Our website uses cookies to enhance the visitor experience (what's a cookieCookies are small text files that are stored on your computer when you visit a website. They are mainly used as a way of improving the website functionalities or to provide more advanced statistical data.). Are you happy for us to use cookies during your visits?
Please note: continuing without making a choice equates to giving us your consent, which you can withdraw at any time via our cookies policy page.

Client Area Client Area

Magnify

Accounting, Taxation and Business Advisers

Call us today: 0118 405 6000 (Local Rate)

Request a Callback

Book a Free Consultation

Get a Fixed Quote

Find out how to Make more, Keep more and Work less

Want to pay less tax?

Newsletter Sign up

What size is your
business?

We know you love your business regardless of it's size, so let us offer you sound financial advice

  • Start-up
  • Small Business
  • Medium Business
  • Large Business

Dividend allowance

Newsletter issue - August 2019.

Many family-owned companies allocate dividends towards the end of their financial year and/or the tax year, which means that the impact of the reduction in the dividend allowance from £5,000 to £2,000 from 6 April 2018 is only now starting to come to light. Many other taxpayers may not become aware of the change until they complete their 2018/19 tax return, which in most cases, will be due for submission to HMRC by 31 January 2020.

The amount of tax payable on a dividend will primarily depend on which tax band the first £2,000 falls in. The tax rates on dividend income, above the allowance, remain at 7.5% for basic rate taxpayers, 32.5% for higher rate taxpayers and 38.1% for additional rate taxpayers.

For a basic rate taxpayer, the reduction in the allowance means an increase in tax paid on dividends of £225. For a higher rate taxpayer, the reduction increases the annual tax bill on dividends by £975, and for additional rate taxpayers, the increase is £1,143. Note that if dividend income falls between multiple tax bands, these figures will be different.

The allocation of various rate bands and tax rates can be complicated, even in situations where straight-forward dividend payments are made. Family business structures may be particularly vulnerable to the impact of the reduction in the dividend allowance, especially where multiple family members take dividends from the family company.

 

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this page to a friend