Calculate your corporation tax, director salary, dividends and take-home pay using confirmed 2026/27 HMRC rates.
Sole directors without other employees cannot claim the Employment Allowance.
A UK limited company pays corporation tax on its profits, not on revenue. After deducting business expenses, director salary, employer National Insurance and pension contributions from revenue, the remaining profit is subject to corporation tax. The after-tax profit can then be distributed to the director as dividends.
| Profit Band | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £50,000 | 19% (small profits rate) |
| £50,001 – £250,000 | Marginal relief (~26.5% effective) |
| Over £250,000 | 25% (main rate) |
Most sole-director companies set the director salary at £12,570 per year — equal to the personal allowance — so no income tax is payable on the salary. Employer NI is due on salary above the secondary threshold of £5,000 at 15%. Some directors prefer a £5,000 salary to eliminate employer NI entirely, though this means not fully using the personal allowance.
| Band | Rate |
|---|---|
| Basic rate (up to £50,270) | 10.75% |
| Higher rate (£50,271 – £125,140) | 35.75% |
| Additional rate (over £125,140) | 39.35% |
| Dividend Allowance | £500 tax-free |
Dividend tax rates increased by 2% from 6 April 2026, narrowing the gap between dividends and salary. However, dividends still attract no National Insurance, making them significantly cheaper than salary for extracting profit.
This calculator is for UK limited company directors, contractors operating through a personal service company, freelancers considering incorporation, and anyone comparing the tax efficiency of different salary and dividend strategies. If you are comparing a limited company to PAYE employment, use our Ltd vs PAYE Calculator. If you are comparing to sole trading, use our Ltd vs Sole Trader Calculator. For ongoing limited company accounting, see our SME & limited company accountant service.