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Dividends are the payments made to shareholders from a company’s profits. But does everyone get an equal amount? If you’re wondering whether dividends can be paid out in different amounts, the good news is that they can. We’ll explain how it all works.
Shares are what show ownership of a limited company. Some shareholders might own more shares than others, which means that they own different percentages of the business.
The percentage of shares owned are used to calculate dividends. Someone who owns 30% of a business’ shares will usually receive 30% of the profits, for example.
This ensures that shareholders are getting a proportional amount according to their investment in the business. But, there are also different classes of shares, called alphabet shares, which can make things a bit more complicated if the company uses them.
Income earned from dividends is subject to dividend tax.
The term ‘alphabet shares‘ describes the different classes of shares that can be issued by a limited company. Each class of shares (A shares, B shares, C shares and so on) can be assigned different rights. These could be voting rights, or the percentage of dividends that the shareholder of that particular class of share is entitled to.
For instance, an ‘A share’ shareholder might be paid dividends at a different rate to a ‘B’ shareholder. A ‘C’ shareholder may not have the same voting rights as a ‘B’ shareholder. This means that you could have a variety of shareholders with very different dividend payouts and voting rights.
If you’re just dividing by share ownership, the benefit is that it’s a fair and simple way of dividing company profits. But what about alphabet shares?
Using different classes of shares means that a limited company can be more flexible in the way it pays out dividends. It lets the company move beyond a pro rata basis of ownership, and instead pay shareholders based on their involvement or investment in the company.
For instance:
This are a perfect example of where alphabet shares become really useful, and why you might want to pay different rates of dividends. The amount of income a shareholder receives as a dividend also affects the amount of tax they might need to pay. Read our article about dividends and tax.
Once you’ve set up your shares, you need to let Companies House know as soon as possible. If you make any changes to shareholder structure, remember they also need to be reported. You’ll simply need to supply details of each shareholder, and the shares and equities each holds.
If you need help with dividends and shares, our online accountants can help. Get an instant online quote, or call the team on 020 3355 4047.
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If I pay 2 shareholders the same dividends one year, can they receive different amounts of dividends the year after?
Hi Amanda Thanks for your message! Dividends are paid from profits, and these can fluctuate, so you don’t have to pay a shareholder a dividend payment at the same amount each year. The amount that you pay as a dividend depends on what type of shares the shareholder has, so if shareholders own the same number, and same type of shares, their dividends will be the same. Each time you issue shares (or change them, such as issuing more), you’ll need to let Companies House know, so they can update the information they have about your company. I hope that… Read more »
Di I have to inform Companies House of every shareholder and the equities they hold?
Can 2 people with B shares be given diffrent amount of dividends? Or are all B shares given the same rate of dividends? I.e. if I received £2,000 with 5% of companys B shares can somone else receive £3,000 with 5% B shares.
Hi Gruff
Good to hear from you. Each class of shares would need to have the same allocation of dividend, so two people with the same number of B shares will receive the same amount of dividend. If the company needed different amounts for the same shareholding, they would need more alphabet shares (C, D, E… and so on) depending on how many people require them. I hope that helps, but please do get in touch if there’s anything else we can do for you.
Best wishes
Elizabeth
Hi
Once we have the A and B shares up and running for two Directors, say, can the % split of profit via dividends by varied each time a dividend is declared? For example, if each director’s investment, and level of additional involvement changes on a regular basis, then it would be ideal to be able to split the profit differently each time based on an agreed split.
Hi there, Thanks so much for your message. It’s important when those A & B shares are set up that they’re set up with different rights to receive dividends (this isn’t automatic), but as long as those different rights are set up, then you can chop and change the dividends each month as much as you like. It’s up to the directors, jointly in a board meeting, to decide what dividends should be paid each month. You’d still technically own 50% of the company each (presumably 1 share each, out of a total of 2 shares), but the important part… Read more »
Can a Class B shareholder take a higher dividend than a Class A shareholder if agreed by both parties when the Class A shareholder does not wish to take such a high amount?
Hi Anthony
Thanks very much for your message. You’re right, different share classes can indeed be assigned a different share of the company’s profits, but it’s important that this is consistent (that is, dividends are always taken in those ratios by that particular class of shareholder). This article might also help, but just let us know if there’s anything at all we can help with!
Best wishes
Elizabeth
So if you had a simple 5 ordinary shares alloted to 5 different people(1 ordinary share each), their dividend would be equal. Does that mean each shareholder has 20% of the company or they all own 100%?
Hi Farooq
Thanks for your message. Yes you’re right, 5 people with an equal amount of the same type of shares would receive equal dividends, and each would own 20% of the company. I hope this is useful, but let us know if you have any questions and we’ll do all we can to help!
Best wishes
Elizabeth
Hi, If I’m going to pay different rates of dividend to different share classes where would I need to declare which class gets which rate? in the filed accounts?
Hi Stuart Thanks for messaging. So, when you issued the shares these would have been recorded as ‘prescribed particulars’ in the Statement of Capital, to show the different classes of shares in use, and what the shareholders are entitled to. To pay dividends you must hold a directors’ meeting to ‘declare’ the dividend, and record the minutes of the meeting, even if you’re the only director! You must also create a dividend voucher for each dividend payment. The payments are recorded as a transaction in your bookkeeping records. We have a guides on this on our support pages, or give… Read more »
Thank you Elizabeth
Hi, I am a director in a company. There are another 3 directors, we all have equal 25% share in company. The reserve pot is £100,000 at year end, if I decide to leave and take the £25,000 owing from the reserve is this treated as a dividend? The other 3 directors do not want to take a dividend. Thank you
Hello there Thanks for your message. As long as you all have an equal number of the same type of shares then yes, you’ll receive the same amount, although dividends are normally paid following the agreement of the other directors if you all have the same voting rights. If they’re not yet ready to declare dividends then unfortunately, these cannot be paid. If you do decide to leave the company then what happens to your share (and to your shares) might be affected by any original agreements you made when you set up the company and issued shares. I hope… Read more »
Very helpful article, thanks. One question if I may, you mention that… ‘It’s important when those A & B shares are set up that they’re set up with different rights to receive dividends (this isn’t automatic), but as long as those different rights are set up, then you can chop and change the dividends each month as much as you like.’ How do you set up the shares with the different rights that you mention above? And can it be done once the shares are already set up (e.g. if the shares have already been issued as a separate class,… Read more »
Hello there Thanks for sending us a message. So, when you first register the company you’ll need to provide information about the number and type of shares that the company has, and the details of each shareholder. This is known as a statement of capital. You’ll also need to provide the ‘prescribed particulars’ which explain what rights come with each type of share. You can make changes at a later date but, depending on the voting rights that they’re entitled to, you may need the agreement of the other shareholders and directors before making any changes. I hope this is… Read more »