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Low salary to myself?

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    Low salary to myself?

    Hello,

    My accountant quoted me a salary firgure that I should take out every month. My question is, is this salary figure, the same across all contractors?

    Is it best to take out a low salary to yourself and get the rest paid in dividends?

    Does the NI/Tax figure that I will have to pay to HMRC, depend on the amount of salary I take out every month?

    Many thanks.

    #2
    Originally posted by kellycell View Post
    Hello,

    My accountant quoted me a salary firgure that I should take out every month. My question is, is this salary figure, the same across all contractors?
    No. Some Contractors maybe IR35 caught, and therefore are taxed on 95% of their Business income. For those who are not IR35 caught, it is usually good practice for tax efficiency.

    Originally posted by kellycell View Post
    Is it best to take out a low salary to yourself and get the rest paid in dividends?
    Not always... see my comment above. If you are looking to be tax efficient, and are not IR35 caught, it is the best way forward. It is dependant on what your objectives are.

    Originally posted by kellycell View Post
    Does the NI/Tax figure that I will have to pay to HMRC, depend on the amount of salary I take out every month?

    Many thanks.
    Yes. The less you pay yourself, the less tax you give to HMRC. I pay myself £450 p/m. I could take a further £50+ a month based on my tax code, but would end up paying £200+ a month in NI (Total for Employee and Employer). That £200+ could be used to pay for expenses or extra divi's later on, so I decided not to take the extra £50+.
    If your company is the best place to work in, for a mere £500 p/d, you can advertise here.

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by pmeswani View Post
      No. Some Contractors maybe IR35 caught, and therefore are taxed on 95% of their Business income. For those who are not IR35 caught, it is usually good practice for tax efficiency.



      Not always... see my comment above. If you are looking to be tax efficient, and are not IR35 caught, it is the best way forward. It is dependant on what your objectives are.



      Yes. The less you pay yourself, the less tax you give to HMRC. I pay myself £450 p/m. I could take a further £50+ a month based on my tax code, but would end up paying £200+ a month in NI (Total for Employee and Employer). That £200+ could be used to pay for expenses or extra divi's later on, so I decided not to take the extra £50+.
      What would you pay yourself if your tax-free allocation was already used up before you started your LTD ?
      Last edited by Mor4; 26 October 2008, 13:45.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Mor4 View Post
        What would you pay yourself if your tax-free allocation was already used up before you started your LTD ?
        Bupkiss.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Mor4 View Post
          What would you pay yourself if your tax-free allocation was already used up before you started your LTD ?
          Just the dividends plus the minimum amount PAYE and declare it on the self assessment and pay whatever tax I owe.
          If your company is the best place to work in, for a mere £500 p/d, you can advertise here.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by pmeswani View Post
            Just the dividends plus the minimum amount PAYE and declare it on the self assessment and pay whatever tax I owe.
            No the most tax efficent way would be to pay youself bubkiss by way of PAYE.

            The tax free allowance has already go so take everything for the rest of this as dividends and nothing as PAYE.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Sockpuppet View Post
              No the most tax efficent way would be to pay youself bubkiss by way of PAYE.

              The tax free allowance has already go so take everything for the rest of this as dividends and nothing as PAYE.
              Wouldn't hector get suspicious ?

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Mor4 View Post
                Wouldn't hector get suspicious ?
                Why would he? You are doing everything legally.
                If your company is the best place to work in, for a mere £500 p/d, you can advertise here.

                Comment


                  #9
                  That is one accountant's view.
                  Other accountants views are that you should pay a "reasonable" salary, then dividends. Their view, backed up by unofficial conversations with HMRC inspectors, is that they are less likely to spend huge amounts of time investigating for little gain. More potential gain=more effort!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    ...
                    Last edited by Bumfluff; 26 October 2008, 23:53.

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