Part 2

Basic provisions
Chapter 2

Rates at which income tax is charged

Income charged at particular rates

Income charged at the dividend nil rate
13A
1
Subsection (2) applies if, ignoring this section, at least some of an individual's income would be charged to income tax at the dividend ordinary rate, the dividend upper rate or the dividend additional rate.
2
Income tax is charged at the dividend nil rate (rather than the dividend ordinary rate, dividend upper rate or dividend additional rate) on one or more amounts of the individual's income as follows—
- Step 1
Identify the amount (“D”) of the individual's income which would, ignoring this section, be charged at the dividend ordinary rate.
Rule 1A:
If D is more than
£500
, the first
£500
of D is charged at the dividend nil rate (rather than the dividend ordinary rate), and is the only amount charged at the dividend nil rate.
Rule 1B:
If D is equal to
£500
, D is charged at the dividend nil rate (rather than the dividend ordinary rate), and is the only amount charged at the dividend nil rate.
Rule 1C:
If D is less than
£500
but more than nil, D is charged at the dividend nil rate (rather than the dividend ordinary rate).
- Step 2
If D is less than
£500
, identify the amount (“U”) of the individual's income which would, ignoring this section, be charged at the dividend upper rate.
Rule 2A:
If the total of D and U is more than
£500
—
  1. the first £M of U is charged at the dividend nil rate (rather than the dividend upper rate), where £M is the difference between
£500
and D, and
  2. the amounts charged under this Rule and Rule 1C are the only amounts charged at the dividend nil rate.
Rule 2B:
If the total of D and U is equal to
£500
, U is charged at the dividend nil rate (rather than the dividend upper rate), and the amounts charged under this Rule and Rule 1C are the only amounts charged at the dividend nil rate.
Rule 2C:
If the total of D and U is less than
£500
but more than nil, U is charged at the dividend nil rate (rather than the dividend upper rate).
- Step 3
If the total of D and U is less than
£500
, identify the amount (“A”) of the individual's income which would, ignoring this section, be charged at the dividend additional rate.
Rule 3A:
If the total of D, U and A is more than
£500
, the first £X of A is charged at the dividend nil rate (rather than the dividend additional rate), where £X is the difference between—
  - £500
, and
  - the total of D and U,
and the amounts charged under this Rule, and Rules 1C and 2C, are the amounts charged at the dividend nil rate.
Rule 3B:
If the total of D, U and A is less than or equal to
£500
, A is charged at the dividend nil rate (rather than the dividend additional rate), and the amounts charged under this Rule, and Rules 1C and 2C, are the amounts charged at the dividend nil rate.
S. 13A inserted (with effect for the tax year 2016-17 and subsequent years) by Finance Act 2016 (c. 24), s. 5(5)(10)
Sum in s. 13A(2) substituted (6.4.2024 for the tax year 2024-25 and subsequent tax years) by Finance Act 2023 (c. 1), s. 7(3)(4)