EIM42772 | Salary sacrifice: request to HMRC to approve arrangements before implementation

Section 62 ITEPA 2003

For an explanation of what is a salary sacrifice see EIM42750.

From 6 April 2017, the Income Tax and NICs advantages where benefits in kind are provided through salary sacrifice arrangements (described in the Finance Act 2017 as “optional remuneration arrangements”) are largely withdrawn. Guidance on optional remuneration arrangements from 6 April 2017 starts at EIM44000.

Transitional provisions apply for a limited period. For further details see EIM44030.

Certain benefits in kind are excluded from the changes. For further details see EIM44130.

You may get requests for advice for either:

• on how to set up a salary sacrifice arrangement

• on whether draft documentation will achieve a successful salary sacrifice

You should not comment on either of these areas. Salary sacrifice is a matter of employment law, not tax law. The nature of an employee’s contract of employment is a matter for the employer and employee. HMRC’s interest is in determining how the tax and NICs legislation applies to the various elements of the employee’s remuneration package. HMRC only comment on proposed transactions in a limited range of circumstances. These limited circumstances are set out in guidance in HMRC’s Non-Statutory Clearance Service, which is available to the public. These limited circumstances do not apply in a case of a proposed salary sacrifice.

There is an additional reason why HMRC cannot comment on proposed salary sacrifice arrangements. As a salary sacrifice involves an alteration of the contractual arrangements between employer and employee it would not be appropriate for HMRC to participate in advising how it should be set up. It is possible that the effect of this contractual alteration may subsequently become a matter of dispute between employer and employee. HMRC would not want to be involved in such a dispute by having given advice on its setting up.

Information on salary sacrifice is available to the public on GOV.UK. In addition guidance in the Employment Income Manual on salary sacrifice is available to the public also via GOV.UK. You can direct the enquirer to the relevant parts of this guidance at EIM42750 onwards.

See EIM42773 if the employer advises that he has already implemented changes to employment contracts and is seeking approval.