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GLOSSARY

Purchase of own shares definition

ˈpɜːʧəs ɒv əʊn ʃeəz
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What does Purchase of own shares mean?

Also known as a share buyback.

Purchase of own shares in a nutshell

The Companies Act 2006 provides a mechanism which allows a company to repurchase its own issued share capital. A share buyback is often a convenient way of buying out a dissenting or retiring shareholder, particularly where there is no suitable external purchaser. For the shareholder, the basic principle is that any amount paid in excess of the capital originally subscribed for the shares is taxed as a distribution (ie a dividend). However, for buybacks made by unquoted trading companies and provided certain conditions are met, capital gains tax treatment can be obtained for the shareholder. 

The overview gives brief details of the tax treatment that can apply on a company purchase of own shares. 

When will a share buyback be treated as an income distribution for the shareholder?

The income treatment applies by default on a share buyback. This is the normal treatment that applies to the purchase of own shares unless the relevant conditions for the capital treatment are satisfied.

How is the income


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