Starting a new business? Get 40% off our accountancy services for 3 months! 😎

x

The way you move personal money in or out of the business is restricted in a limited company because it’s a separate legal entity from its shareholders and directors. If a director loans their own money to the business, they may be able to charge interest on the amount that they’re owed, depending on the circumstances.

What is a director’s loan?

If a company director takes money out of the company which they haven’t contributed, and the money isn’t a dividend or salary, it’s normally classed as a director’s loan. You’ll need to keep a record of these transactions using a director’s loan account, with a separate account for each director.

The director’s loan account will also show any personal money that you lend to the business, so the account may be in credit or debit at any time.

Charging interest on director’s loans

As a company director you may charge your company interest on the loan. This is usually at a similar rate to a commercial rate of interest, but this will depend on the amount and any risk attached.

Do I pay any tax if I charge my company interest on a director’s loan?

Charging interest on any loan you make to your company effectively means you’re making money on it. Because this is a type of income, the company must deduct the basic rate of income tax (20%) from the interest amount before paying it to you. From the company’s point of view, the interest which it must pay to you is a business expense.

You’ll need to tell HMRC about the interest payment you receive, and your company must report the income tax which it deducts.

  • The company declares the income tax deductions using a CT61 form. The form is only available on request from HMRC, so you can’t just download it.
  • The director who receives the interest payment must report this as income on their Self Assessment tax return.

 

Limited company accountancy services

From only £44.50 per month

Learn more

Showing a director’s loan in the company’s financial records

In practice, a director’s loan account might be shown just as a bookkeeping entry. It could also be a theoretical current account, or a loan account.

If your director’s loan account is in credit, you’re effectively giving your company a loan because the company doesn’t simply ‘keep’ the money. You can withdraw that credit at any time by taking the balance back from the business, without needing to enter it on the Company Tax Return.

Director’s loans and Corporation Tax

  • If the loan is repaid completely by the last day of the company’s Corporation Tax accounting period, it won’t pay Corporation Tax on the loan, and it isn’t included in the Company Tax Return.
  • If the loan isn’t paid back by the last day of the accounting period, but it’s paid back within nine months and a day after the last day of the accounting period, the company won’t pay tax but will need to include it in the Company Tax return.
  • If the loan is still outstanding nine months after the last day of the accounting period then it’s included in the Company Tax return, and the company must pay Corporation Tax on it.

The rate of this type of Corporation Tax (known as S455 tax) is 33.75%, (or 25% if the loan was made before 6 April 2016). The company can reclaim any Corporation Tax it’s paid on the loan once it’s fully repaid.

 
Talk to one of the team about our online accounting services for your limited company. Call 020 3355 4047, ask for a call back, and get an instant online quote.

About The Author

Elizabeth Hughes

A content writer specialising in business, finance, software, and beyond. I'm a wordsmith with a penchant for puns and making complex subjects accessible.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Vinod Patel
Vinod Patel
13th December 2021 6:45 pm

If you borrow on a property and let it to your company then the company pays you interest. This interest is deductable in the company. However, how would the director show it on his tax return. Would it be interest received and then a corresponing interest paid. So nil profit.

Read more posts...

The Company Formation Checklist

If you decide that registering a new limited company is the best way to make your entrepreneurial idea a reality, there are…

Read More

When Should I Submit My 2024/25 Self Assessment Tax Return?

Submitting your tax return as soon as the next tax year starts might seems like a strange notion, but it definitely has…

Read More

The Step-by-Step Guide to Dividend Tax in 2025/26

Dividends are a source of income so (inevitably) you’ll need to pay tax on any that you receive. The dividend tax rate…

Read More
Back to Blog...

Confirm Transactions

The number of monthly transactions you have entered based on your turnover seem high. A transaction is one bookkeeping entry such as a sale, purchase, payment or receipt. Are you sure this is correct?

Yes, submit my quote
No, let me change it

Please contact our sales team if you’re unsure

VAT Returns

It is unlikely you will need this service, unless you are voluntarily registered for VAT.

Are you sure this is correct?

Yes, the business is VAT registered
No, let me change it

Call us on 020 3355 4047 if you’re not sure.

Bookkeeping

You will receive our bookkeeping software Pandle for free, as part of your package.

You can use this to complete your own bookkeeping, or we can provide a quote to complete your bookkeeping for you.

Please select and option below:

I will do my own bookkeeping
I want you to do my bookkeeping

Call us on 020 3355 4047 if you’re not sure.