EIM03623 - Restrictive covenants: example 3: deductions

Section 225 ITEPA 2003

Example 3

An employee agrees to the following restrictions set out in a termination agreement:

The employee will not:

• work within a 20 mile radius of the company premises
• contact any customer or supplier of the employer.

Both restrictions apply for a period of 24 months after cessation of employment. Consideration is agreed on the following basis:

• £20,000 paid immediately upon signing the termination agreement
• £10,000 paid on the first anniversary of signing the termination agreement
• £10,000 paid on the second anniversary of signing the termination agreement.

The first payment is made but after 6 months the former employee sets up a business 10 miles from her former place of work. Payments 2 and 3 are not made. The former employer sues for breach and is awarded damages of £15,000. The former employee contacts the Inspector wishing to reduce her self assessment of Section 225 ITEPA 2003 liability from £20,000 to £5,000.

Comment

The payment of £20,000 is within Section 225 and is chargeable as general earnings (see EIM00511) of the year of receipt. No deduction or reduction is possible. The employee received £20,000 for entering into a restrictive covenant. The fact that she breached the agreement and was required to pay compensation is a separate event that does not reduce the amount she received. Section 225 brings the consideration within the charge on employment income (see EIM00510). No statutory deductions or exemptions apply.

Payments 2 and 3 are not within Section 225 as they were never made (see EIM03601 4th bullet).