The rule
HMRC's guidance says all values should be in pounds sterling and pence and entered to 4 decimal places. Round up figures ending in 5 or more and round down figures ending in 4 or less. Values in another currency should be converted using a reputable currency converter.
The technical note sets the format column by column. In the EMI template, for example:
| Column type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise price, market values (AMV, UMV), amounts paid | Up to 13 digits, 4 decimal places | 2.7568 |
| Number of shares | Up to 11 digits, 2 decimal places | 2500.00 |
Common slips
- Values copied with a £ sign or thousands commas.
- Values rounded to 2 places by a spreadsheet's display format and then copied as text.
- Negative numbers.
The checker removes £ signs and commas, rounds half up to the right number of places, and writes every value with exactly the places HMRC asks for.
Based on HMRC's published guidance: EMI guidance notes, section 1.1. EMI technical note. Checked on 20 October 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.
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