There are are either no tax savings or, alternatively, no worthwhile tax savings available by otherwise self employed persons trading through a company.

A basic rate taxpayer pays 8.75% tax on dividends exceeding the £500 dividend tax free allowance within the basic rate band of £37700.

Companies pay 19% corporation tax on annual profits at or below £50000.  

Employee's NIC at 8% commences on an annual salary above £12570.

Employer's NIC at 13.8% commences on an annual salary above £9100 for a director of a company and who is the only employee.

Example 1                                                                           

A self employed person with annual profits of £25000 would pay 20% basic rate income tax on profits above their £12570 personal allowance and 6% class 4 NIC on profits above £12570 - £3231.80 income tax and NIC [26%(£25000 - £12570)].  

An otherwise identical person as director and shareholder of a company taking the maximum annual salary not subject to employee's NIC of £12570 would pay £478.86 employer's NIC [13.8%(£12570 - £9100)], £2270.69 corporation tax [19%(£25000 - £12570 - £479)] and £803.25 income tax on dividends [8.75%(£25000 - £479 NIC - £12570 salary - £2271 corporation tax - £500 dividend tax free allowance)]. 

In this example, trading through a company as its director and shareholder leads to an overall cost of £321.  

Example 2 

Alternatively, should an otherwise identical self employed person trade through a company as its shareholder and employee but not its director, employer's NIC is not relevant as the first £5000 employer's NIC is exempt from payment because of the annual £5000 statutory 'employment allowance' available to companies where its director is not its sole employee.  

Therefore, an otherwise identical person as shareholder and employee of a company but not its director taking the maximum annual salary not subject to income tax of £12570 would pay £2361.70 corporation tax [19%(£25000 - £12570)] and £837.20 income tax on dividends [8.75%(£25000 - £12570 salary - £2362 corporation tax - £500 dividend tax free allowance)].

In this example, trading through a company as its shareholder and employee but not its director leads to an overall saving of £32.90 .

The difference of £353.90  between  £32.90 and -£321 from example 1 arises from, first, a £91.01 increase in corporation tax at a rate of 19% upon the elimination of £479 employer’s NIC. Second, the £478.86 saving in employer’s NIC. Third, the £91.01 increase in corporation tax and the £478.86 saving in employer’s NIC result in an increase in dividends of £387.85 and which is taxable at 8.75% - resulting in £33.95 income tax. Combining all the foregoing 3 elements, £478.86 - £91.01 - £33.95, results in the difference of £353.90.  

Example 3

Further and alternatively, an otherwise identical self employed person trades through a company as its shareholder and employee but not its director where the director is also a shareholder.  Assuming the director has otherwise used their £12570 tax free personal allowance but none of their £500 tax free dividend allowance, £500 tax free dividends may be paid to the director.  Such a re-allocation of dividends would lead to a further saving of £43.75 (8.75% x  £500) compared to example 2.

Therefore, in this example, trading through a company as its shareholder and employee but not its director where that director is also a shareholder leads to an overall saving of £76.65 .