Ask an expert: Corporation tax deduction for issuing shares to employees

Question

My client is a director of a trading company which has issued share options to some of its employees. He understands that the company may be able to obtain corporation tax relief on the exercise of the options and the issuing of shares to employees and would like to know more about this.

Answer

Corporation tax relief is available to a company under CTA 2009 Pt 12 (ss 1001–1038) where by reason of an employment with that company a person either acquires shares or obtains an option in pursuance of which he acquires shares. The shares or option may be acquired by a person by virtue of his own or another person’s employment.

A deduction...