Free Dividend Voucher Generator UK
Create a professional UK dividend voucher in minutes. Enter your limited company and shareholder details, calculate the dividend and generate a document ready to print or save as a PDF.
Designed for UK limited company directors and shareholders. Your entries are processed in your browser; this tool does not submit them to our servers.
Create your free UK dividend voucher
Complete the fields below. Your voucher updates automatically as you type. Print it or choose “Save as PDF” in your browser's print dialogue.
Voucher details
1Live voucher preview
2DIVIDEND VOUCHER
Company No: —
This voucher records a dividend declared in respect of the shareholding shown above, subject to the company's applicable rights and approvals.
Director: __________________
Signature: __________________________
Company copy / Shareholder copy
Your entered information remains in this browser session. The tool does not transmit or permanently store voucher details.
Dividend compliance checklist
Use this practical checklist before finalising your paperwork. It is a reminder, not a legal validation of the dividend.
0 of 6 checks completed.
What is a dividend voucher?
A dividend voucher is a document issued by a company to a shareholder recording a dividend. It provides evidence of the dividend amount, the recipient, the company paying it and the relevant date.
When a UK limited company pays dividends, it should prepare a voucher for each dividend payment, give a copy to the recipient and retain a copy in its records. The voucher supports accurate accounting and helps shareholders prepare their personal tax returns.
A voucher is not the same as a payslip, a dividend declaration or proof that sufficient profits existed. It forms part of the wider dividend documentation.
What should a UK dividend voucher include?
| Information | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Company name | Identifies the company declaring the dividend. |
| Dividend date | Records the date of the relevant dividend declaration. |
| Shareholder name | Identifies the recipient entitled to the dividend. |
| Dividend amount | Records the amount payable to that shareholder. |
| Share class and number | Provides useful supporting information where share rights differ. |
| Dividend per share | Helps reconcile the dividend with the eligible shareholding. |
| Company number and address | Additional information that improves identification and record-keeping. |
How to prepare a dividend voucher
Check available profits
Review the company's relevant accounts and calculate the profits legally available for distribution. Cash in the bank alone is not enough.
Approve the dividend
Follow the articles of association and applicable rules. Record the directors' decision for an interim dividend or the appropriate shareholder approval for a final dividend.
Generate the voucher
Enter the company, shareholder, share class and dividend details. Review the preview, print or save the document and retain the supporting records.
Dividend voucher calculation example
Suppose a limited company has 100 ordinary shares in issue. One shareholder owns 60 shares and another owns 40. The directors propose an interim dividend of £20 per ordinary share, assuming the company has sufficient distributable profits and the share rights permit it.
| Shareholder | Shares held | Dividend per share | Dividend payable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shareholder A | 60 | £20 | £1,200 |
| Shareholder B | 40 | £20 | £800 |
| Total | 100 | £20 | £2,000 |
Each shareholder should receive their own voucher for the relevant payment. A different dividend rate for another share class may be possible, but only where the company's share rights and approvals permit it.
Dividend vouchers, directors' minutes and bank payments
Dividend voucher
Records the amount of dividend attributed to a shareholder. It should be given to the recipient and retained by the company.
Directors' minute
Records the directors' decision and the financial basis for an interim dividend. A final dividend may require shareholder approval under the company's articles.
Payment record
Shows when and how the dividend was paid or credited. Reconcile it to the voucher and the accounting entries.
Dividend voucher FAQs
Do I need a dividend voucher for every dividend?
Yes. UK government guidance requires a voucher for each dividend payment, with a copy given to the shareholder and a copy retained by the company.
Can I create a dividend voucher myself?
Yes. A director or another authorised person can prepare a voucher using a suitable template or generator. The important issue is that the dividend is properly approved, lawful and accurately documented.
Can I pay dividends monthly?
Dividends may be declared at different points during the year, including monthly, provided the company has sufficient distributable profits and follows the required procedures each time. They should not be treated as guaranteed monthly salary.
Does a dividend voucher prove that a dividend is legal?
No. The voucher records a dividend but does not prove the company had sufficient distributable profits or followed the necessary approval procedures.
Do I deduct tax from a UK dividend voucher?
Ordinary UK company dividends are generally paid without deduction of Income Tax. The shareholder may need to account for dividend tax personally, depending on their circumstances.
Can two shareholders receive different dividends?
Shareholders holding shares of the same class will normally receive dividends according to the rights of those shares. Different classes may have different rights. Any unequal treatment requires careful review of the articles and share structure.
Can I backdate a dividend voucher?
A voucher should accurately reflect the genuine dividend transaction. Do not invent or backdate a declaration to make a previous withdrawal appear to have been a dividend. Ask an accountant how to correct missing or inaccurate historic records.
Can I save my dividend voucher as a PDF?
Yes. Select the print button in the generator and choose “Save as PDF” or the equivalent destination in your browser's print dialogue.
What happens if the company has insufficient profits?
A dividend paid without sufficient distributable profits may be unlawful. Depending on the circumstances, the recipient may have to repay it, and the transaction may require correction in the accounts. Professional advice is recommended.
Useful guides for limited company directors
Explore our related practical guides covering director remuneration, dividends, tax planning and limited company responsibilities.
How to pay yourself from a limited company
Understand the differences between salary, dividends and other ways of extracting profits.
Read the guide →Director's loan accounts
Understand how company withdrawals and directors' loan balances should be recorded.
Read the guide →Need help managing your limited company dividends?
Creating the voucher is only one part of good dividend planning. The Online Accountants can help you understand company profits, director remuneration, Corporation Tax and annual accounts.