A new certificate has been added to the reverse of the stock transfer form, to be completed when a share transfer is ‘otherwise’ exempt from stamp duty or no chargeable consideration is given for the transfer.

HMRC advise that the change to the form stemmed from practical problems that the legal sector and Registrars have been encountering since the abolition of stamp duty fixed charges. The form has also been updated more generally.

The new forms were available from suppliers from 6 April 2012 and it is recommended that the new form is used for all transfers on or after that date. Old versions of the form will continue to be accepted until 5 September 2012.

For more information visit http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/news/changes-stock-trans-form.htm