Check employment related securities files
Use this service to check your files for formatting errors before submitting annual returns for employment related securities.
Check your files with the employment related securities (ERS) checking service before you submit ERS annual returns to make sure that your files are not rejected.
This service can be used by employers and their agents.
If you’re an employer (or an agent acting on their behalf) you must submit a:
- return every year for all schemes — including one-off awards or gifts of shares
- nil return if you have nothing to report
You must submit annual returns, including nil returns, by 6 July following the end of the tax year, to avoid penalties.
Before you start
This service can check OpenDocument spreadsheet (.ods) and comma-separated values (.csv) files.
You need to fill in and save spreadsheets for the schemes you have registered.
You can download our templates, or create your own templates using the technical notes provided, for:
- the Company Share Option Plan (CSOP)
- Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI)
- other (non-tax advantaged share schemes)
- Save As You Earn (SAYE)
- Share Incentive Plan (SIP)
Check your files
To use this service, you need a Government Gateway user ID and password. You can use the same ID and password as when you registered the scheme.
If you have not registered your scheme yet, you can create an ID and password at the start of the service.
What happens next
When the check is complete, you’ll be told if there are errors, which you can view on screen.
You can then correct any errors, save the file, check your file again, or check another spreadsheet.
When you have finished checking all your files, access the ERS online service to submit your return.
Updates to this page
Published 31 October 2014Last updated 18 December 2024 + show all updates
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The link to the checking service has been updated, and the step-by-step guide has been removed as it is no longer needed. Links have been added to all the end of year return templates and forms.
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The employment related securities (ERS) service now allows annual returns to be filed as well as checked.
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Correction made
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First published.