 to the Finance Act 2003. ” .

(12) Omit paragraphs 10 to 15.

(13) For paragraph 16 and the heading preceding it substitute—

“ Exercise of options acquired before 6th April 1999

16. —(1) A gain realised by the exercise (in whole or in part) of a right, obtained before 6th April 1999, to acquire shares in a body corporate unless paragraph 17 ( 23 ) applies, but only to the extent that the gain realised consists of the shares acquired.

(2) In this paragraph and paragraphs 16A and 17—

“shares” includes stock; and

“body corporate” includes—

Exercise of replacement share options where original option acquired before 6th April 1999

16A. —(1) A gain realised by the exercise of a replacement right to acquire shares in a body corporate where the original right was obtained before 6th April 1999 provided that—

(a) sub-paragraph (4) is satisfied, and

(b) paragraph 17 does not apply,

• The disregard conferred by this paragraph is subject to the following limitation.

(2) Only the value of the shares acquired by the exercise of the replacement right shall be disregarded.

(3) In this paragraph and paragraph 17—

“the original right” means the right, acquired before 6th April 1999, to acquire shares in a body corporate; and

“replacement right” means a right to acquire shares, obtained, whether as the result of one transaction or a series of transactions, and whether directly or indirectly, in consequence of—

(4) This sub-paragraph is satisfied in respect of a transaction through which the replacement right was obtained if A is not substantially greater than R.

• Here—

  • A is the market value of the shares which may be obtained by the exercise of the right acquired on that occasion, less any consideration which would have to be given on that occasion by or on behalf of the earner if that right were to be exercised immediately after its acquisition (disregarding any restriction on its exercise); and

  • R is the market value of the shares subject to the right assigned or released on that occasion, immediately before that occasion, less any consideration which would have been required to be given by or on behalf of the earner for the exercise of that right, disregarding any restriction on its exercise, subject to the following qualification.

  • If a transaction involves only a partial replacement of an earlier right, the amount of the earlier consideration to be deducted in computing R shall be proportionately reduced. ” .

(14) In paragraph 17—

(a) in sub-paragraph (1)(b) after “paragraph 16” insert “or 16A”;

(b) in sub-paragraph(2)(b)—

(i) for “subsequent right” substitute “replacement right”; and

(ii) for “the replacement right and any subsequent replacement right.” substitute “a replacement right.”.

13. In Part 10 (miscellaneous and supplemental)( 24 )—

(a) in paragraph 1 for “2 to 16” substitute “2 to 17”; and

(b) at the end add—

“ Payment of PAYE tax in respect of notional payment

17. A payment by way of income tax for which the employer is required to account to the Board under section 710(1) of ITEPA 2003 (notional payments: accounting for tax). ” .

14. —(1) Amend Schedule 4 (provisions derived from the Income Tax Acts and the Income Tax (Employments) Regulations 1993) as follows.

(2) In paragraph 7(5A)(b) ( 25 ) for “shares” substitute “securities”.

(3) In the heading preceding paragraph 23(additional return by employer at end of year where liability transferred to employed earner: share option gains) for “share option gains” substitute “gains from securities options”.

(4) In paragraph 23(2) for “92 days” substitute “7th July”.