- Last Updated: 16 July 2020
An 'At a glance' guide.
Company tax rates
|
2015/16 to 2016/17 | 2014/15 | 2013/14 | 2012/13 | 2011/12 | 2010/11 | ||
Rate | Profits £ | Effective % | Effective % | Effective % | Effective % | Effective % | Effective % | Effective % |
Small | 0 - 300,000 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
Marginal | 300,001 - 1,500,000 | 19 | 20 | 21.25 | 23.75 | 25 | 27.5 | 29.75 |
Main | 1,500,001 and above | 19 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 28 |
Fraction | n/a | n/a | 1/400th | 3/400ths | 1/100th | 3/200ths | 7/400ths |
The company tax year starts on 1 April.
The main rate of company tax for all non-ring fence profits is 19% for Financial Year 2017-2019.
Section 46 Finance Act 2016 set the CT rate for Financial Year 2020 as 17%. Prime Minister Johnson made a pre-general election pledge to reverse this in November 2019 and the change is included in draft Finance Bill 2020.
Companies (up to 2014/15): The marginal relief calculation
Marginal relief is given by:
(Upper limit – profits) x basic profits x fraction
profits
- The upper limits were £300,000 or £1,500,000.
- Basic profits are the companies profits.
- Profits are basic profits + franked investment income, which is grossed up by 100/90.
- Group dividends are from 51% groups (51% + subsidiaries or fellow 51% + subsidiaries of a parent).
- The fraction depends upon the financial year applies, and when a company’s accounting period spans two financial years it may be necessary to time apportion the profits. This does not affect associates unless there is a change in the relevant bands.
Upper and lower limits are reduced where:
- There is a short period of account.
- There are associated companies, by dividing the limits by one plus the number of associated companies, which the company has at any time during its accounting period.
Alternatively, you can calculate Corporation Tax on slices of profit using marginal rates:
- The first £300,000 of profit is taxed at the small company rate (20%).
- The next £1,200,000 is taxed at the marginal rate (variable).
- Profits over £1,500,000 are taxed at the main rate (24%).
Basic example
For a company with a 31st March 2012 year-end and profits of £500,000 and no associated companies and no franked investment income, the marginal relief calculation is as follows:
Tax @ 26% on £500,000 = 130,000
Less:
Marginal relief
(1,500,000 – 500,000) x 3/200 = (15,000)
Tax due = 115,000
Alternatively, you can do this calculation as follows:
First 300,000 @ 20% = 60,000
Next £200,000 @ 27.5% = 55,000
Tax due = 115,000
What is the marginal rate?
If small company’s rate is 20% and the main rate is 26%
300,000 x 20% = 60,000
1500,000 x 26% = 390,000
1200,000 x X% = 330,000
330,000/1,200,000 =27.5% marginal rate
If small company’s rate is 20% and the main rate is 25%
300,000 x 20% = 60,000
1500,000 x 24% = 360,000
1200,000 x X% = 300,000
300,000/1,200,000 =25% marginal rate
What is the marginal rate fraction?
The difference between the main rate and the marginal rate expressed as a fraction.
So 29.75% - 28% = 1.75% = 7/400
28.75% - 27% = 1.75% = 7/400
27.5% - 26% = 1.5% = 3/200
26.25% - 25% = 1.25% = 1/80
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