UK Dividend Tax Guide 2026/27
Dividends are a tax-efficient way for limited company directors to extract profits from their company. But dividend tax has become significantly more expensive in recent years as allowances have been cut. This guide explains how dividend tax works, what you pay and how to calculate your bill.
Calculate your dividend tax and take-home.
Open dividend calculator →Dividend tax rates 2026/27
Dividend tax rates for 2026/27 are unchanged from 2025/26. The rate you pay depends on your total income from all sources — salary, self-employment profits, rental income and dividends combined.
| Tax band | Dividend tax rate |
|---|---|
| Dividend allowance (first £500) | 0% |
| Basic rate | 8.75% |
| Higher rate | 33.75% |
| Additional rate | 39.35% |
These rates apply to dividends above the £500 allowance. Your income tax band is determined by stacking all non-dividend income first, then adding dividends on top.
The dividend allowance
The dividend allowance is not a tax-free band in the same way as the personal allowance — it is a nil-rate band. Dividends within the allowance still count towards your total income when determining which tax band applies to dividends above the allowance.
| Tax year | Dividend allowance |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | £2,000 |
| 2023/24 | £1,000 |
| 2024/25 onwards (including 2026/27) | £500 |
The cut from £2,000 to £500 has significantly increased the cost of taking dividends. A basic rate taxpayer who previously paid no dividend tax on the first £2,000 now pays 8.75% on £1,500 of that slice — an extra £130 per year in dividend tax compared with 2022/23.
How dividends are taxed alongside other income
Dividends are taxed using a “top slice” method. HMRC calculates your income tax band by adding all non-dividend income first — salary, self-employment profits, rental income and so on — then stacks dividends on top to determine which dividend rate applies.
This means a small salary uses part of your basic rate band, leaving less room for dividends before the higher rate kicks in. The personal allowance (£12,570 for 2026/27) applies to non-dividend income first; dividends do not use the personal allowance directly.
Worked example — £5,000 salary + £40,000 dividends:
| Director salary | £5,000 |
|---|---|
| Dividends received | £40,000 |
| Dividend allowance | £500 (tax-free) |
| Taxable dividends | £39,500 |
| Basic rate band remaining after salary | £45,270 (£50,270 − £5,000) |
| All taxable dividends in basic rate band | £39,500 × 8.75% |
| Dividend tax due | £3,456 |
Dividends crossing into the higher rate band
When total income pushes dividends into the higher rate band (£50,270 to £125,140 for 2026/27), the portion above the basic rate threshold is taxed at 33.75% rather than 8.75% — a significant jump.
Worked example — £5,000 salary + £60,000 dividends:
| Director salary | £5,000 |
|---|---|
| Dividends received | £60,000 |
| Dividend allowance | £500 |
| Taxable dividends | £59,500 |
| Basic rate band remaining | £45,270 |
| Dividends taxed at 8.75% (basic rate) | £45,270 × 8.75% = £3,961 |
| Dividends taxed at 33.75% (higher rate) | £14,230 × 33.75% = £4,927 |
| Total dividend tax | £8,888 |
Crossing the higher rate threshold adds over £5,400 to your dividend tax bill compared with the £40,000 dividend example — even though dividends only increased by £20,000.
Model your own salary and dividend split.
Try the dividend calculator →Corporation tax and dividend tax — the full picture
Company profits are taxed twice when extracted as dividends: first through corporation tax on company profits, then through dividend tax when you receive the distribution personally. This is often called double taxation — though the combined rate is still typically lower than taking everything as salary because dividends avoid National Insurance.
Worked example — £80,000 company profit, £5,000 salary + dividends:
| Company profit before salary | £80,000 |
|---|---|
| Director salary (deductible expense) | £5,000 |
| Taxable profit for corporation tax | £75,000 |
| Corporation tax (25% main rate with marginal relief) | £18,750 |
| Dividends available | £56,250 |
| Dividend tax on extraction | ≈ £10,641 |
| Total tax (corporation + dividend) | ≈ £29,391 |
| Effective combined rate on £80,000 profit | ≈ 36.5% |
For comparison, extracting the same £80,000 entirely as salary would attract income tax, employee NI and employer NI — an effective total tax cost of around 32.5% at this income level, but with significantly higher National Insurance. The salary-plus-dividend strategy remains more tax-efficient for most directors once employer NI is factored in.
How to pay dividend tax
Unlike salary, dividend tax is never deducted at source. You must declare all dividend income on your annual Self Assessment tax return and pay the tax due by 31 January following the end of the tax year.
- Register for Self Assessment if you are not already registered — required if you receive dividends not fully covered by PAYE.
- Keep dividend vouchers for every payment received. Each voucher should show the company name, payment date, amount per share and total dividend paid.
- Declare total dividend income in the dividends section of your Self Assessment return (SA100 supplementary pages).
- HMRC calculates your dividend tax automatically based on your total income from all sources.
- Pay the balance due by 31 January. For the 2026/27 tax year, payment is due by 31 January 2028.
If you are a company director paying yourself dividends from your own company, you still declare those dividends on your personal return even though you authorised the payment.
Dividends and the personal allowance taper
When your total income exceeds £100,000, your personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above that threshold. It reaches zero at £125,140. This creates an effective marginal income tax rate of 60% on income between £100,000 and £125,140 — and because dividends stack on top of other income, large dividend payments can push you into this taper zone quickly.
Pension contributions can help restore some of the lost personal allowance by reducing your adjusted net income. If your total income is approaching £100,000, speak to an accountant about pension planning before declaring large dividends.
Dividends from investments vs company dividends
The same dividend tax rules apply whether dividends come from your own limited company, shares held in a brokerage account, or investment funds. The £500 allowance covers all dividend income from all sources combined — it is not £500 per company or per investment.
Dividends received inside an ISA are completely tax-free and do not count towards the dividend allowance. For investment portfolios outside an ISA, consider using your ISA allowance (£20,000 per year for 2026/27) to shelter dividend-paying investments from tax.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dividend tax rate for basic rate taxpayers in 2026/27?
Basic rate taxpayers pay 8.75% on dividends above the £500 allowance. Your tax band is determined by your total income from all sources combined.
Do I pay NI on dividends?
No. Dividends are not subject to National Insurance of any class. This is one of the key tax advantages of taking dividends rather than salary.
How do I pay dividend tax?
Dividend tax is not deducted at source. You declare dividend income on your annual Self Assessment return and pay by 31 January following the tax year end.
Can I pay myself dividends if my company has no profit?
No. Dividends can only be paid from retained post-tax profits. Paying a dividend when the company has no retained profits is an illegal dividend.
Does the £500 dividend allowance apply to all dividends I receive?
Yes. The £500 allowance covers all dividend income from all sources combined — your own company, shares, investment funds. It is not £500 per source.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute tax or financial advice. Always seek advice from a qualified accountant. Rates shown are for 2026/27.