How could a termination payment be taxed?

Produced by Tolley in association with Sue El Hachmi of Osborne Clarke LLP
Employment Tax
Guidance

How could a termination payment be taxed?

Produced by Tolley in association with Sue El Hachmi of Osborne Clarke LLP
Employment Tax
Guidance
imgtext

Termination payments are defined in the Termination payments ― overview guidance note.

Termination payments can take the form of cash, benefits or both. The payment will either be fully taxable, partially taxable or fully exempt depending on the nature and the amount of the payment.

Depending on the circumstances, termination payments can be categorised as one of the following, each with their own tax and NIC treatment:

  1. earnings ― see the Taxation of cash employment termination payments guidance note

  2. benefits in kind ― see the Taxation of non-cash employment termination payments guidance note

  3. restrictive covenants ― see the Taxation of payments for restrictive covenants guidance note

  4. benefits from an employer-financed retirement benefits scheme (EFRBS) ― see the Employer-financed retirement benefit schemes (EFRBS) ― overview guidance note

  5. termination payments (this includes benefits) within ITEPA 2003, s 401 ― see the Termination payments ― overview guidance note

It is the employer’s responsibility to correctly operate PAYE for termination payments and they,

Continue reading the full document
To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™
Sue El Hachmi
Sue El Hachmi

Senior Associate at Osborne Clarke


Sue advises on the design and implementation of employee incentive arrangements for private and public companies, including all types of tax-advantaged plans and bespoke arrangements for senior executives and management.Sue also advises on the incentive-related aspects of corporate transactions and has experience of private equity transactions and public company takeovers, flotations and demergers.Sue is a member of the Share Plan Lawyers Group and a member of the UK BioIndustry Association Finance and Tax Advisory Committee.

Powered by Tolley+
  • 25 Nov 2025 10:44

Popular Articles

Substantial shareholding exemption ― overview

Substantial shareholding exemption ― overviewThe substantial shareholdings exemption (SSE) provides a complete exemption from the liability to corporation tax on the gains generated from qualifying disposals of shares and interests in shares by qualifying companies. No claim is required. Provided

14 Jul 2020 13:44 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more

Research and development (R&D) relief ― overview

Research and development (R&D) relief ― overviewThis guidance note provides an overview of the research and development (R&D) tax reliefs for companies.See the Research and development tax relief summary diagram which summarises the R&D tax relief.See also Simon’s Taxes D1.401.For a factsheet which

14 Jul 2020 12:22 | Produced by Tolley in association with Will Sweeney Read more Read more

VAT registration ― artificial separation of business activities (disaggregation)

VAT registration ― artificial separation of business activities (disaggregation)This guidance note should be read in conjunction with the VAT registration ― compulsory guidance note and is relevant to persons established or resident in the UK. Persons that are not established or resident in the UK

14 Jul 2020 13:57 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more