What is a director's loan & how do they work?

Should I borrow money from my company by taking out a director’s loan? Or should I loan money to my company?

Both of these questions may arise from time to time when you are a company director.

To decide what to do, you’ll need to understand what a director’s loan is, how a director’s loan account works, and the responsibilities and risks involved when borrowing or lending money this way.

What is a director’s loan?

A director’s loan is money you take from your company's accounts that cannot be classed as salary, dividends or legitimate expenses - and is not money previously paid into or loaned to the company.

How does a director’s loan work?

A director’s loan is money that you, as a director, borrow from your company and will eventually have to repay.

Another kind of director’s loan is when a director lends money to the company, for example, to help with start-up costs or help it with cash flow difficulties. As a result, the director becomes one of the company’s creditors.

When and why might I borrow from my company?

Taking out a director’s loan can give you access to more money that you are currently receiving via salary and/or dividends.

Director’s loans are typically used to cover short-term or one-off expenses, such as unexpected bills.

However, they are admin-heavy and come with risks (such as the potential for heavy tax penalties), so they shouldn’t be used routinely, but rather kept in reserve as an emergency source of personal funds.

What is the director’s loan account?

The director’s loan account (DLA) is where you keep track of all the money you either borrow from your company, or lend to it.

If the company is borrowing more money from its director(s) than it is lending to it, then the account is in credit.

However, if the director(s) borrow more, then the DLA is said to be overdrawn.

Be aware that shareholders (and perhaps other creditors) may become concerned if your DLA is overdrawn for any length of time.

You should aim to ensure that most of the time it is either in credit or at least at zero.

Find an accountant for your small business who can help with putting together a director’s loan account.

What is the interest on a director’s loan?

It is up to your company what the director’s loan interest rate is.

However, if the interest charged is below the official rate, the discount granted to the director may also be treated as a ‘benefit in kind’ by HMRC.

This means that you, as director, may be taxed on the difference between the official rate and the rate you’re actually paying.

Class 1 National Insurance (NI) contributions will also be payable at a rate of 13.8% on the full value of the loan.

The HMRC official rate of interest changes over time in response to the Bank of England base rate. In the year 2024/25, it is 2.25%, despite the current base rate standing at 5%.

How much can I borrow in a director’s loan?

There is no legal limit to how much you can borrow from your company.

However, you should consider very carefully how much the company can afford to lend you, and how long it can manage without this money.

Otherwise the director’s loan may result in cash flow problems for your company.

Also bear in mind that any loan of £10,000 or more will automatically be treated as a ‘benefit in kind’ (see above) and must be reported on your self-assessment tax return.

In addition you may have to pay tax on the loan at the official rate of interest. For loans of £10,000 or more you should seek the approval of all the shareholders.

How soon must I repay a director’s loan?

A director’s loan must be repaid within nine months and one day of the company’s year-end, or you will face a heavy tax penalty.

Any unpaid balance at that time will be subject to a corporation tax charge (known as S455 tax) of 33.75% of the outstanding amount, or 32.5%, if the loan was made before 6 April 2022.

Interest will be added until the corporation tax is paid or the loan is repaid. You can reclaim the corporation tax - but not the interest.

Can you claim corporation tax back on an overdue director’s loan?

If you have taken longer than nine months and one day to repay your director’s loan and have been charged corporation tax on the unpaid amount, you can claim this tax back nine months after the end of the accounting period in which you cleared the debt.

This is a long time to wait and the process can be onerous, so it’s best to ensure you don’t end up in this position.

One possible workaround is to put off paying your company’s corporation tax until your director’s loan is repaid.

Your corporation tax payment deadline is nine months after your financial year end, which can give you extra time to repay the loan.

Can I repay a director’s loan and then take out another one?

You have to wait a minimum of 30 days between repaying one loan and taking out another.

Some directors try to avoid the corporation tax penalties of late repayment by paying off one loan just before the nine-month deadline, only to take out a new one.

HMRC calls this practice ‘bed and breakfasting’ and considers it to be tax avoidance. Note that even sticking to the ’30-day rule’ is not guaranteed to satisfy HMRC that you are not trying to avoid tax.

This is why you shouldn’t make a habit of relying on director’s loans for extra cash.

Is it possible to take out a director’s loan accidentally?

It is possible to take out a director’s loan inadvertently, by paying yourself an illegal dividend.

As director you may choose to take much of your income in dividends, as this is generally more tax efficient than a salary.

However, dividends can only be paid out of profits, so if your business has not made a profit then legally no dividends can be paid.

If you don’t take enough care in preparing your management accounts, then you may declare a profit by mistake and pay yourself a dividend.

This illegal dividend should then be considered to be a director’s loan, and recorded in the DLA. You should then make sure to repay it within the nine-month deadline.

Learn more: What is the tax rate on dividend income?  

Can I lend money to my company?

It’s possible to make a director’s loan the other way round, by lending to your company.

This may be an option for you if you want to invest money into your company (e.g. to fund its ongoing activities and/or buy assets) but only a temporary basis.

If you decided to charge interest, then any interest that the company pays you is considered income and must be recorded on your self-assessment tax return.

The company treats the interest paid to you as a business expense, and must also deduct income tax at source (at the basic rate of 20 per cent). However the company will pay no corporation tax on the loan.

Director’s loan checklist

Here is a short summary of things to remember if you are considering borrowing money from your company or lending to it.

• Take out director’s loans only when absolutely necessary (i.e. explore all other options first)
• Repay your director’s loan within nine months and one day of the company year-end if possible
• Aim to borrow less than £10,000
• If you borrow £10,000 or more, you must report it on your self-assessment tax return and the company must treat it as a benefit in kind
• Wait at least 30 days between taking out different director’s loans
• If you lend to your company, ensure that both you and the company use the correct tax treatment
• Do not allow your DLA to be overdrawn for extended periods
• Be certain that your company has made a profit before declaring dividends

As you can see, director’s loans are a tricky area, so should not be used lightly or routinely.

Strict bookkeeping and accounting is also extremely important when dealing with director’s loans, so make sure you are using a good accountant.

Get expert financial advice

While director’s loans offer flexibility for managing personal and company finances, they come with significant responsibilities and potential pitfalls.

Whether you are borrowing from or lending to your company, it’s crucial to understand the implications of interest rates, tax, and repayment deadlines. Regular oversight and accurate accounting are essential to avoid complications with HMRC and ensure compliance with regulations.

Unbiased can quickly match you with a qualified accountant or financial adviser to help manage a director’s loan.