BIM44065 - Measuring the profits (specific rules & practices) - receipts & deductions: specific deductions - employee share schemes: providing shares - accounting periods starting before 1 January 2003: contributions to qualifying employee share ownership trusts (QUESTs) - introduction

For accounting periods starting before 1 January 2003, FA89/S67 gives a specific statutory deduction for employers’ contributions to trusts which are qualifying employee share ownership trusts (QUESTs) under FA89/SCH5. The specific statutory deduction overrides general tax and accountancy principles, and is given for the period in which the employer’s contribution is paid to the trust.

The following paragraphs give guidance on deductions for contributions to QUESTs for accounting periods starting before 1 January 2003.

BIM44070 QUESTs Relief under FA89/S67 
BIM44075 QUESTs Whether a qualifying trust
BIM44080 QUESTs Companies eligible for relief
BIM44085 QUESTs Form and timing of relief
BIM44090 QUESTs Conditions for relief
BIM44095 QUESTs Expenditure period
BIM44100 QUESTs Qualifying purposes
BIM44105 QUESTs Identification rules
BIM44110 QUESTs Receipts of claims under FA89/S67 
BIM44115 QUESTs Trustees’ certificate
BIM44120 QUESTs Trust office
BIM44125 QUESTs Recovery of relief
BIM44130 QUESTs Relief not claimed under FA89/S67 
BIM44135 QUESTs Costs of setting up qualifying trusts

FA89/S67 does not apply to contributions to QUESTS made during accounting periods starting on or after 1 January 2003. Relief under FA89/S67 was phased out by FA03/S142. All other conditions in FA89 continue to apply so that CT deductions already obtained for earlier periods can be clawed back if the contribution is not used for a qualifying purpose within prescribed time limits.

Guidance on deductions for providing shares to employees (including shares provided through QUESTs) during accounting periods starting on or after 1 January 2003 is at BIM44250 onwards.