On 2nd September 2013, Vodafone Group Plc. announced that it was disposing of its 45% interest in Verizon Wireless to Verizon Communications Inc.
At the same time, it also announced its intention to carry out a “Return of Value” to its shareholders, of which there are almost 400,000 in Ireland. Many of these shareholders had acquired Vodafone shares in exchange for their Eircom shares in 2001. The “Return of Value” would be partly in cash and partly in Verizon consideration shares.
On 14th May 2014 the Irish Revenue Authorities issued a comprehensive Tax Briefing outlining the tax treatment of the Vodafone Return of Value to its shareholders which provides comprehensive guidance on the calculation of the base cost for Capital Gains Tax purposes.
In what form will Vodafone return this value to the shareholders?
Either by the issue of:
What does that mean to the shareholder?
What does the Shareholder actually get?
What about the shareholders who exchanged their Eircom shares for Vodafone Shares in 2001?
These shareholders will NOT have a Capital Gains Tax liability.
Instead they will have a capital loss to offset against other chargeable gains arising in the current tax year or if unused they can be carried forward against future capital gains.
No Capital Gains Tax charge will arise for these shareholders in the following situations:
What is the base cost of the Vodafone Ordinary Shares?
The base cost for those Vodafone shares acquired in exchange for Eircom shares in 2001 is €4.46 per share.
Where in legislation are the apportioning rules?
Section 584(6) Taxes Consolidated Acts 1997 outlines the rule for calculating the apportionment of the original holding between the three elements of the new holding i.e. the cash element, the new Vodafone ordinary shares and the Verizon shares.
What about future disposals of these shares?
What is the Income Tax treatment for those opting for C Shares?
Individuals who opted for the C Shares have received a dividend from Vodafone which consisted of two elements:
The shareholder should include both amounts in his/her Income Tax Return i.e. the cash actually received and the market value of the Verizon Consideration Share Entitlement received. He/she must then pay the Income Tax arising on this dividend.
How is the tax on these dividends paid?
Are there any exemptions?
Individuals aged 65 years and over are entitled to claim an exemption from Income Tax if their total income i.e. income combined from all sources including Vodafone and Verizon dividends is
Will there be Dividend Withholding Tax on the Verizon Shares?
Dividends paid to shareholders of Verizon shares will, in general, be subject to US withholding tax, currently 30% of the gross dividend amount.
Irish resident shareholders can make a claim to the US Tax Authorities to be entitled to dividend withholding tax at the reduced rate of 15%.
This claim can be made by completing a Form W-8BEN Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and forwarding it to Computershare as stated on the form.
The Irish resident shareholder will be entitled to a credit for tax withheld against Income tax or Corporation tax on the dividends received.
The credit will be the lower of:
Please be aware that the information contained in this article is of a general nature. It is not intended to address specific circumstances in relation to any individual or entity. All reasonable efforts have been made by Accounts Advice Centre to provide accurate and up-to-date information, however, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate on the date it is received or that it will continue to remain so.. This information should not be acted upon without full and comprehensive, specialist professional tax advice.
Over the years I’ve been asked many times how court settlements should be taxed. I’m still surprised by the number of people who are under the impression that a special tax for compensation and damages exists – it doesn’t.
In order to determine the correct tax treatment of damages and compensation it is essential to establish what the payment relates to.
There are several possibilities, the main ones being:
1. Personal Injury Compensation
A total exemption from Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax may be available in the case of personal injury compensation payments and income arising from investments of such compensation payments provided the following conditions, as outlined in Revenue’s IT 13, are satisfied:
2. Compensation for Revenue Loss
If the compensation is for loss of earnings then the payment will be liable to Income Tax in the case of individuals and partnerships and Corporation Tax for companies.
Examples of compensation liable to Income Tax are as follows:
3. Compensation for Capital Losses
The main examples under this heading are as follows:
These capital sums will be liable to Capital Gains Tax and treated as if there was a disposal of the asset.
INTERESTING STORY
I recently came across this situation:
On 24th October 2013 the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 was published which confirmed the measures introduced by the Budget.
As the main priorities in Ireland at the moment are job creation and enterprise growth the following tax packages were introduced:
I. ENTERPRISE RELIEF– This is a new Capital Gains Tax relief which is aimed at entrepreneurs investing in assets used in new productive trading activities. The purpose is to encourage individuals to reinvest the sales proceeds from the sale/disposal of a previous asset into new productive trading or a new company. The main aspects of the relief are as follows:
(a) It applies to an individual
(b) who has paid Capital Gains Tax on the sale/disposal of an asset and
(c) invests in a new business
(d) at a cost of at least €10,000
(e) between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2018.
(f) The investment cannot be disposed of earlier than three years after the investment date.
(g) Once the new investment is sold the Capital Gains Tax arising with be reduced by the lower of:
What type of assets are involved?
The assets must be chargeable business assets. Goodwill is included in this definition as are new ordinary shares in micro, small or medium sized enterprises after 1st January 2014. The main conditions are:
NOTE: Please be aware the commencement of this measure is subject to E.U. State Aid approval.
II START YOUR OWN BUSINESS – This is an exemption from Income Tax but not from Universal Social Charge and PRSI for a long term unemployed individual who is starting up a new, unincorporated business.
What is meant by long term unemployed?
It means some one who is continuously unemployed for the previous fifteen months.
What does this measure actually provide?
The first €40,000 of profits earned per annum will be exempt from Income Tax for two years.
III ENHANCEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT & INVESTMENT INCENTIVE – The main points of this new measure are:
IV STAMP DUTY – The transfer of shares listed on the ESM (Enterprise Securities Market) of the Irish Stock Exchange will be exempt from Stamp Duty. The ESM is the ISE’s market for growth companies.
The current stamp duty rate is 1%.
NOTE: Please be aware that this measure is subject to a commencement order.
V RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT – The aim of this change is to assist smaller companies to access the tax credit without reference to the base year. The following changes have been made and will take place in the accounting periods starting on or after 1st January 2014:
VI VAT – There have been two major VAT changes:
PART II
The construction and building sectors saw the introduction of welcome changes:
I LIVING CITY INITIATIVE – The urban regeneration initiative has been extended to include residential properties constructed up to and including 1914 and covers the cities of Cork, Dublin, Galway and Kilkenny.
The aim is to stimulate regeneration of retail and commercial districts as well as to encourage families to return to historic buildings in Irish city centres.
II HOME RENOVATION INCENTIVE – This is a new incentive for home owners who:
What kind of relief is available?
Relief is available in the form of an Income Tax Credit of 13½% on qualifying expenditure between €5,000 (minimum) and €30,000 (maximum).
What does “Qualifying Work” mean?
Building extensions, window fittings, plumbing and tiling, plastering, etc. carried out by tax compliant builders.
How does the relief work?
Note: It is essential to keep in mind that the Revenue on-line system will track information on contractors involved and work carried out.
PART III
There were a number of other budget changes which will have a huge impact on our economy:
One Parent Family Tax Credit
Medical Insurance Tax Relief
Top Slicing Relief
Top Slicing Relief has been abolished completely for all ex-gratia lump sums paid on or after 1st January 2014.
D.I.R.T. (Deposit Interest Retention Tax)
COMPANY TAX RESIDENCE
There were changes to the company tax residence rules.
The company will be regarded as Irish resident for tax purposes where an Irish incorporated company is managed and controlled in another E.U. member state or treaty state and is not regarded as tax resident in any territory.
This applies from 24th October 2013 for companies incorporated after that date or 1st January 2015 for companies incorporated before 24th October 2013.