How to use dividends to pay directors

As you know, dividends represent a portion of your company’s profits, which are distributed to its shareholders.

Unlike salaries, which are subject to Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs), dividends are taxed differently and can sometimes mean a lower liability than normal earnings through pay cheques.

This difference in taxation makes using dividends to pay Directors’ salaries an attractive option for some business owners, especially if they’ll benefit from the scheme themselves.

However, this is not a one-size-fits-all solution and taking dividends rather than salary can sometimes be less cost effective than you might think.

For a director who is also a shareholder, taking a modest salary to cover personal allowances and NICs thresholds, combined with dividends, can result in tax savings when done properly and with the help of a tax adviser.

Tax implications and planning considerations

Dividends are not deductible for Corporation Tax purposes, meaning they are paid out of post-tax profits.

However, they attract no NICs, which is often a saving opportunity compared to salaries.

It’s important to note that the current dividend allowance is £500 – dividends below this are not subject to taxation – but this has been decreasing year on year.

The current tax rates for dividends, as of this financial year, are:

As you can see, all of these rates are lower than your usual Income Tax rates meaning with clever planning you might be able to save money in the long run.

It is crucial to plan the timing and number of dividends carefully though.

Dividends must be paid from distributable profits, and declaring dividends without sufficient profits can lead to legal and financial repercussions, including potential repayment obligations and penalties.

As such, you might find your income is reliant on the profitability of the business.

If the business profits go up it’s good for your personal wealth. If the business goes through a downturn, however, you might find your income decreases also.

If you’re a company director, you’ll also need to consider the impact of dividend payments on your personal tax liabilities and the overall financial health of your business.

We often advise maintaining a balance between salary and dividend income to optimise tax efficiency while ensuring compliance with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) regulations.

Again, however, this is best discussed with a qualified and experienced tax adviser.

Practical steps and compliance

Implementing a strategy to pay directors’ salaries through dividends involves several practical steps and adherence to legal requirements as well as in depth conversations with your tax adviser.

Here are the key considerations and some of our practical advice:

Remember, we’re here to help you manage your dividend and salary strategy as well as advising you on whether it’s a good idea for you and your business.

If it’s the right move for you, we can help you set the right salary-dividend mix and will assist you in maintaining compliance and setting up the scheme in the first place.

You will find that, throughout the process, numerous questions and challenges will come up as you try to set up dividend payments – we can also help with this.

Fundamentally, however, your first move should be speaking with one of our team to determine if you really can make significant savings through dividend distribution or if it’s best to stick to salary payments.

We’d be happy to go over your personal situation and determine the best course of action for you.

For further information or tailored tax advice, please speak to one of our team.