£60,000 Salary + £1,500 Dividends — Allowance Impact 2025-26
Current dividend tax (£500 allowance): £338 · vs £2,000 allowance: £0 · Extra: +£338
Dividend tax comparison: £500 vs £2,000 allowance
| Item | 2022-23 (£2,000 allowance) | 2025-26 (£500 allowance) |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend amount | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Annual dividend allowance | £2,000 | £500 |
| Taxable dividends | £0 | £1,000 |
| Dividend tax | £0 | £338 |
| Net dividend | £1,500 | £1,162 |
| Effective rate | 0.0% | 22.5% |
| Extra tax (vs 2022-23) | — | +£338 |
What changed — and why it matters
The dividend allowance fell from £2,000 to £500 in two steps: from £2,000 to £1,000 in April 2023, then to £500 in April 2024. It remains at £500 for 2025-26. On a £60,000 salary with £1,500 of dividends, this costs you an extra £338 per year compared to 2022-23 — because more of your dividend income is now taxable at higher rate (33.75%).
Dividend tax on £1,500 with £60,000 salary
With a £60,000 salary and £1,500 in dividends, your total income in 2025-26 is £61,500. The first £500 of your dividends are covered by the annual dividend allowance and are tax-free. The remaining £1,000 is taxed at higher rate (33.75%) because your salary uses up much of the basic rate band. Total dividend tax: £338. Net dividend after tax: £1,162.
If the allowance were still £2,000 (as in 2022-23), you would pay just £0 — so the allowance reduction costs you +£338 per year. The effective rate on your dividends is 22.5% in 2025-26 vs 0.0% under the old £2,000 allowance.
How to shelter dividend income
The most effective way to shelter dividend income from tax is a Stocks and Shares ISA, where dividends are completely tax-free. If you are a director-shareholder, consider whether your current salary/dividend split is still optimal under the reduced allowance — the benefit of dividends over salary has narrowed since 2022-23.
Frequently asked questions
How much dividend tax do I pay on £1,500 with a £60,000 salary in 2025-26?
With a £60,000 salary and £1,500 in dividends, you pay £338 in dividend tax in 2025-26 (£500 allowance). The first £500 is tax-free; the rest is taxed at higher rate (33.75%) as your salary fills most of the basic rate band. Your net dividend income is £1,162, giving an effective dividend rate of 22.5%.
How much more dividend tax am I paying since the allowance was cut?
Compared to 2022-23 (when the allowance was £2,000), you now pay £338 more in dividend tax per year on £1,500 of dividends. Under the £2,000 allowance you paid £0; under the current £500 allowance you pay £338. The reduction from £2,000 to £500 allowance costs higher rate (33.75%) taxpayers 8.75% on the extra £1,500 exposed — or more if you are in the higher/additional rate band.
Has dividend tax increased in 2025?
Yes. The dividend allowance has been cut from £2,000 (2022-23) to £1,000 (2023-24) to £500 (2024-25 and 2025-26). The dividend tax rates themselves have not changed for 2025-26: 8.75% basic, 33.75% higher, 39.35% additional. But the lower allowance means more of your dividends are taxable.
Do dividends affect my income tax band?
Yes. Dividends are added on top of your other income (salary, pension, etc.) to determine your total income and which tax bands apply. For a £60,000 salary, your salary already fills part of the basic rate band (£12,570 to £50,270). Dividends are taxed using the remaining band capacity. If your total income exceeds £50,270, some dividends will be taxed at the higher dividend rate of 33.75%.
What is the most tax-efficient way to receive £1,500 with a £60,000 salary?
With a £60,000 salary and £1,500 in dividends, you currently pay £338 in dividend tax. Since your combined income of £61,500 exceeds the higher rate threshold, sheltering dividends in an ISA saves you 33.75% on each pound sheltered. A Stocks and Shares ISA allows unlimited dividend income free of tax within the £20,000 annual ISA allowance. If you are a director-shareholder, consider whether adjusting your salary/dividend mix — for example increasing pension contributions — could reduce the overall tax burden.
Is the £500 dividend allowance per person or shared?
The £500 dividend allowance is per individual, per tax year — it is not shared between spouses or partners. If you have a spouse or civil partner, they also have their own £500 allowance. For example, if you have a £60,000 salary with £1,500 dividends (total income £61,500), and your spouse has lower income and their own dividend income, their £500 allowance is separate from yours. Married couples and civil partners can sometimes reduce overall household dividend tax by holding income-producing assets in the name of the lower-rate taxpayer.