SE64135 - Tax treatment of Association footballers: termination payments

Following a review of lump sum termination payments to Association footballers, agreements were negotiated to regulate the basis upon which clubs would tax termination payments under PAYE.

Separate but similar agreements have been entered into by the governing bodies for Association Football in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. All the agreements apply from 6 April 1988.

Each agreement provides as follows.

• All termination payments to players leaving a club on a transfer (other than a free transfer) will be taxed in full under Section19(1)1 ICTA 1988 (see generally SE00510 onwards).
• Termination payments to players on a free transfer, and payments to commute a player's contract will be taxed in full under Section 19 (1)1 if paid under a contractual obligation (including implied and verbal contracts). Otherwise they will be taxed under Section 148 (see SE13000 onwards).
• Termination payments made on account of injury or disability which has obliged the player to retire prematurely will be taxed in full under Section 19 (1)1 if paid under a contractual obligation (including implied and verbal contracts). Otherwise they will be taxed under Section 148, unless authority has been received for the payment to be exempted under Paragraph 3(b) Schedule 11 ICTA 1988 (see SE13610 onwards).
• Within 30 days of the end of the year of assessment, clubs will provide full details of any termination payment made in the year which was not taxed in full under Section 19(1)1.

The agreements govern only the operation of PAYE, but you should normally follow the same basis in charging the payment to tax under Schedule E on the player. Refer any case of doubt or difficulty over the interpretation or operation of the agreements to Employment Income Technical.