Director salary vs dividend calculator
Model salary, employer NIC, Corporation Tax relief and personal dividend tax together rather than comparing salary and dividends in isolation.
1. Why salary is still useful
Salary is normally deductible in calculating company taxable profit when incurred wholly and exclusively for the trade. It can also help preserve a director’s National Insurance record.
The trade-off is PAYE and NIC. Employer NIC is 15% above the £5,000 secondary threshold for 2026/27, so the company cost matters as much as the director’s personal tax.
2. Why dividends are different
Dividends are paid from post-Corporation Tax distributable profits and are not deductible for Corporation Tax.
A company must have sufficient distributable reserves before declaring a dividend and should retain proper board minutes and dividend vouchers.
Not sure your company has enough reserves to declare a dividend safely?
Get company tax help3. Dividend tax rates for 2026/27
The Dividend Allowance is £500. Dividend tax rates are 10.75% for basic-rate taxpayers, 35.75% for higher-rate taxpayers and 39.35% for additional-rate taxpayers.
The rate that applies depends on the director’s total taxable income, not simply the amount of the dividend.
4. Employment Allowance can change the answer
Employment Allowance can materially affect the cost of a director salary. But a company where the only employee paid above the secondary threshold is also the sole director will generally not qualify.
This is why copying another company’s “optimal salary” figure can produce the wrong result.
Not sure if your company qualifies for Employment Allowance?
Get company tax help5. A practical way to review the salary/dividend mix
Review expected company taxable profit, Employment Allowance eligibility, the director’s other income, Personal Allowance tapering, pension contributions, cash needs and whether profits should remain in the company.
The objective is a sensible combined company-and-personal position, not simply minimising one line of tax.
- Company taxable profit
- Other personal income
- Employer NIC and Employment Allowance
- Distributable reserves
- Pension planning
- Cash required personally versus retained in the company
6. Common mistakes
Common errors include paying dividends without sufficient reserves, treating drawings as dividends without paperwork, ignoring employer NIC and automatically reusing last year’s salary level.
Directors should also leave enough company cash for Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE and other liabilities rather than extracting all available bank cash.
Want a second opinion on your salary/dividend mix?
Get company tax helpFrequently asked questions
Are dividends deductible for Corporation Tax?
No. Dividends are distributions from post-tax profits and are not a Corporation Tax deduction.
Does every director qualify for Employment Allowance?
No. A company where the sole employee paid above the secondary threshold is also the sole director will generally not qualify.
Is there one optimal director salary for 2026/27?
No. The answer depends on employer NIC, Employment Allowance, other income, company profit and wider extraction planning.
Can I just take money from the company and call it a dividend later?
That can create director loan and documentation issues. Dividends should only be declared where there are sufficient distributable profits and proper records.
Need help choosing the right extraction mix?
Experlu can help with company accounts, payroll and director Self Assessment and identify where salary, dividends or other extraction methods need review.
Get company tax helpThis guide provides general information only and does not constitute personal tax or financial advice. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances.