CTM17540 | Distributions: purchase of own shares: later bonus issue
From HM Revenue & Customs · Company Taxation Manual
covers the situation where a company repays share capital and subsequently makes a bonus issue of shares, see . In appropriate circumstances the bonus issue is treated as a qualifying distribution.
Where a company carries out a purchase of own shares, to which treatment may or may not apply, a repayment of share capital results. If a later bonus issue is made
by certain close companies at any time after the purchase of own shares, or
by other companies within ten years of the purchase of own shares,
there will be a distribution under up to the amount of the repayment of share capital that arose from the purchase of own shares. This is not affected by the granting of clearance under . A distribution under will arise even if the member receiving the bonus issue is not the member who received the repayment of share capital on the purchase of own shares.