Did you know that the UK corporation tax rates are changed from April 2023?
From 1 April 2023, the rate of corporation tax changes from 19% to a variable rate between 19% to 25%, depending on the profits made by your business. This could mean a change to what you will owe in tax for the 2023/24 tax year.
What are the main changes to corporation tax?
Prior to the change, corporation tax (CT) is charged at 19% for most companies. The only exceptions are companies in specific sectors like banking, oil, gas and life insurance.
From 1st April 2023 the rate of tax changes:
The rate remains at 19% for companies with profits below a lower threshold.
The rate increases to 25% for companies with profits above an upper threshold.
A tapered rate for profits in between is introduced.
The thresholds will work as follows:
The lower threshold is £50,000 divided by the number of companies that are deemed to be associated with each other.
The upper threshold is £250,000 divided by the number of associates.
Below the lower threshold, the tax rate is simply calculated at 19%. Above that, it’s calculated at 25%.
But if the upper threshold is not breached, then marginal relief is applied, which has the effect of increasing the average rate from 19% up to 25%, as your profits increase.
The bands are also reduced if the accounting period is less than 12 months
How will this actually work in practice?
So, what does this mean for your CT bill? If you have no associated companies, then where your profits are below £50,000, your tax will continue to be paid at 19%. If your profits exceed £250,000, your tax rate will be 25% – meaning a significant jump in what you lose to tax.
In between these two points, tax will be calculated at 25%, then marginal relief calculated by using the formula (U-A) x N/A x F where:
U is the applicable upper threshold
A is augmented profits
N is total taxable profits, and
F is a standard fraction of 3/200
Presuming A = N = £100,000 then the initial tax calculation at 25% gives a maximum tax charge of £25,000.
The marginal relief is (250,000 – 100,000) x 1 x 3/200 = £2,250, and the tax actually payable is £25,000 - £2,250 = £22,750.
Remember this assumes a full 12 months accounting period and no associated companies. If there was an associated company (therefore two in total) then U would be £125,000 and the marginal relief would be £375, leaving tax due at £24,625.
It’s worth noting that ‘augmented profits’ is your taxable profits plus any exempt dividends received from non-group companies.
