Dividend Tax Calculator
Dividend income is taxed after a £500 annual allowance for 2026-27. Above that, dividends are taxed at 8.75% if you're a basic-rate taxpayer, 33.75% if higher-rate, and 39.35% if additional-rate. The allowance applies first, then the rate depends on which tax band your other income places you in.
Calculate Dividend Tax
Disclaimer: This calculator is for guidance only. Always verify with HMRC or consult a qualified accountant for your specific situation.
How Dividend Tax Works
Dividend Allowance
For 2026-27, the dividend allowance is £500. This means the first £500 of dividend income you receive in the tax year is tax-free, regardless of your other income.1 The allowance was £1,000 in 2022-23 and £500 from 2023-24 onwards.
Dividend Tax Rates
Dividends above the allowance are taxed at band-specific rates:2
| Tax band | Dividend rate |
|---|---|
| Basic rate (£12,571–£50,270) | 8.75% |
| Higher rate (£50,271–£125,140) | 33.75% |
| Additional rate (over £125,140) | 39.35% |
How Dividends Stack on Top of Other Income
Dividends are treated as the top slice of your income. Your other income (salary, pension, rental) fills up the personal allowance and tax bands first, then dividends sit on top. This means if your salary is £40,000, you have £10,270 of basic-rate band left (£50,270 − £40,000). Any dividends up to that amount are taxed at 8.75%, then higher amounts at 33.75%.
Reporting Dividend Income
If your total dividend income is over £10,000, or you need to pay dividend tax, you must report it on a Self Assessment tax return. HMRC does not automatically collect dividend tax through PAYE. You can sometimes ask HMRC to adjust your tax code to collect small amounts, but Self Assessment is the standard route.
Company Directors and Dividends
Many limited company directors pay themselves a low salary (around the NI threshold, £12,570/year) and take the rest as dividends to minimise tax and NI. After the £500 allowance, dividends are more tax-efficient than salary for basic-rate taxpayers, but less so for higher-rate. Always compare total tax + NI cost.
Read more: Dividend tax rates UK
Related Guides
Sources
- HMRC, Tax on dividends, accessed 15 May 2026.
- HMRC, Dividend allowance and tax rates 2026-27, accessed 15 May 2026.