This practice note looks at the requirement to make annual returns to HMRC in relation to employee shares and securities acquired under tax-advantaged and non tax-advantaged employee share schemes before 2014-15. Annual returns for 2013-14 and earlier years have to be made using paper return forms, with different forms for different types of employee share scheme.

From 2014-15, online filing of annual share schemes returns is compulsory. For more information, see Practice notes, Non tax-advantaged shares schemes compliance: notification and annual reporting, Tax-advantaged share schemes (CSOP, SIP and SAYE) compliance: notification (self-certification) and annual reporting and Enterprise management incentives (EMI) options compliance: notifications of grant and annual reporting.