Salary or Dividends

Dividends and PAYE/NI – Salary or Dividends

You are no doubt aware of the potential advantages relative to the payment of salary or dividends by your company to its director/shareholders. In particular, dividends do not attract national insurance contributions. So, while tax is due it is not collectible through the PAYE method. Filing the receiver’s self-assessment tax return form with no direct fee, resultant duty. Where the recipient is only liable to tax at the basic rate. Thus, Total income, including any dividends, received, up to about £40,000 per annum.

You may also be aware that over recent years there have been various attempts to limit the use of dividends, in particular, the following:-

IR35 regulations

 

  • The so-called IR35 regulations which attempt to force certain companies to pay out all profits as remuneration.  The Budget 2011 confirmed that these regulations are to continue despite recommendations to the contrary by the Office for Tax Simplification.

Arctic Systems

 

  • The case of Arctic Systems, which challenged the payment of dividends. To non-working spouses on certain types of companies. Although the taxpayers were successful in court on this occasion. This was only after the case reached the House of Lords). Thus, the ministerial announcement released in July 2007. The law will put in place to combat the division of contracts for non-commercial profits. So that these arrangements will not be tax-effective in the not too far future. From 6 April 2012 after the review of small business taxation is complete.

laws of the Finance Act 2007

 

  • The modifications to the laws of the Finance Act 2007 cover controlled service. As of 6 April 2007, the composite/summary companies. That says this specific type of agreement expects to carry out a salary as a tax.
Legislation for tax purposes

 

  • The introduction of specific legislation for tax purposes in the Finance (No.2) Act 2005 and the National Insurance Contributions Act 2006. That also requires amendments to the PAYE / National Insurance payout law. To incorporate a cumulative standard as of 2 December 2004.  It should appreciate that certain backdated changes have already made. albeit applicable only to very unusual and complex avoidance situations.

Economic and Fiscal Strategy

 

  • The comment in the 2007 Economic and Fiscal Strategy report accompanying. The Budget press releases that “The government will continue to check the level. That extent to which labor income extract in dividends”.

P.A. Holdings Limited

 

  • The case of P.A. Holdings Limited and another v HMRC (released in 2009 but confirmed by The Court of Appeal in late 2011). In which it found that a PAYE and National Insurance charge could apply to dividends. Which were in reality received as a reward for employment services rendered. Uniplex (UK) Limited ‘s 2010 Tax Tribunal dispute in which there is an effort to turn the tax into dividends. Held to be ineffective (because the relevant paperwork was either absent or defective).

Anti-avoidance legislation

 

  • Anti-avoidance legislation included in Finance Act 2011 in respect of the use of Employee Benefit Trusts and the like (principally aimed at preventing tax avoidance but also seeking to impose National Insurance contributions on certain arrangements).

In addition to the above, there is considerable legislation introduced via the Finance Act 2003 and Finance (No.2) Act 2005 which is directed towards countering complex tax avoidance schemes.  However, in amongst this legislation have been changes to Section 447 Income Tax Earnings and Pensions Act 2003 which now reads as follows:-

447 Charge on other chargeable benefits from securities

 

(1)           This Chapter applies if an associated person receives a benefit [in connection with employment-related securities]

(2)           The taxable amount determined under Section 448 counts as employment income of the employee for the relevant tax year.

(3)           The “relevant tax year” is the tax year in which the benefit is received.

(4)           If the benefit is otherwise chargeable to income tax this section does not apply unless something has been done which affects the employment-related securities as part of a scheme or arrangement the main purpose (or one of the main purposes) of which is the avoidance of tax or national insurance contributions”.

NBAssociated person

 

An NBAssociated person means (broadly) the shareholder and other connected persons.  Sub-section 5 (not reproduced) is of no practical relevance

Late in 2006 HM Revenue & Customs issued further guidance as to their interpretation of the above provisions.  This interpretation repeated a ministerial statement previously made in the House of Commons by Dawn Primarolo who said:-

“I want to make it plain that this move will not carry all. The equity incentives into a tax and National Insurance bill. A reference to benefits in the context of the schedule means the employment reward. The passing of value to an employee in return for the employee’s labor.  Where investors are carrying out their normal investment transaction, this charge will not affect them.”

The guideline went on to state the law gear at complicated theoretical schemes to prevent tax and payments to national insurance. In particular, the use of special purpose vehicles, the use of managed service/composite companies. Still further legislation applicable to such companies effective 6 April 2007, as before detailed. The use of alphabet shares with little value or rights use to pay dividends to a range of employees.  The ministerial statement also included a comment that “this measure will not affect the taxation of those small businesses that do not use contrived schemes to disguise payment to avoid tax and National Insurance”.

What is the problem regarding contrived plans?
The problem is that there is confusion regarding what are “contrived plans” and what is not.

What is and what is not acceptable. No, the specific attempt seems to be made to challenge the position of the owner-managers. Who hold ordinary shares in a company and draw a low level of payment. Sometimes only £7,500 per annum or so. With the balance of any profit pay to the same people as a dividend in their capacity as shareholders.  But, it may be that at some point in the future HM Revenue will contend. That the “fair” and “correct” amount of tax. here there is. “Transferral of interest for a job benefit” on the allocation of a bonus to the owner-managers. That is due via PAYE with associated National Insurance contributions. When this occurs, there might be a problem with how easy it should be for a very low salary to secure the position of a working (full-time) director employee. Particularly given the decisions of the Tax Tribunal outlined on page one.

National Minimum Wage legislation

Following on from the above it is clear that if any dividends need to pay. So this is the steps applicable to the Companies Act adopt in accordance with adopting the appropriate resolutions. Ensuring that the necessary company reserves are in place. Thus, issuing of appropriate dividend vouchers at the right time.  Failure to pay a dividend in accordance with these Companies Act requirements may simply mean that such a dividend has not in fact been paid which may leave open the way for HM Revenue & Customs to argue that any funds withdrawn on account of such a purported dividend are either remuneration or some sort of taxable loan.  In addition, there is also a requirement to comply with the National Minimum Wage legislation. Whilst there is an exemption for officeholders, i.e. directors who are not also employees. Utilizing this exemption will prejudice certain entitlements only available to employees. For eg, contingency compensation and other tax deductions that rely on the use of the applicant.

Additional tax/National Insurance

 

In view of the position, owner-managed businesses need to consider it. Whether the continued payment of very low salaries is appropriate. If it is not, then take appropriate action to increase salary payments with of course. The resultant extra PAYE tax burden and National Insurance contribution liabilities.  Alternatively, such businesses need to be aware that their position may be challenged at some point in the future. Normal HM Revenue & Customs approach in such circumstances is to look at not only the current year but certainly the previous three years and possibly beyond and to seek not only an additional tax/National Insurance due but also late payment interest and possibly penalties.

If you wish to discuss any of the above further then please do not hesitate to contact us accordingly.

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