Dividend taxes will they increase?

Speculation is growing that rates or allowances applied to dividend income may change in the next Budget.

The current tax rates for dividends received (in excess of the £500 dividend tax allowance) are as follows:

• 8.75% for basic rate taxpayers will pay tax on dividends
• 33.75% for higher rate taxpayers will pay tax on dividends
• 39.35% for additional rate taxpayers will pay tax on dividends

Dividends that fall within your Personal Allowance do not count towards your dividend allowance and you may pay tax at more than one rate.

If you receive up to £10,000 in dividends you can ask HMRC to change your tax code and the tax due will be taken from your wages or pension or you can enter the dividends on your self-assessment tax return, if you already fill one in. You do not need to notify HMRC if the dividends you receive are within your dividend allowance for the tax year.

If you have received over £10,000 in dividends, you will need to complete a self-assessment tax return. If you do not usually send a tax return, you need to register by 5 October following the tax year in which you had the relevant dividend income.

There has been growing speculation ahead of the upcoming Budget that the government could make further changes to the taxation of dividends. With the government under pressure to raise revenue there is the possibility that the rates of dividend taxes could be increased. The current £500 tax‑free dividend allowance could also be abolished altogether, after having been significantly reduced over the last number of years.