GSK currently offers employees of particular grades eligibility to participate in the following Long Term Incentive Plans (LTIP’s):
Each has a different set of Plan rules which, in turn, may be treated differently across the country tax jurisdictions in which eligible employees work.
When an eligible employee transfers to a country to work outside of his/her home country, he/she may be subject to taxation in the host country. He/she may still be subject to taxation in the home country or, additionally, subject to taxation in another country in which he/she has worked during the life span of the LTIP.
As a result of multiple tax jurisdictions an employee may have a tax burden which is greater or lower than it would have been had he/she continued to work in the home country.
Because of this potential inequity, GSK has developed a tax equalisation/protection policy (Tax Policy).
GSK policy for the tax treatment of employees, who have two or more country LTIP tax liabilities, is based on circumstances which, generally, fall into the following categories:
| • | Current Global Assignees including Commuters; |
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| • | Former Global Assignees including Commuters, that have: |
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| | | 1. | returned to their Home country, or |
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| | | 2. | localised in their Host Country, or |
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| | | 3. | localised in another country; |
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| • | Permanent Internationally Relocated employees, relocated at: |
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| | | 1. | GSK’s request, or |
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| | | 2. | the individual’s own voluntary request; |
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| • | Business Traveller with Two Country Tax Liability(TCTL) working and/or rewarded across borders; |
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| • | Former Business Traveller with TCTL that have: |
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| | | 1. | returned to their Home country, or |
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| | | 2. | localised in their Host Country, or |
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| • | Good Leavers for all of the above categories; and |
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| • | Bad Leavers for all of the above categories. |
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Two separate tax policies, and one level of tax support, will be applied depending on which of the above categories the employee falls.
Tax EqualisationTax Equalisation is applied to all LTIP transactions of a current Global Assignee and Commuter: ie, an employee assigned to another (Host) country under the PfGA policy.
A hypothetical tax will be deducted at the same time that a tax withholding liability would have arisen under the Global Assignee’s home country tax rules. The hypothetical amount will be based on the actual withholding rate of the employee’s Home location.
Tax ProtectionA tax protection policy applies to the following GSK employees:
| • | Former Global Assignees including Former Commuters, that have: |
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| | | 1. | returned to their Home country, or |
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| | | 2. | localised in their Host Country, or |
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| | | 3. | localised in another country*; |
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| • | Permanent Internationally Relocated employees, relocated at GSK’s request; |
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| • | Business Travellers with TCTL working and/or rewarded across borders; |
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| • | Former Business Travellers with TCTL that have: |
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| | | 1. | returned to their Home country, or |
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| | | 2. | localised in their Host Country, or |
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| • | Good Leavers for all of the above categories. |
Individuals within the above categories will be required to pay tax on LTIP transactions, in whatever country tax jurisdictions it arises, up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if the individual had been resident throughout in the responsible tax country (ie, the country to where he/she is tax equalised/protected). For staff who continue to be employed by GSK, the responsible tax country will be their current country of employment at the time of exercise. Good leavers, including retired staff, will have their last country of employment identified as the responsible country.
Any amount of tax that is due over and above the amount of responsible tax calculated will be met by GSK.
TAX POLICY PROCEDURES
Assistance
At GSK’s discretion, employees will be provided with assistance with country tax return preparation, tax equalisation reconciliation and tax audit representation. This assistance will be provided through Ernst & Young LLP.
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Tax Equalisation
Hypothetical Tax
For tax equalised individuals, GSK will retain hypothetical tax based on the tax withholding rate of the country to where the employee is tax equalised (ie, to the extent allowable under law). GSK’s inability or failure to retain hypothetical tax does not invalidate the tax equalisation process.
In general, the highest rates of withholding of each country will be applied, even if a reduced rate of withholding tax can be applied. The rate of tax and social security deducted is based on the advice / instruction given by the local GSK company.
Where the employee is tax equalised to a non-withholding country, no hypothetical tax will be deducted at exercise. However, Home country hypothetical tax will be required to be paid to GSK, by the employee, on the same date the employee would have paid tax to the Home country tax authorities.
Social security will be payable at maximum rates unless an income, or similar, cap is applicable. In this case it will be assumed that the cap threshold has reached.
Tax Reconciliation and SettlementA tax reconciliation will be made to determine the difference between the employee’s responsible tax and his/her expenditures for hypothetical tax and actual home country tax. This calculation and reconciliation will be made by Ernst & Young LLP, once the appropriate tax returns have been prepared, who will advise the employee and GSK of the resulting settlement amount.
The party owing the settlement amount will make payment within a reasonable time period. If payment is not made within a reasonable time period, legal proceedings may commence.
Tax ProtectionTax protected individuals will be required to pay tax on LTIP transactions, in whatever country tax jurisdictions it arises, up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if the individual had been resident throughout in the responsible tax country (ie, the country to where he/she is tax equalised/protected).
Any amount of tax that is due over and above the amount of responsible tax calculated will be met by GSK.
| 1. | Former Global Assignees and Commuters that have returned to their Home country` |
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| | The above individuals will be required to pay any tax due on LTIP transactions, in the Home and former Host country (and in any other country that tax may be payable) up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their Home location. All payments must be made in accordance with each country’s payment rules. |
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| | Any amount of tax that is due over and above the amount of responsible tax calculated will be met by GSK. |
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| | Actual country tax withholding due will be payable by the individual, but only to the extent of that which would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their Home location. |
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| 2. | Former Global Assignees and Commuters that have localised in their Host Country |
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| | The above individuals will be required to pay any tax due on LTIP transactions, in their Host and former Home country (and in any other country that tax may be payable) up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their Host location. All payments must be made in accordance with each country’s payment rules. |
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| | Any amount of tax that is due over and above the amount of responsible tax calculated will be met by GSK. |
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| | Actual country tax withholding due will be payable by the individual, but only to the extent of that which would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their Host location. |
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| 3. | Former Global Assignees and Commuters that have localised in another country* |
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| | The above individuals will be required to pay any tax due on LTIP transactions, in their former Host, former Home and in any other country tax may be payable, up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their current location (*ie, the employee’s country of residence, for GSK payroll purposes, on the earlier of the date at which the tax becomes payable, or the date of cessation of employment from GSK). All payments must be made in accordance with each country’s payment rules. |
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| | Any amount of tax that is due over and above the amount of responsible tax calculated will be met by GSK. |
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| | Actual country tax withholding due will be payable by the individual, but only to the extent of that which would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their current location (as defined above). |
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| 4. | Permanent Internationally Relocated employees relocated at GSK’s request |
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| | The above individuals will be required to pay any tax due on LTIP transactions, in their current location and former Home country (and in any other country that tax may be payable) up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their current location. All payments must be made in accordance with each country’s payment rules. |
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| | Any amount of tax that is due over and above the amount of responsible tax calculated will be met by GSK. |
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| | Actual country tax withholding due will be payable by the individual, but only to the extent of that which would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in the location to where they have been permanently relocated. |
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| 5. | Business Travellers with TCTL working and/or rewarded across borders |
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| | The above individuals will be responsible for paying any tax due on LTIP transactions, in all locations in which they have performed duties, and/or their Home country, up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their country of residence (ie, for GSK payroll purposes, on the earlier of the date at which the tax becomes payable, or the date of cessation of employment from GSK). All payments must be made in accordance with each country’s payment rules. |
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| | Any amount of tax that is due over and above the amount of responsible tax calculated will be met by GSK. |
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| | Actual country tax withholding due will be payable by the individual, but only to the extent of that which would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their country of residence (as defined above). |
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| 6. | Former Business Travellers with TCTL that have returned to their Home country |
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| | The above individuals will be responsible for paying any tax due on LTIP transactions, in all locations in which they have performed duties, and/or their Home country, up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their Home country. All payments must be made in accordance with each country’s payment rules. |
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| | Any amount of tax that is due over and above the amount of responsible tax calculated will be met by GSK. |
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| | Actual country tax withholding due will be payable by the individual, but only to the extent of that which would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their Home country. |
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| 7. | Former Business Travellers with TCTL that have localised in their Host country |
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| | The above individuals will be responsible for paying any tax due on LTIP transactions, in all locations in which they have performed duties, and/or their former Home country, up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their Host country. All payments must be made in accordance with each country’s payment rules. |
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| | Any amount of tax that is due over and above the amount of responsible tax calculated will be met by GSK. |
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| | Actual country tax withholding due will be payable by the individual, but only to the extent of that which would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their Host country. |
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| | Actual country tax withholding due will be payable by the individual, but only to the extent of that which would have been payable if they had been resident throughout in their current location (as defined above). |
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Tax Reconciliation and Settlement
A tax reconciliation will be made to determine the difference between the employee’s responsible tax and his/her expenditures for actual country withholding tax. This calculation and reconciliation will be made by Ernst & Young LLP, once the appropriate tax returns have been prepared, who will advise the employee and GSK of the resulting settlement amount.
The party owing the settlement amount will make payment within a reasonable time period. If payment is not made within a reasonable time period, legal proceedings may commence.
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the GSK Tax Policy, the following terms will have the stated meaning:
Actual Home Country Tax
The tax liability properly calculated on the employee’s actual Home country tax return(s) or, if applicable, the actual tax liability assessed by the Home country tax authorities.
Actual Host Country Tax
The tax liability properly calculated on the employee’s actual Host country tax return(s) or, if applicable, the actual tax liability assessed by the host country tax authorities.
Home Country
The country in which the individual was employed, prior to performing employment duties in another country, and to which the employee intends to return once those foreign employment duties have ceased. An employee may have only one home country for the purposes of the Tax Policy.
Host Country
The country, other than the Home country, in which an individual carries out GSK employment duties.
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Hypothetical Tax
The estimated amount of responsible tax that GSK retains from the employee. Hypothetical tax does not belong to the employee nor is it remitted to the Home or Host country tax authorities as withholding. Instead, it is a reduction of the employee’s compensation.
Responsible Tax
The amount calculated according to the GSK Tax Policy, and related procedures, which the employee is obliged to pay. The responsible tax is an approximation of the country tax liability which would have arisen had the employee been resident throughout in the country to where he/she is tax equalised/protected.
Responsible Tax Country
The country in which individuals within the above categories will be required to pay tax on LTIP transactions, in whatever country tax jurisdictions it arises, up to the amount of tax that would have been payable if the individual had been resident throughout in the responsible tax country (ie, the country in which he/she is deemed to be resident at the time of LTIP transaction).
Tax
All income and social taxes imposed by the taxing jurisdiction (e.g. federal, state, city, province, canton, etc.). The term does not include estate, inheritance, gift, sales, or value added taxes.
TCTL
Two Country Tax Liability
Two Country LTIP Tax Liability - Summary
Category of Employee | | Tax Equalisation | | Tax Protection | | Tax Support |
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Current Employee - 10 year timescale | | | | | | |
Global Assignee | | To Home country | | N/A | | Yes |
Former Global Assignee including Commuter | | N/A | | To Home country | | Yes |
- | | returned to their Home country | | | | | | |
- | | localised in their Host country | | N/A | | To Host country | | Yes |
- | | localised in another country | | N/A | | To other country | | Yes |
Permanent Internationally relocated employee | | N/A | | To Host country | | Yes |
- | | GSK request | | | | | | |
- | | voluntary request | | N/A | | N/A | | Yes |
Business Travellers with TCTL working and/or rewarded across borders | | N/A | | To Country granting LTIP | | Yes |
Former Business Travellers with TCTL | | N/A | | To Home country | | Yes |
- | | returned to their Home country | | | | | | |
- | | localised in their Host country | | N/A | | To Host country | | Yes |
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Good Leaver – 3 year timescale | | | | | | |
Global Assignee including Commuters | | N/A | | To Home country | | Yes |
- | | returned to their Home country | | | | | | |
- | | not returning to their Home country | | N/A | | To Home country | | Yes |
Former Global Assignee including Commuters | | N/A | | To Home country | | Yes |
- | | returned to their Home country | | | | | | |
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- | | localised in their Host country | | N/A | | To Host country | | Yes |
- | | localised in another country | | N/A | | To other country | | Yes |
Permanent Internationally relocated employee | | N/A | | To Host country | | Yes |
- | | GSK request | | | | | | |
- | | voluntary request | | N/A | | N/A | | Yes |
Business Travellers with TCTL working and/or rewarded across borders | | N/A | | To Country granting LTIP | | Yes |
Former Business Travellers with TCTL | | N/A | | To Home country | | Yes |
- | | returned to their Home country | | | | | | |
- | | localised in their Host country | | N/A | | To Host country | | Yes |
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Bad Leaver – immediate year timescale | | | | | | |
Global Assignee including Commuters | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
- | | returned to their Home country | | | | | | |
- | | not returning to their Home country | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
Former Global Assignee including Commuters | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
- | | returned to their Home country | | | | | | |
- | | localised in their Host country | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
- | | localised in another country | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
Permanent Internationally relocated employee | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
- | | GSK request | | | | | | |
- | | voluntary request | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
Business Travellers with TCTL working and/or rewarded across borders | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
Former Business Travellers with TCTL | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
- | | returned to their Home country | | | | | | |
- | | localised in their Host country | | N/A | | N/A | | No |
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