Dividend Tax Calculator 2026/27

Calculate how much tax you will pay on your UK dividend income for the 2026/27 tax year. Enter your salary (if any) and dividend income below to see a full breakdown of your dividend tax liability.

Your Details

Your employment income before tax

£

Total dividends received in the tax year

£

Your HMRC tax code

Where you pay tax in the UK

How to use

i

About This Calculator

The Dividend Tax Calculator helps you work out how much tax you will pay on your UK dividend income for the 2026/27 tax year. It uses the same calculation engine as our main salary calculator, taking into account your personal allowance, salary income (if applicable), and the current dividend tax rates and allowances.

Whether you are a company director paying yourself in dividends, or an investor receiving dividends from shares, this calculator will show you exactly how much dividend tax you owe and at which rates.

?

How to Use the Calculator

Step 1

Enter Your Salary (optional)

If you receive a salary alongside your dividends, enter your annual salary before tax. This is important because your salary income is taxed first and determines which tax band your dividends fall into. Leave this blank if you only receive dividend income.

Step 2

Enter Your Annual Dividend Income

Enter the total amount of dividends you expect to receive during the 2026/27 tax year. This is the gross dividend amount before any tax is deducted.

Step 3

Check Your Tax Code and Location

The default tax code is 1257L, which gives a personal allowance of £12,570. If your tax code is different, update it accordingly. Select your UK location as Scottish taxpayers have different income tax bands (though dividend tax rates are the same across the UK).

Step 4

Calculate and View Results

Click the "Calculate" button to see your dividend tax breakdown. The results will show:

  • Total Dividend Tax: The total amount of tax you owe on your dividends
  • Tax by Band: How much dividend tax you pay at the basic, higher and additional rates
  • Allowances Used: How your personal allowance and dividend allowance reduce your tax bill
  • Full Income Summary: If you have salary income, a combined view of all your tax deductions

%

UK Dividend Tax Rates 2026/27

Dividend income is taxed at different rates depending on which income tax band it falls into. These rates are lower than income tax rates because dividends are paid from company profits that have already been subject to corporation tax.

Tax BandIncome RangeDividend Tax Rate
Personal AllowanceUp to £12,5700%
Basic Rate£12,571 to £50,270
10.75%
Higher Rate£50,271 to £125,140
35.75%
Additional RateOver £125,140
39.35%

Note: These rates apply across the whole UK. Scottish taxpayers have different income tax bands for salary, but dividend tax rates are set by the UK government and are the same regardless of where you live.

£

Dividend Allowance Explained

For the 2026/27 tax year, the dividend allowance is £500. This means the first £500 of dividend income you receive is tax-free, regardless of which tax band it falls into.

The dividend allowance was reduced from £1,000 (2023/24) to £500 (2024/25 onwards). This means more of your dividend income is now subject to tax compared to previous years.

The allowance is applied from the lowest tax band upward. For example, if some of your dividends fall in the basic rate band, the £500 allowance is used there first before being applied to any higher rate dividends.

Example

If you receive £10,000 in dividends and have no other income, your personal allowance covers the first £12,570 (so all £10,000 is covered). You would pay no dividend tax. However, if you also have a salary of £30,000, your dividends would fall into the basic rate band. After the £500 dividend allowance, you would pay 10.75% on the remaining £9,500 = £1,021.25 in dividend tax.

+

How Salary Affects Dividend Tax Bands

Your salary income and dividend income are combined when determining which tax bands apply. Salary income is taxed first, and dividends are added on top. This means a higher salary pushes your dividends into higher tax bands.

Here is how it works:

  • Personal allowance (£12,570): Your salary uses this first. If your salary is below £12,570, the remaining allowance can shelter some dividend income from tax.
  • Basic rate band (£12,571 - £50,270): After your salary fills up this band, any dividends that fall here are taxed at 10.75%.
  • Higher rate band (£50,271 - £125,140): Dividends in this band are taxed at 35.75%. If your salary already reaches into this band, your dividends start at the higher rate.
  • Additional rate (over £125,140): Any remaining dividends above this threshold are taxed at 39.35%.

Tip for company directors

Many company directors pay themselves a small salary (often around the National Insurance threshold of £12,570) and take the rest of their income as dividends. This is because dividends are not subject to National Insurance contributions, and the dividend tax rates are lower than income tax rates at each band.

!

Changes to Dividend Tax Rates

Dividend tax rates have changed significantly over recent years. Here is a summary of how rates have evolved:

Tax YearBasic RateHigher RateAdditional RateAllowance
2021/227.5%32.5%38.1%£2,000
2022/238.75%33.75%39.35%£2,000
2023/248.75%33.75%39.35%£1,000
2024/258.75%33.75%39.35%£500
2025/268.75%33.75%39.35%£500
2026/2710.75%35.75%39.35%£500

The key changes to note are the increase in basic and higher dividend tax rates from April 2026, while the additional rate remains unchanged. The dividend allowance was halved from £2,000 to £1,000 in 2023/24, and halved again to £500 from 2024/25 onwards.

!

Disclaimer

This calculator provides estimates based on the 2026/27 UK tax rates and thresholds. Please note:

  • Results are for illustration purposes only and should not be treated as financial advice.
  • The calculator assumes standard personal allowance (£12,570) unless adjusted by your tax code.
  • If your total income exceeds £100,000, your personal allowance is gradually reduced (£1 for every £2 over £100,000).
  • This calculator does not account for other factors such as pension contributions, gift aid, or tax reliefs that may affect your tax bands.
  • Always consult HMRC or a qualified tax advisor for your specific tax situation.

© 2026 My Pay Calculator. All rights reserved.