If you want to transfer your shares to someone that you know, you can transfer your holding using a stock transfer form.

Please note you can only use this form if you hold a share certificate. If your holding is held in a corporate sponsored nominee or you do not hold the certificate for your holding please contact us for advice.

• Download the Stock Transfer Form and guidance notes

Please download and complete the form and send it back to us with the share certificates.

You may wish to return the form and relevant share certificate by recorded/special delivery as there may be fees payable if the certificate goes astray.

• the full name and address details for both transferor (the old owner) and transferee (the new owner)
• the signature of the transferor
• the name of the Company (referred to as Name of Undertaking) in which the shares are held
• the class of share (for example Ordinary Shares)
• and the amount to be transferred in both words and figures

• do not use correction fluid or stick on labels. If you make any mistakes when completing the form, just cross out the error and initial the amendment (s)the signature of the transferor
• please use full names of person(s) to whom the security is being transferred. We are unable to accept initials
• ensure that you fully complete and sign both the front and back of form

Failure to correctly complete the form may result in it being rejected and returned to you.

Unless you instruct us otherwise by filling in the boxes on the form, we will automatically send the new certificate to the transferee at the address quoted and any balance certificate back to the transferor.

Stamp Duty

Stamp Duty may be payable depending on the type of transfer. As a general rule, if no money is changing hands then the transaction is not liable for Stamp Duty. To be exempt, the transfer must fall into one of the categories shown on page 2 of the form. For example, if you are giving your shares to another person as a gift, the transfer will fall into category 'L'.

If payment is being made for the shares then the person receiving them has to pay stamp duty and should not complete the back of the stock transfer form. If you are unsure whether or not you need to pay stamp duty on this transfer, please contact the Revenue & Customs Stamp Taxes helpline on 0845 603 0135 who will be able to advise you. More information about Stamp Duty is available on the HM Revenue and Customs website (for example, more details of exemptions are detailed in chapter 2 of the Stamp Office Manual which can be downloaded from HM Revenue and Customs).

I want to give / gift someone my shares, what do I do?

You need to get a stock transfer form and fill in your name as "transferor" and their name as "transferee". You should put "gift" or "nil" in the box, which asks how much consideration, was paid. You will then need to complete the back of the form showing that it is exempt under category L.

What is a Unit?

Please refer to your share certificate which will state if the stock is held in units, for example Package Units or Geared Units. This is only applicable to a small number of companies.
If your shares are not held in Units you only need to complete the amount of shares being transferred in words & figures.

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