You’re negotiating the sale of your company. You’ve agreed that part of the sale value will be based on future performance of the company. How should you word the sale contract to avoid tricky tax issues?
Earn outs
If you sell a business in which you’ve played a key role it’s quite common for the buyer to want to keep you on board for at least for a short while. The buyer may partly link the amount they’ll pay for the business to its future performance to encourage your commitment. The wording of this type of type agreement, known as an earn out, requires careful drafting to avoid tax traps.
What are the proceeds of sale?
The capital gain or loss from the sale of an asset, say your business, is the difference between what it cost you and the proceeds you’ll receive. However, calculating the capital gains tax (CGT) position for an earn out is not as straightforward because the final proceeds aren’t known until after the earn out period. To work out the gain the amount payable at the later date must be estimated.
Example. In 2000 Ben started a business from scratch. In March 2023 he signed a contract to sell the business. He’ll stay with the business as an employed manager. Ben receives £500,000 on completion of the sale plus an amount equal to 25% of the average annual profits, to the extent they exceed a base figure, in the three years to 31 March 2026, but not to exceed £400,000.
Trap. In our example the terms of the contract have triggered a trap. Because it specifies a maximum there’s no need to estimate the future profits to work out the proceeds, instead the maximum is used. This means Ben’s gain will be worked out assuming he will receive £900,000. A trap also applies if a minimum is specified.
Tip. Where possible, avoid including a maximum or minimum figure in a contract in relation to earn out proceeds.
Tip. To the extent that any part of the proceeds are payable more than 18 months after the contract date, you can elect to pay any corresponding tax by instalments.
Capital gains or income tax
While tackling the CGT position of an earn out is tricky, there is a more fundamental trap to avoid when wording a contract.
Trap. If the value of the earn out amount is expressed or implied to depend on the individual’s performance during the earn out period, HMRC can argue that the additional payment is earnings rather than a capital payment. The risk is potentially high as the maximum CGT rate payable on an earn out is 20% whereas income tax is up to 45%. Further, if the earn out is taxed as employment income it will be liable to Class 1 NI employers’ and employees’ contributions.
Tip. Make sure the contract doesn’t indicate in any way that the earn out payment relates to the seller’s future role in the business. Make it clear that it relates only to the value of the business being sold/bought.
This article has been reproduced by kind permission of Indicator – FL Memo Ltd. For details of their tax-saving products please visit www.indicator-flm.co.uk or call 01233 653500.