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Termination payments: the taxing truth

Navigating the complexities of parting ways with employees can be daunting. From negotiating the terms to preserving employee morale, there's already plenty to consider. But the challenge doesn't end there. Understanding how termination pay is taxed and ensuring this is accurately reflected in the legal documentation is crucial to avoid any unwelcome tax surprises.

Recent case law on termination payment

The recent tax tribunal case of L v HMRC (2024) serves as a good reminder for employers to ensure that the tax and legal implications are considered when making a termination payment.

An employee was made redundant and filed a claim to the employment tribunal for alleged discrimination, harassment, unfair dismissal, and pay inequality. A termination payment totalling around £388,000 was paid in settlement of the claims. The termination package consisted of deferred compensation and incentive awards, compensation for the termination, settlement for potential claims, and a payment for financial loss.

The employer paid the settlement amounts after deducting income tax and treating all but £30,000 of the total amount as taxable. The appellant then filed their tax return applying a different tax position, stating that the deferred compensation and incentive awards were taxable, with the tax-free sum of £30,000 deducted from this total.

HMRC opened an enquiry into the appellant’s self-assessment tax return and assessed additional income tax on the settlement payment, which was appealed.

The tax tribunal considered the tax treatment of the different components and whether:

The tribunal found that the deferred compensation and long-term incentive awards, the equal pay claim, and the termination payment exceeding £30,000 should have been subject to tax. Importantly, the payment attributable to the discrimination claim was not taxable income.

This case highlights a number of key steps which are often missed in settlement negotiations:

Review the employment termination circumstances and package

It’s important for employers to fact-find and identify the circumstances regarding why the employment is ending. For example, if an employee is being made redundant, the legislation provides for certain conditions to be satisfied, and legal advice should be obtained. If an employee is being kept on for another capacity (eg as a consultant), HMRC may challenge whether there has been a genuine termination of the employment.

Careful consideration should also be undertaken to identify each element of the settlement package in order to determine the tax treatment.

As a reminder, if businesses are within the Senior Accounting Officer (SAO) regime, it is key that a process for dealing with termination payments is suitably documented and followed.

Termination payment tax treatment

The tax treatment of the termination payment depends on what is included. Some key considerations for businesses to be aware of include:

In addition, by ascertaining the taxable status of each payment, the full severance cost can be budgeted. This should be communicated clearly to the employee to avoid any misunderstanding at the final stages of the negotiation, which can delay or even thwart a potential agreement.

It’s important to receive legal advice on the terms of the settlement agreement to ensure it supports that the correct tax treatment is applied to the payments the worker is receiving.

Clearly separating the different pay components being paid under the settlement agreement is essential. A single lump sum payment covering the termination payment, notice pay and holiday pay, for example, risks being taxed entirely as earnings. To mitigate this risk, employers should seek legal advice to ensure settlement amounts are properly worded in the settlement agreement, distinguishing between payments tied to employment and those that are not.

Additionally, ensuring the correct description is given to the payment is crucial, as this may play a significant role in determining its tax treatment. While courts, tribunals, and HMRC look beyond the labels to assess the true nature of the payment, the way it is described can influence HMRC’s conclusions, especially if the terms of the agreement are unclear. For example, “ex gratia” payments are often used in settlement agreements to describe termination payments, on the assumption that the first £30,000 of this can be paid tax-free. However, HMRC is known for challenging these payments on the grounds that they should be classified as earnings because they could instead be a reward for past service. Part of the consideration is whether the payment is considered earnings from employment or something else. This distinction will determine whether the payment is taxable as earnings.

What should employers do?

Termination packages should be reviewed from a tax and legal perspective before any payments are agreed upon and paid.

If employers have any concerns, we offer support in reviewing the payments, processes and policies. If needed, we’ll guide you through corrective actions before an HMRC review. Additionally, we provide support for handling HMRC queries and investigations.

If you have any questions or concerns about the tax or legal implications of termination payments, please contact Lee Knight, Charlie Barnes, or your regular RSM contact.

authors:lee-knight,authors:susan-ball