Dividend Diversion Scheme Used to Fund School Fees – HMRC’s View

03/06/2023 - 6 minutes read
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The dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees does not work as per HMRC’s latest publication in Spotlight 62 which contains information about tax avoidance schemes that HMRC believes are being used to avoid paying taxes that are due.

HMRC is aware of a tax avoidance scheme being marketed as a tax planning option available to help fund the cost of education fees. The arrangements are targeted at individuals who are the directors and main shareholders of a company (an owner-managed company) using a dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees.

Dividend Diversion Scheme Used to Fund School Fees – HMRC’s View

Dividend Diversion Scheme Used to Fund School Fees – HMRC’s View

How the dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees is claimed to work by promoters?

The dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees seeks to avoid tax by allowing the directors, who are also the main shareholders (the owners) of a company, to divert dividend income from themselves to their minor children.

The arrangements work as follows:

  1. – a company issues a new class of shares which usually entitles the owner of the shares to certain dividend and voting rights
  2. – Person A, usually a grandparent or sibling of the company owner, purchases the new shares for an amount significantly below market value
  3. – Person A usually gifts the shares to a trust or declares a trust over the shares for the benefit of the company owner’s children
  4. – Person A or the company owners vote for substantial dividend payments in respect of the new class of share
  5. – This dividend payment is paid to the trustees of the trust
  6. – As the beneficiaries of the trust, the company owner’s children are entitled to the dividend

The company owner’s children pay tax on the dividend received. However, they pay much less tax than if the company owners received the dividend due to their children’s:

  • – £12,570 tax-free personal allowance
  • – £1,000 dividend allowances
  • – eligibility for the dividend basic tax rate

HMRC’s view is that this dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees does not work as the arrangements are caught by specific anti-avoidance legislation contained in Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005, from S619 onwards that prevents this type of arrangement providing the tax advantage that is sought. Arrangements which operate in a similar way may also be caught by this legislation.

What to do if you’re using this dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees or similar arrangements

If you’re worried about becoming involved in a tax avoidance scheme, or think you’re already involved and want to get out of one, HMRC can help. HMRC offers a range of support to get you back on track or avoid being caught out in the first place. Contact HMRC if you have any concerns.

If you’re using this or similar schemes or arrangements, HMRC strongly advises you to withdraw from it and settle your tax affairs.

Anyone concerned about the schemes they are currently using should consider:

What this means for promoters of dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees

Scheme promoters must comply with the disclosure of tax avoidance schemes (DOTAS) legislation ensuring that the arrangements they are marketing are disclosed to HMRC.

Promoters will be liable to a penalty if they fail to disclose a scheme to HMRC within 5 days of the scheme being made available or implemented. The initial penalty is up to £600 a day. If this is not considered to be sufficient deterrent promoters may have to pay a penalty of up to £1 million.

HMRC will pursue anyone who promotes or enables tax avoidance. This includes using the enablers penalty regime for anyone who designs, sells or enables the use of abusive tax avoidance arrangements which are later defeated by HMRC.

HMRC will also use its powers under the Promoters of Tax Avoidance Schemes regime against those who continue to promote tax avoidance schemes.

Report a Dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees

You can report tax avoidance arrangements, schemes and the person offering you them to HMRC by using HMRC’s report tax fraud online form. You can submit this form anonymously and do not have to give your name, address or your email.

You can phone HMRC if you cannot use the online form to report a Dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees.

How can MCL Accountants help?

Contact MCL Accountants on 01702 593 029 if you think you’re already involved in a dividend diversion scheme used to fund school fees and you want assistance with disclosing this to HMRC or if you need any assistance with the preparation and submission of your business accounts or self-assessment tax returns to HMRC.