Tax Planning Guide

Tax Planning for Company Directors

Company directors juggle corporate tax and personal tax — salary, dividends, pensions, benefits and loan accounts all interact.

Updated 3 May 20262 min read

Introduction

Plan before the year end closes your options.

Salary and dividends

Salary runs through payroll with PAYE/NI; dividends are paid from post-tax distributable profits — never treat them as interchangeable without advice.

Pension contributions

Employer contributions can be tax-efficient when aligned with allowance rules and company cash — bespoke modelling required.

Director loan accounts

Track every movement: personal expenses through the company, informal withdrawals and repayments. Overdrawn DLAs can trigger tax charges if not managed.

Year-end review

Before the period ends, reconcile profit, CT, VAT, payroll, dividends proposed and any benefits — adjust while ledgers are still open.

Common mistakes

Declaring dividends without reserves, ignoring payroll, mingling personal bills and leaving planning to the final week.

How DepoTax can help

DepoTax coordinates director remuneration planning with statutory accounts and corporation tax filings.

Frequently asked questionsFAQ

Can I take dividends without profits?

Dividends should follow distributable reserves — unlawful dividends create personal risk.

Should pension be company or personal?

Depends on allowances and remuneration strategy — personalised advice matters.

Why review the director loan?

Overdrawn loans can trigger tax charges unless managed within rules.

Does DepoTax advise directors?

Yes — remuneration design with accounts and filings.

Need Professional Support?

Looking for Advice Beyond Online Resources?

If you need direct support with accounting, tax, payroll, or compliance matters, the DepoTax team is available to help. We provide practical advice and ongoing support for individuals and businesses across the UK.

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