STSM105020 - Collectives: exemptions: exempt investments - interests other than in collective investment schemes

Where the terms of a Collective Investment Scheme (such as a unit trust or Open-Ended Investment Company (OEIC)) permit investment by the scheme in the holding only of ‘exempt investments’, FA86/S99(5A)(b) means that no Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT) charge arises under FA86/S87 (or FA99/SCH19 where units or OEIC shares are surrendered back to the fund before 30 March 2014) when units or OEIC shares in the scheme are transferred.

Section 99(5B) Finance Act 1986 provides rules for determining when an investment is regarded as exempt and differs for:-

  • Direct investments held other than an interest under a Collective iInvestment Scheme, and
  • Investments that are holdings in other Collective Investments Schemes (such as unit trusts and OEICs). (See STSM105050 )

Investment holdings other than interests held in a collective investment scheme

An investment is an exempt investment for the purposes of FA86/S99(5B)(a) if, and only if -

(i) It is not an investment on the transfer of which ad valorem Stamp Duty would be chargeable.

So, for example, transfers of gilts, commercial paper and most forms of unsecured loan capital as defined in FA86/S78(7), are not chargeable to Stamp Duty and these therefore can be regarded as an exempt investment. The holding, however, of any United Kingdom (UK) registered convertible loan capital that falls within the provisions of FA86/S79(5) and FA86/S79(6) is to be classed as a non-exempt investment.

(ii) It is not an investment on which Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) would be chargeable under Part 4 of the Finance Act 2003; and

(iii) It is not a ‘chargeable security’ (within the meaning of FA86/S99) for the purposes of SDRT.

Cash or other funds held for day to day management are not regarded as investments (FA86/S99(5B)(d)).

The FA99/SCH19 charge applies only to units and OEIC shares which are surrendered and transferred prior to 30 March 2014. See STSM103005.

See STSM101010 for the meaning of a Collective Investment Scheme.

See STSM101020 for the meaning of a unit trust.

See STSM101050 for the meaning of an OEIC.

See STSM021220 for information on convertible loan capital.

See STSM105030 and STSM105040 for further information on Exempt Investments-interests held other than in collective investment schemes.