AIM Stock Market Receives Welcome Boost from 2013 budget

The Chancellor George Osborne announced that from next year no stamp duty reserve tax will be payable when investors buy shares that on AIM (The Alternative Investment Market). When the new initiative is in place it will mean investors in AIM shares will benefit from host of benefits including, not paying CGT, income tax, inheritance tax and now stamp duty.

The London Stock Exchange should take some credit for this change in the rules regarding stamp duty, as it has lobbied the government long and hard over recent years for this to happen.

Holland Bendelow welcomes this new initiative as it has given an important boost to small and medium sized companies. The costs of investing in unquoted companies on stock markets such as The London Stock Exchanges AIM stock market and ICAP’s ISDX stock market are now lower than ever. Whilst the full extent of the abolishment of tax duty on buying AIM stock market shares is still unclear, companies listed on these stock markets will inevitably benefit to some degree along with investors.

The budget announcement comes just days after the government said it was reversing its long-held policy of not allowing AIM shares to be held in tax-efficient Individual Savings Accounts. Isas allow individuals to shelter up to £11,280 annually invested in stocks and shares from capital gains and income tax. The government is consulting the industry on how best to implement the new regime. Holland Bendelow would also welcome such an initiative.

Look out for Holland Bendelow’s latest AIM Tax guide to be published shortly.