Reply to: How often do you pay dividends?

[Dark Black]

for the first couple of months I did draw a small monthly divi but these days I usually draw divi's quartely.

My accountant (the excellent NW - hi Alan ) does provide a monthly statement showing available profit for the month however I track all my accounts on a bespoke spreadsheet that allows me to see at any point in time what my available profit is. Typically I take enough to cover me for the next three months and an equal amount as a lump sum payment for my mortgage.

[Nixon Williams]

I am sure that I remember one of the accountants that posts on here state that it is an urban myth that if you pay 12 monthly dividends of the same amount the HMRC will make out that it is in fact a salary.

So long as there is profit in the company, there is no law against paying dividends as often as you deem fit.

This sounds like me!

Despite this common rumour, there is nothing to stop dividends being paid as often as you wish provided you can show there are profits to support the payment.

Simply writing on a bank statement "dividend" for any random withdrawal would not count as correct procedure.

Alan

[oracleslave]

whenever I don't have enough cash from salary to cover my personal outgoings.

Wife and kids cost a lot

Wot he said.

[TheFaQQer]

you can live on 9k ?

a year ?

I take it you're not married or have kids or have any life

Still lives in his room at his parents.

His sister had a few funny comments at the Xmas do about it all

[Bluebird]

Once.

I've paid a div once. At the moment I am taking the min salary (about £9k) that I need to live on. The rest is going towards a war fund for my house buying antics.

you can live on 9k ?

a year ?

I take it you're not married or have kids or have any life

[Sockpuppet]

Once.

I've paid a div once. At the moment I am taking the min salary (about £9k) that I need to live on. The rest is going towards a war fund for my house buying antics.

[Bluebird]

whenever the directors decide the shareholders deserve it

[Jason]

whenever I don't have enough cash from salary to cover my personal outgoings.

Wife and kids cost a lot

[thunderlizard]

Annually, after the year-end P&L is calculated for the accounts, and assuming it's been a profitable enough year obviously. That way the dividend can get agreed at the same AGM as the accounts.

[RandyW]

Don't pay the ferryman, don't even fix a price, don't pay the ferryman, until he gets you to the other side.

HTH

[Denny]

Any of you disguised employees care to comment?

I don't think they're interested in commenting.

[beaker]

Cue Denny!

I was hoping that my comment about disguised employees would be a cue for Denny

[TheFaQQer]

So long as there is profit in the company, there is no law against paying dividends as often as you deem fit.

I guess that's the key thing - as long as there is profit. Most companies would pay the dividend out of retained profit, but there is a tendency amongst contractors to pay it out of expected profit. Until year end, I don't know how you will know what the profit really will be - and if you overpay the dividend and haven't got enough profit to cover it, it can lead to all sorts of nasty questions.

IANAA, but that's my considered opinion on the matter

[Gonzo]

I am sure that I remember one of the accountants that posts on here state that it is an urban myth that if you pay 12 monthly dividends of the same amount the HMRC will make out that it is in fact a salary.

I don't think that I can recall it ever being a consideration in IR35 factors to watch out for.

As for real businesses, back in my permie days I used to work for a very large American bank. They paid dividends to shareholders quarterly.

So long as there is profit in the company, there is no law against paying dividends as often as you deem fit.

[TheFaQQer]

does it make any difference to your IR35 status?

Cue Denny!