Nestle employee liable for tax on payment in lieu of benefit

A former Nestle employee’s has been ruled to be liable for the tax on a lump sum payment received in exchange for giving up membership of the organisation’s healthcare scheme.

While Mr Forsyth was employed by the organisation, the claimant was a member of its healthcare scheme. Although this membership ceased upon his retirement, he discovered others in his position were still able to enjoy the scheme benefits.

The claimant contacted Nestle and it was agreed he could continue to have access to the healthcare scheme for himself and his family but was required to make a contribution.

Nestle later subsequently offered him and his wife a one-off payment of £29,783 through a compromise agreement to leave the scheme, which he accepted.

The organisation made the payment, after deduction of income tax but the retired employee completed his tax return on the basis that the compensation payment was a capital gain, split 50% between himself and his wife.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) contended the payment was to Forsyth alone and was subject to income tax.

The former employee disputed the claim, on the grounds that if it was received by him alone, then the payment was subject to the termination payment £30,000 tax exemption provided.

The First Tier Tribunal upheld the decision in Forsyth v HMRC that the payment was taxable under the employer-financed retirement benefit provisions as a lump sum, rather than within the termination payment provisions.

Tina Riches, national tax partner at Smith and Williamson, said: “The payment was a benefit from a scheme for the provision of benefits which is not a registered pension scheme and from which a lump sum, gratuity or other benefit is received, so was taxable.

“The tribunal also found that it was not a termination payment and so did not benefit from the £30,000 tax exemption.

“Employers should take care to assess the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) implications of lump sum payments to former employees in the light of this case.”