Companies are required to supply HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) with an online return for each registered employment-related securities scheme or arrangement by 6 July following the end of the tax year, including details of any reportable events in the tax year. Before you can submit a return using the ERS Online Service you must be registered to use HMRC Online Services.

HMRC has come across instances of companies which are unable to make returns of reportable events in particular circumstances. Where this is the case, for 2014/15 returns of reportable events will not be required if all of the following apply:

• Neither the company, nor any other company in the same group or under the same ownership, is registered for PAYE
• The arrangements are not tax-advantaged schemes (that is, not SIP, SAYE, CSOP or EMI schemes)
• The company has no obligations to operate PAYE in respect of the reportable event
• The company has no obligation to operate PAYE in respect of anything else it does.

As a reminder, all other companies will be require to file an online annual return in respect of all reportable share scheme events which have occurred in the past year by 6 July 2015 – please see here for further details.