Paying yourself from abroad
Sometimes. Nationals of certain countries and those covered by a double tax treaty non-discrimination clause can claim the personal allowance despite being.
Short answer
It depends on nationality and treaty terms, not residence alone. UK and EEA nationals, and residents of countries whose double tax treaty with the UK includes a non-discrimination clause, can generally still claim the personal allowance as a non-resident, reducing tax on UK-taxable income such as director's fees.
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 12 September 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.
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QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityIt depends on nationality and treaty terms, not residence alone. UK and EEA nationals, and residents of countries whose double tax treaty with the UK includes a non-discrimination clause, can generally still claim the personal allowance as a non-resident, reducing tax on UK-taxable income such as director's fees.
Who qualifies
Where it matters most
Eligibility runs through nationality or specific treaty wording rather than through where you now live, so two directors resident in the same overseas country can have different entitlement depending on their own nationality.
Where entitlement exists, the allowance is claimed on the Self Assessment return alongside the residence pages, and it reduces tax on income that is not already covered by the disregarded income rules, such as director's fees.
Because dividends are usually already tax-free for non-residents under disregarded income, the personal allowance mainly protects director's fees and any other UK-source income from tax up to the allowance threshold each year.
If you are not entitled to the allowance, all UK-taxable income is taxed from the first pound, which is another reason the salary versus dividend balance is worth revisiting once residence status is confirmed.
Our fixed monthly packages for a UK limited company start at £89 plus VAT and run to £169 and £289 plus VAT as bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and reporting are added. One-off filings are sold at fixed prices, and the Companies House fees we pay for you are charged at cost with no VAT added. Overseas owners are quoted on exactly the same published prices as UK-resident clients.
Rates, thresholds and deadlines here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.
Primary references
Local help
We work with company directors across London and Surrey from our office at 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Pick your area, or send the form below and we will call you back.
Frequently asked
No, entitlement depends on nationality or treaty terms, not simply on being non-resident.
The relevant double tax treaty between the UK and your country of residence sets out non-discrimination and allowance provisions.
No, the personal allowance is an Income Tax relief only.
Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.
The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.
Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.
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We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.
The relevant calendar may include annual accounts, Corporation Tax payment and return dates, confirmation statements, VAT returns, payroll submissions and Self Assessment. We map the dates from your company year end and registrations.
Yes. You can ask a straightforward initial question without charge. Calculations, filings, written advice, planning and HMRC correspondence are scoped and quoted before work begins.
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