Self assessment for company directors is a personal tax return. It is not replaced by the company accounts. The company pays corporation tax on its profits. You pay income tax on the money you actually took out, plus anything else you earned in the year. Mixing the two up is how directors miss the January deadline.
What goes on the return
Salary from the company goes in the employment section, usually with a P60. Dividends go in the dividend section. Benefits such as a company car or private medical insurance come from the P11D. If you also have rental income, a sole trade, savings interest or foreign income, that goes on the same return. The personal allowance is £12,570 and the dividend allowance is £500, but other income uses those up first.
The dates for 2025/26
The tax year runs from 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026. A paper return is due by 31 October 2026. Online filing, which is what almost everyone uses, is due by 31 January 2027, and that is also the date the balancing payment is due. If your bill is high enough, HMRC also asks for a payment on account towards the next year on 31 January and 31 July.
What we need from you
The P60, the dividend paperwork, the P11D if there is one, and a note of any other income. We already have the company figures if we prepare the accounts, which is why the personal return is quicker when the same firm does both.
Director returns are part of self assessment, from £200 a return for an individual. Book a free accounting review if January is closer than the records are.
If you would like this filed for you, see our Self Assessment service or book a free accounting review. The Individual package starts from £200 a return.
