Are You a Company Director? The 3 New Questions HMRC Added to Your Next Self-Assessment

If you run your own limited company, filing your yearly tax return used to be fairly straightforward. You would state your director salary, add up your total dividend payouts, and tick a couple of general boxes on the employment page.

However, HMRC has introduced mandatory reporting changes for close companies (businesses controlled by five or fewer shareholders, or by their directors). As we move through the 2026/27 tax landscape, filing a self assessment tax return in the UK now requires far more granular detail about your company structure.

Leaving these new sections blank or guessing the numbers can lead to instant £60 non-compliance fines or trigger unnecessary HMRC investigations. Here is a simple breakdown of the three new questions you must answer on your next return.

1. What Is Your Company’s Official Registration Number?

Previously, HMRC only asked for your company’s name and whether it was a close company. Now, you must provide the official 8-digit Companies House registration number (CRN) for every directorship you hold.

It is this basic modification that enables HMRC’s computer system to link up your personal return automatically to your business accounting records, CT600 (Corporation Tax submissions), and Confirmation Statements in real time.

2. What Is Your Exact Shareholding Percentage?

HMRC now wants to know the exact percentage of ordinary share capital you hold in the company.

• Mid-year changes: If your share ownership fluctuated during the tax year, perhaps due to bringing in a co-director or transferring shares, you must report the highest percentage you held at any point in that year.
• Multiple share classes: In case your business utilises alphabet shares (for example, Class A or Class B shares that pay different dividends), computing your real ownership percentage will require great care to make sure it corresponds to company records.

3. How Much Dividend Income Did You Receive From This Specific Company?

In the past, you simply reported one total figure for all dividend income on your main tax return. Under the updated SA102 rules, you must break down dividend income company by company.

• Even if it is zero: If you are a director of a dormant company or choose not to take a dividend payout, you cannot leave this box blank. You must explicitly enter “0”.
• Automatic cross-checking: The sum of your company-specific dividends on your director pages must match the main dividend summary on your tax return. If there is a mismatch, HMRC’s system will flag your return for review.

Why HMRC Made This Change

These additional questions do not add to your tax bill. They ensure that HMRC is fully aware of all owner-managed businesses. By linking the individual’s tax declarations to the company’s, any inconsistencies between profit statements, director’s loans, and payments made by individuals can be easily seen.

How We Help You Stay Compliant

Understanding how to navigate changes in taxation does not have to be difficult. From assistance in director dividend planning to the completion of a self-assessment tax return in London, the team at Wingate Accountants Ltd guarantees that your personal and corporate taxes are in perfect order.

Contact Wingate Accountants Ltd today to speak with one of our chartered accountants and keep your tax returns fully compliant.