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.