From April 2016 the Dividend Tax Credit will be replaced by a new tax-free Dividend Allowance. The Dividend Allowance means that you won’t have to pay tax on the first £5,000 of your dividend income, no matter what non-dividend income you have. The allowance is available to anyone who has dividend income.
Headline rates of dividend tax are also changing. You’ll pay tax on any dividends you receive over £5,000 at the following rates:
- 7.5% on dividend income within the basic rate band
- 32.5% on dividend income within the higher rate band
- 38.1% on dividend income within the additional rate band
This simpler system will mean that only those with significant dividend income will pay more tax.
If you’re an investor with modest income from shares, you’ll see either a tax cut or no change in the amount of tax you owe.
There are full details and a factsheet with examples on the Government website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dividend-allowance-factsheet/dividend-allowance-factsheet
