Is there a way to see how much a director of a company paid themselves in dividends?

[Sawyershair]

Would it be in their company accounts?

Yes, I think you can look it up at companies house

Depends on how the accountant has done the accounts, have you checked online. But I doubt it.

beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/

If the accounts filed with Companies House show the payment of dividends, have a look at the annual return. This gives the details of the shareholders. You can then work out the dividends paid, if this info hasn't been given elsewhere (eg in the notes to the accounts)

Are you trying to find out so you can include it in a maintenance claim?

I wondered that, the advice given to a friend was not to claim dividends until the divorce was finalised for this very reason.

It is for child maintenance yes. I think I’m going to need a variation because the figure they’ve given me is ridiculous

Someone PMd me to help but I can’t reply for some reason, I’ll keep trying

I have his accounts for the last five years and he’s been paying himself dividends of 35-40k every year. But I don’t have last years accounts.

CMS have told me he earns £155 a week

In line with the previous year's accounts that you've seen, what month does the company's accounting period run until? Might give you an indication of when the most recent financial information might be available on companies house, as a company can be struck off if they fail to file their accounts on time.

The CMS can access his last tax return. Just ask them to do that.

This info doesnt always get posted to companies house (depends on size of company). The only way to know for sure is to obtain copies of his P60 (end of yr tax return) or bank statements. There’s nothing to stop him issuing shares and paying dividends to a 3rd party, however.

Companies house only has micro accounts and says his latest accounts are due July 2019

He is the only shareholder, so he could technically issue another share to someone else (his partner) and then pay her half the dividends and just funnel them back into his pocket?

Sawyer, when did you split up if I may ask?

He could. Or he could take money out of the company via a directors loan rather than paying a dividend this year.

HIs £155 pw week is salary. Dividends can be reinvested, left in the company, spent on things for the company. So many clever legal ways to get round it. It does not matter if in years past he paid himself before separation.

The only way to know for sure is to obtain copies of his P60

Dividends aren't shown on the P60 - that's just for wages.

I am in the exact same frustrating position and have been since 2017.

The CMS are infuriatingly useless.

I do not wish to derail the thread but I started a petition about this very thing and every signature helps.

www.change.org/p/the-government-change-the-way-child-maintenance-service-make-their-calculations

You need to request a variation on other/unearned income. The CMS can then pull any other income he has declared to HMRC through to his income screens.

Well CMS really must be on the ball this week.

I had a letter in my online portal this morning saying they’ve requested dividend information from HMRC and given the shitty email from ex I guess he had the same one!

Glad they are looking into it. If he's the only shareholder he can't pay dividends to someone else, but he could potentially have her as a non-executive director and pay her a fee or some such scheme.

I think dividends are only taken into account in the following year's assessment so what you get paid may be a year behind.

They can also somehow get the last dividend they were paid from a company discounted altogether if they've been bought out or the company has ceased trading. So many ways to avoid paying for their own children.

Just another quick update and to thank you all for your help!

CMS have contacted me....he has over 50k of undeclared income , they are adjusting the order now!!!!

So so so happy for DD, thank you all

So glad that they were able to work that out! Hopefully this will help you, and he will realise he has to provide for his child!