Record Number of Investors Face Dividend Tax After Allowance Cut

More British investors than ever are finding themselves liable for dividend tax as persistent cuts to the tax-free allowance pull millions into HM Revenue & Customs’ net. Fresh figures from HMRC reveal that a record 3.7 million people will pay dividend tax in the 2024 to 2025 tax year, close to double the number two years ago.

This dramatic increase stems from a series of reductions in the annual dividend allowance. In 2018, the Conservative government slashed the allowance from £5,000 to £2,000. April 2023 brought a further cut to £1,000, only for it to be halved again to just £500. While the dividend tax rates have remained untouched, the drastic shrinking of the allowance has swept hundreds of thousands with relatively modest portfolios into the dividend tax regime. Those who once enjoyed tax-free income from their shares now find themselves caught up in an ever-widening tax base.

To illustrate the impact, a general investment account worth £50,000 yielding four per cent in dividends would generate £2,000 income each year. Previously, this was exempt from tax under the old allowance. With the threshold now at £500, £1,500 becomes taxable. For a basic-rate taxpayer, this translates to around £150 more in annual tax— a figure small enough to escape immediate notice, but significant enough to prompt thoughtful investors to reassess their holdings.

The government expects to raise £450 million from the lowered allowance in the coming tax year, with estimates that the figure will approach £940 million by 2027 to 2028. HMRC’s projections show that about 2.15 million basic-rate taxpayers will have taxable dividend income in 2024 to 2025, with over a million owing this tax for the first time. The scale of the tax grab is evident, even if the individual burdens are modest.

For most affected investors, there is no need to complete a self-assessment tax return, as HMRC can collect the tax through Pay As You Earn or simple assessment methods. However, for those less familiar with the system, the growing complexity brings the risk of unwelcome surprises and a greater compliance challenge. Rachel Griffin of wealth manager Quilter comments that the once niche levy targeting higher earners has now brought millions of ordinary investors into its scope.

Amidst these changes, ministers have spoken of boosting investment in Britain. Yet the policy appears at odds with these ambitions, as the net quietly and efficiently expands to all corners of the investing public. The growing number of individuals subject to dividend tax is a stark reminder of the subtle yet far-reaching effects of fiscal policy on personal finances.