Use of two tax-advantaged employee share schemes has declined since 2016, prompting a review into whether their rules are sufficiently simple and clear, and contain enough flexibility to meet companies’ needs.
Benefits for employees
A government-commissioned research report published in June found that offering share and share option schemes improved business and employment outcomes, especially staff retention and recruitment. However a third of the businesses surveyed said the schemes were too “complicated, time-consuming and costly” to set up. Some interviewees doubted the suitability of the schemes for smaller businesses.
Announcing a review of two of the share schemes – Save As You Earn (SAYE) and the Share Incentive Plan (SIP) – Victoria Atkins, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said the government was “keen to ensure the benefits of these schemes are felt widely by employees” especially those on lower incomes.
- The SAYE scheme allows employees to buy discounted shares in their company by contributing up to £500 a month to a savings contract for three to five years. The money saved and interest earned is tax free.
- A SIP lets companies help employees to buy shares in their company or offer them as awards, tax free. Companies can give employees up to £3,600 of free shares each tax year and individuals can buy shares out of their salary for up to £1,800 in value or 10% of their income, whichever is lower. Employees pay no income tax or national insurance contributions on the value of the free or matching shares provided they keep the shares in the plan for at least five years.
The government is seeking views on:
- the effectiveness and suitability of the schemes;
- current usage and participation;
- whether the schemes’ rules are simple and clear and offer enough flexibility to meet individual companies’ needs;
- whether they incentivise share ownership for lower earners.
The final date for responses is 25 August 2023.
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