The short answer
ERS stands for employment related securities: shares, share options and other securities that people get because of their job. If a company runs an ERS scheme, it must tell HMRC every year what happened in it, through the ERS online service. That annual report is the ERS return, also called the end of year return. If nothing happened, the company files a nil return instead.
Who has to file one
- Every company with a scheme or arrangement registered in HMRC's ERS online service, for every scheme, every year.
- That includes one-off awards or gifts of shares, not just formal schemes.
- The company secretary, or the person acting as company secretary, is responsible. An agent such as an accountant can file it once authorised.
- Where an employee is employed by an Employer of Record, the Employer of Record files.
What gets reported
GOV.UK says reportable events can include the grant and exercise of share options and awards of shares and other securities to employees or directors, through to awards of carried interest, as well as some changes to the rights attached to securities. Each scheme type has its own template:
| Scheme | Template | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) | HMRC's EMI template | See our EMI annual return guide |
| Company Share Option Plan (CSOP), also called EMI2 | HMRC's CSOP template | See our CSOP annual return guide |
| Save As You Earn (SAYE) | HMRC's SAYE template | |
| Share Incentive Plan (SIP) | HMRC's SIP template | |
| Anything else: non-tax advantaged, formerly "Other" | HMRC's non-tax advantaged template | See our non-tax advantaged guide |
The deadline
The return or nil return is due by 6 July after the end of the tax year, which runs from 6 April to 5 April. The 2026 to 2027 return is due by 6 July 2027. HMRC does not send reminders. See the 6 July deadline.
Registering comes first
A scheme must be registered in the ERS online service before you can file for it. HMRC says to register a new tax advantaged scheme by 6 July after the tax year it was set up, and a non-tax advantaged one by 6 July after the tax year of its first reportable event. Registering needs an employer PAYE reference. EMI option grants have their own notification, due by 6 July after the tax year of grant for options granted after 6 April 2024.
How you file
- Fill in HMRC's template for the scheme, or make your own files from HMRC's technical note.
- Check the file with HMRC's checking service.
- Sign in to the ERS online service, choose the scheme, select "Submit annual returns" for the tax year and upload the file. See how to submit an ERS return.
- Save a copy of the completed template, and download the submission receipt, which shows the date and time of your return.
If it is late
HMRC charges £100 automatically, then £300 at 3 months and another £300 at 6 months, and may charge £10 a day after 9 months. See late filing penalties. If a 2025 to 2026 return is still outstanding, the next £300 is on 6 January 2027.
The templates change in April 2027
HMRC published new version 7 templates on 2 November 2026. From 6 April 2027 they are the only ones it accepts, for any tax year. See HMRC's new templates.
Questions
What does ERS stand for?
Employment related securities: shares, share options and other securities that people get because of their employment.
Do I need to file an ERS return if nothing happened?
Yes. Every registered scheme needs a return each year. If there were no reportable events, file a nil return by 6 July.
When is the ERS return due?
By 6 July after the end of the tax year. The 2026 to 2027 return is due by 6 July 2027.
Who files the ERS return?
The company secretary, or the person acting as company secretary, or an agent authorised for the ERS service. Where an Employer of Record employs the employee, the Employer of Record files.
Based on HMRC's published guidance: How ERS work if you're an employer. Register your ERS scheme. Submit returns for ERS. Check how to deal with an ERS penalty. ERS bulletin 70 (November 2026). Checked on 2 November 2026. This is general guidance, not tax advice, and HMRC's own pages take priority if they change. Share Scheme Return is not affiliated with HMRC.
Let the free checker find these for you
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