How do I pay myself as a Director?

This is a question we often face from new company directors, how to pay yourself from the company.

As part of our £375+VAT package for a new limited company we offer the following;

  • company formation (including the option to have the company phrased as a special purpose vehicle for a property rental company)
  • we will register a single director with HMRC for self-assessment
  • we set up the payroll scheme
  • we arrange your chart of accounts on online software and set up the bank feed so transactions are automatically recorded

So the two ways to get paid are in the form of a monthly salary run from a payroll set up by the limited company and the second way is through dividend allocations based on the company’s annual post-tax profit.

A salary is treated as an expense to the business, therefore decreasing profits, reducing corporation tax, and in turn, minimising the amount of dividends available to then be attributed to each shareholder.

We suggest (correct as of the 23/24 tax year) a salary of £9,096 per annum (£758 p/m) as this is the minimum amount to qualify for a state pension (also known as the secondary threshold).  If there are 2 or more directors (on the secondary threshold or above) or any additional staff on the payroll above the secondary threshold for the company, the Employment Allowance offered by the government becomes available, giving the company £5,000 ‘pot’ towards the employer’s NI contributions.

If the company posts a profit, the value of the post-tax profit can be allocated as dividends to the shareholder(s) of the company.  If there is more than one shareholder, then the dividends are allocated dependent on the percentage of shares held by each shareholder.

Unfortunately, the tax efficiency of dividends is being reduced.  For the 22/23 tax year there is a £2,000 tax-free allowance, for 2023/24 there will only be a £1,000 tax-free allowance and for 2024/25 it has been stated that it will be halved again to £500.

The amount of tax you pay on dividends will be dependent on your income tax band which includes your tax-free allowance, and any earnings from the limited company and any other earnings outside.

This will need to be declared on a self-assessment tax return to HMRC, which covers the period of the UK tax year from 6th April to 5th April every year.

As part of our £375+VAT package we can enrol one shareholder/director onto the self-assessment scheme with HMRC to obtain a Unique Tax Reference (UTR) to allow them to comply with their personal tax obligations in the future.  Contact us on 020 8761 8000 for more information.

Taxfile Covers Clients for HMRC Enquiries

Taxfile Covers Clients for HMRC Enquiries

Taxfile Covers Clients Against HMRC Enquiries

Did you know that Taxfile’s clients are protected from HMRC enquiries, for example for tax returns and similar submissions we make to HMRC? Through a simple, low-cost fee, Taxfile promises to liaise with HMRC on clients’ behalves should HMRC ever want further clarification of figures submitted. This includes HMRC queries following a tax return, VAT return, corporation tax return or payroll submission made by us. Usually, protecting clients from this type of HMRC investigation could mount up in terms of cost, as it can sometimes take hours to deal with, even for tax experts like us. However, with Taxfile’s low cost cover, it’s all covered automatically (within reason, of course*).

Through a low-cost fee, Taxfile promises to liaise with HMRC on clients' behalves should HMRC ever want clarification of figures submitted.The enquiry cover costs only …

  • £5 for a self assessment income tax return;
  • £10 for a VAT return;
  • £25 for a corporation tax return;
  • £4 for a payroll submission.

(VAT extra). Most accountants would charge you a considerable sum for this level of protection against HMRC enquiries. However, at Taxfile, we spread the cost through the whole business and, as a result, the cost to clients is a fraction of what it could otherwise be. We hope you agree that it’s a very small price to pay for such peace of mind, should the worst happen.

Tax Advisers & Accountants in Tulse Hill, Dulwich, South London & The South West

Do ask a staff member if you would like more information or, indeed, if you would like any tax or accountancy help. Telephone 020 8761 8000 or contact us here. We are Read more

PAYE, 2021/22 Tax Thresholds, Employment Allowance & P800s

PAYE, 2021/22 Tax Thresholds, Employment Allowance & P800s

PAYE, 2021/22 Tax Thresholds, Employment Allowance & P800s

My name is Daniel and I have been a part of the Taxfile family since 2007. It started as a part-time job doing bookkeeping, but as time went on, I developed new abilities and a deeper understanding of the tax world. PAYE, VAT, and Company Register are now my areas of expertise.

I understand how complicated the tax world is, so here are a few PAYE things to consider:

Understanding the tax thresholds for 2021-2022

PAYE is calculated based on how much you earn and whether you are eligible for the personal allowance.

  • Standard Rate: PAYE income tax is charged at 20%, less a personal allowance of £12,570, this is signified by tax code 1257L.
  • Higher Rate: For most, income over £50,270 to £150,000 is charged at 40%.
  • Additional Rate: Income above £150,000 is charged at 45%.

What is the Employment Allowance?

The Employment Allowance allows certain businesses that employ workers to reduce their annual National Insurance (NI) bill by up to £4,000 (for the 2021/22 tax year).
Eligible businesses can claim a reduction against their employer’s Class 1 NI liability up to a maximum of £4,000 each tax year. You can still claim the allowance if the liability was less than £4,000 in a tax year.

You can’t claim if you’re a company with only one employee paid above the Class 1 National Insurance Secondary Threshold (£8,840 for the 2021/22 tax year, up from £8,788 for the 2020/21 tax year) if that employee is also a director of the company.

How will I know if I haven’t paid the right amount of PAYE?

HMRC will send out a P800 tax calculation form after the tax year ends on 5 April, which you should receive by the end of November. This will show how much tax is due to be refunded, or is owed for previous years.

Another significant aspect of Taxfile is that it works with a wide range of accounts software (Sage, QuickBooks, Xero, FreeAgent, VT, Forbes, Moneysoft, and so on) and can accommodate everyone. These are just a few examples, but if you need assistance with any area of PAYE, VAT, or other types of tax, Taxfile and the team are here to help. Call Taxfile on 020 8761 8000, book a free appointment (in-person and phone or video call options are available) or simply message us your tax-related query and we’ll be happy to help. We are accountants and tax experts in South London and the South West.

This post was brought to you by Daniel at Taxfile.

Furlough Scheme Extended until End of September

Furlough Scheme Extended until End of September

In The Chancellor’s 2021 budget speech it was announced that the furlough scheme would be extended until the end of September 2021, to protect the jobs and livelihoods of the UK population during the pandemic.

The Government will pay employees 80% of the hours not worked through to the end of June 2021.  As the country opens up it will then offer 70% with the employer to contribute the other 10%, then in August through to the end of September they will ask the employer to pay 20% while the Government covers the remaining 60%, so the employee continues to receive the 80% of their income for the hours not worked.

If you or your business need help setting up a payroll and help with the furlough scheme, then please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 8761 8000.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Extended

[UPDATED FEBRUARY 2021] The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is being extended until 30 April 2021.

As a result of the ongoing pandemic, the Government’s response has been to extend the furlough scheme at the original 80% level.  For now we know this will extend through to the end of April 2021.

From 1st November 2020 you can claim 80% of an employee’s usual salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. You can claim for employees who were employed on 30th October 2020, as long as you have made a PAYE RTI submission to HMRC between the 20th March 2020 and 30th October 2020, notifying a payment of earnings for that employee. You do not need to have previously claimed for an employee before the 30 October 2020 to claim for periods from 1 November 2020.

There is no maximum number of employees you can claim for from 1st November 2020.

All claims for periods from 1st July 2020 through to 31st October 2020 must be submitted by no later than 30th November 2020.

Claims from 1st November 2020 must be submitted by 11.59pm 14-calendar days after the month you’re claiming for. If this time falls on the weekend or a bank holiday then claims should be submitted on the next working day.

Claim for furlough days in Claim must be submitted by
November 2020 14 December 2020
December 2020 14 January 2021
January 2021 15 February 2021
February 2021 15 March 2021
March 2021 14 April 2021
April 2021 14 May 2021

At Taxfile, we can calculate furlough payments for your staff and ensure that all your submissions are done on time.  If you need to outsource the payroll for your business, then you can call us on 020 8761 8000.

Need a Limited Company? Questions you may be asking yourself

Need a Limited Company: Questions you may be asking yourself

“What are the main differences between being self-employed and running a limited company?”

“What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a private limited company?”

The major difference between running a private limited company and being self-employed are the administrative requirements you are required to do by law & although the volume is more, the data contained within those returns are pretty similar to being a sole trader.

A limited company will:

  • need to keep company records
  • report any changes to Companies House & HMRC
  • need to file an annual company tax return along with the company’s accounts, giving an undistorted view of its finances.

So why go through the extra cost and resources of having a Limited Company?

In forming a limited company, you are limiting your personal liability.  What this means is that the Limited Company becomes a legal entity of its own.  Think of it as another being, that you work for.  However, it is important to keep in mind that you cannot abuse your power with the limited liability, to take selfish and unnecessary risks.  As a director, you are ethically and morally responsible for the business decisions and transactions the company makes.

As a director of a private limited company you will:

  • make decisions that benefit the company rather than your own
  • abide by the rules and regulations outlined by the company Articles of Association, which are written rules about running the company agreed by the shareholders or guarantors, directors and the company secretary
  • notify any shareholders if you might benefit personally from a company transaction
  • always act with the intention of making the company successful.

Having a Limited company can also add professionalism to your business.  This can help your business become even more successful because customers, clients, and B2B companies will be more inclined to trust you and buy your products or services if you are a limited company rather than a sole trader. It is quite common for B2B companies only to trade with another limited company as a general rule.

A final benefit is, if you have a profitable Limited Company, how you distribute salaries and dividends can have income tax savings, especially once your Read more

Taxfile's May 2018 e-newsletter

May Newsletter – New Battersea Branch, Easy CIS Tax Refunds, Avoid £10 Daily Fines & More

Taxfile's May 2018 e-newsletter

Our informative May e-Newsletter is now ready to view online. It includes exciting news of our new branch opening in Battersea along with important tax and accountancy-related news that might affect you. Here is a quick summary of the newsletter’s contents:

  • The first article announces the opening of our new Battersea Branch in London SW8. New and existing customers are welcome to pop in and say hello and to get expert help with your tax affairs and accountancy requirements. Learn more about the opening of the Battersea branch, and the core services on offer, here or click the big button below to read the newsletter.
  • If you work on one of the many Battersea construction sites in or around SW8, we can help you reclaim overpaid tax and much more … see the newsletter for more details – click the big button below.
  • If you’re a sub-contractor working in the construction industry scheme (‘CIS’), you’re almost certainly due a tax refund (learn why here). Taxfile are experts at getting tax rebates from HMRC, so come and see us and we’ll get you the maximum refund possible. Read the newsletter (click the big button below) to learn how we make your tax refund application fast and hassle-free.
  • We can help limited company contractors too! We’re tax and accountancy experts so we can help you register as a limited company or register for CIS if you’re not already set up, we’ll help you with the monthly tasks demanded of you by HMRC including accounts preparation, confirmation statements, corporation tax handling, CIS set-off rebate, National Insurance (NI), VAT, bookkeeping, payroll and much more. We’ll save you time and will make operating the Construction Industry Scheme a breeze. Click the pink newsletter button below for more details.
  • If you introduce a family member, friend or colleague to Taxfile, you will get a discount off your next tax return if they sign up as a new paying customer with us. Click the button for details.
  • Taxfile recently printed some brightly coloured postcards to promote our new Battersea office and our tax-related services. Simply get in contact if you’d like some of these postcards to hand out to colleagues. If you write your full name on the back and use it to refer a colleague, it might even save you money! Click the button for more details.
  • Our team are multi-lingual and always happy to help. If English is not your first language, let us know and we’ll try to match you to the most appropriate staff member.
  • If you, your friends, family or colleagues have not dealt with your old tax returns, HMRC will be adding £10 per day to the penalty from 1st May. That’s on top of the £100 fine that will have applied immediately after missing the original 31 January deadline. Let Taxfile get your tax records, tax returns and overdue tax all in order so you don’t have to pay any more in fines than you have already. Learn more here or contact your nearest branch for a consultation.
  • All Taxfile clients get free ‘Tax Enquiry Fee Protection Insurance when they file their tax return through Taxfile by the statutory deadline. So – if you’re investigated by HMRC – our fees to sort it out are covered. Click the button for more details.
Read the Newsletter

Feel free to Read more

TAX HELP! Your 1-stop tax shop

Taxfile: Your One-Stop Tax & Accountancy Shop

TAX HELP! Your 1-stop tax shop

Taxfile has over 100 years of combined tax and accounting experience. It’s incredible to think that the key personnel have administered over 30,000 tax submissions in the past 20 years! Beginning way back in 1994 (and continuing as Guy Bridger Limited from 1997), we originally started business offering only CIS sub-contractor returns but quickly developed the service to help the self-employed, local businesses and higher rate taxpayers with their tax computations. Along the way we added tax and accounting services for taxi drivers, cab drivers, landlords and more. We also offer Capital Gains tax expertise and tax investigation help and, more recently, professional help with disclosures, written tax advice and tax planning for things like inheritance.

We have exceptional accounting experience in all key tax and accounting areas including:

Taxfile helps individuals as well as businesses. Our customers are very varied, turning over anything from £10,000 to over £1 million a year. A few are high wealth individuals who no longer need to work but still need to account for their taxes etc. Some customers have retired, others operate small businesses and some don’t even live in the UK but may have assets here. So, whatever your income, assets or situation, the message is that if you need ANY tax-related help, you’ve found the right place in Taxfile.

Taxfile also has the back-up and expertise of professional bodies on tap (so nothing is too complicated for us) and also has excellent relations with the tax authorities — we’re very well trusted by HMRC. Guy even helps in the local employment zone, which aims to improve business in the Tulse Hill and West Norwood area. So, Taxfile is very much part of the local community, particularly in South London (but expanding to other areas too — keep an eye on this blog for forthcoming information about that in the very near future).

Whatever help you need with tax and accountancy-related matters, call Taxfile on 0208 761 8000 and we’ll be delighted to help you. Alternatively, Read more

Taxfile multi-lingual staff at a glance

Taxfile’s multi-lingual, multi-talented staff, at a glance

multi-lingual accountants and tax advisers[Updated]: It’s common knowledge that most of Taxfile’s South London staff are multi-lingual but can you guess which staff member speaks no less than four languages fluently (Russian, Pashto, Dari and English) and which staff member is into both metal music and Irish dancing? And who should you ask for if you need payroll services? And who specialises in bookkeeping … who in limited company accounts and so on? Our staff ‘mind map’ tells you a bit more about each member of the team, what their specialities are, key interests and, of course, their contact details in case you ever need their help. Take a look … Read more

Help for Auto Enrolment

Professional, Affordable Help with Auto Enrolment

Help for Auto Enrolment

Good news – one less burden for Employers!

If you are an employer, you’ll no doubt know about the new Automatic Enrolment scheme that was recently imposed on UK businesses. For most employers, it’s yet another unwelcome administrative burden. However, it’s not all bad news; in fact, Taxfile has some excellent news to share with you …

As you probably know, compliance with the new Automatic Enrolment scheme is not optional. Virtually every UK employer has to choose and commit to a Workplace Pension Scheme, liaise with every employee, administer all the paperwork and comply with the various rules, regulations and deadlines. It’s a massive administrative burden. However, the good news is that Taxfile can handle it all for you! Our prices are incredibly affordable too. So — it’s a no-brainer!

Let Taxfile handle your Auto Enrolment for you

For a simple, affordable fee, Taxfile can help your company or organisation with:

  • Monitoring, compliance and administration of your Auto Enrolment duties. We’ll handle it all, on your behalf;
  • Registering your compliance with The Pensions Regulator at the correct intervals;
  • Integrating Auto Enrolment pension payments into your company payroll (if we handle payroll for you), so the right level of pension contributions, tax and NI is paid in relation to salaries;
  • If you and all your employees are eligible and want to opt out of Auto Enrolment, we’ll help you accomplish that too, within the rules.
  • If you’ve missed your ‘staging date’ and want to minimise any penalty and get back on track, we can also help with that.

With Taxfile handling it all for you, you can get on with