Bill and Ben decided not to sell their company, and instead expanded the business themselves. Ben, however,
is now pursuing other interests, and is no longer involved with the day to day activities of Flower Limited. Bill
believes that the company would be better off without Ben as a voting shareholder, and wishes to buy Ben’s
shares. However, Bill does not have sufficient funds to buy the shares himself, and so is wondering if the
company could acquire the shares instead.
The proposed price for Ben’s shares would be ￡500,000. Both Bill and Ben pay income tax at the higher rate.
Required:
Write a letter to Ben:
(1) stating the income tax (IT) and/or capital gains tax (CGT) implications for Ben if Flower Limited were to
repurchase his 50% holding of ordinary shares, immediately in May 2010; and
(2) advising him of any available planning options that might improve this tax position. Clearly explain any
conditions which must be satisfied and quantify the tax savings which may result.
(13 marks)
Assume that the corporation tax rates for the financial year 2005 and the income tax rates and allowances
for the tax year 2005/06 apply throughout this question.
参考答案
正确答案：
(b) [Ben’s address] [Firm’s address]
Dear Ben [Date]
A company purchase of own shares can be subject to capital gains treatment if certain conditions are satisfied. However, one
of these conditions is that the shares in question must have been held for a minimum period of five years. As at 1 May 2010,
your shares in Flower Limited have only been held for four years and ten months. As a result, the capital gains treatment will
not apply.
In the absence of capital gains treatment, the position on a company repurchase of its own shares is that the payment will
be treated as an income distribution (i.e. a dividend) in the hands of the recipient. The distribution element is calculated as
the proceeds received for the shares less the price paid for them. On the basis that the purchase price is ￡500,000, then the
element of distribution will be ￡499,500 (500,000 – 500). This would be taxed as follows:
