Speed Read: The tax treatment of employment related securities has been plagued by uncertainty since 2003 and the Budget 2010 announcement of a consultation on geared growth arrangements has continued that trend. The vague nature of what the consultation may really mean suggests that planning of long-term incentives that deliver capital gains should continue. HMRC should take the opportunity through the consultation to build a clear framework around the current planning techniques that many employers currently use in a way that HMRC and the taxpayer feel is fair. HMRC should not use the consultation to apply income tax to certain planning techniques, prompting advisers to develop new ones.
