UK Corporation Tax rates for 2024/25

Corporation Tax: what you need to know

Corporation Tax is paid at the rates that applied in your company's accounting year (sometimes called an ‘accounting period’). This means that more than one rate may apply where your company’s accounting year does not align with the tax year (for example, if your company’s accounting year runs from 1st January - 31st December).

If more than one rate applies, calculate how much is due based on the number of days each rate applied, for example, 45 days at the rate for the 2023/24 accounting year and 320 days at the rate for the 2024/25 accounting year. You can find out your accounting period on your company's online account and more about Corporation Tax in our accounting glossary.

Changes to Corporation Tax from 1st April 2023

Since 1st April 2023, the Corporation Tax rate for profits over £50,000 has risen to 25%. Companies with profits between £50,000 and £250,000 may be eligible for Marginal Relief, which reduces the company’s tax bill.

Example: how to calculate Corporation Tax

A director of a company has an accounting year that is the same as the tax year. In order to work out the company’s Corporation Tax bill, they need to know three things:

• The company’s total accounting profit for the year: £42,301
• Costs that aren’t allowable for tax relief (e.g. the cost of entertaining clients): £872
• Non day-to-day running costs that are allowable for tax relief (e.g. the cost of a new laptop): £650

First, they must work out the amount that the company must pay tax on (known as the taxable profit):

£42,301 + £872 - £650 = £42,523 taxable profit

With the Corporation Tax rate at 19%, the company is due to pay:

£42,523 x 19% = £8,079.37 in Corporation Tax

How to pay your Corporation Tax bill

For most payments, you’ll need your 17-character Corporation Tax payslip reference for the accounting period you’re paying. This can be found on the payslip that HMRC sent you after you submitted your return or through the company’s HMRC online account.

Online or telephone banking: If you’re paying by online or telephone banking (Faster Payments, CHAPS or Bacs), you can find details for the HMRC account you should pay your tax bill into on the government’s website.

Debit or credit card: If you are paying by debit or credit card you can do so by following the links from your HMRC online account.

Direct Debit: You can set up a Direct Debit from your HMRC online account. Make sure you do this at least three working days before you submit your return to ensure the payment is taken from your account in time. Once the Direct Debit is set up, HMRC will collect payments from your account within three working days.

At your bank or building society: At your bank or building society you can pay your Corporation Tax bill by debit card, cash or cheque made payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’ followed by your 17-character corporation tax payslip reference. Again, you’ll need the payslip that HMRC sent you after you submitted your Corporation Tax Return.

Timeline of Corporation Tax rates