Your profit and your bank balance are two different numbers, and some of the cash sitting in your account was never really yours — it's tax, waiting to be paid. The fix is a separate tax pot: every time money comes in, move a slice to a second account and leave it there until the bills arrive.
Here's why the two numbers differ, and roughly how much to set aside.
Profit and cash are not the same number
Profit is what your business earned over a period. Your bank balance is the cash in the account right now. They move differently: money you've invoiced but not been paid, money you owe but haven't paid yet, and tax you've accrued but not handed over all sit between the two.
The one that really catches founders out is the tax. The bank account can look healthy in the autumn and then feel very different in January, because a chunk of that balance was always going to HMRC.
The tax pot: the bland fix that works
The way to stop that happening is boring but it works: open a second bank account and treat it as untouchable. Every time money comes in, move a slice across straight away. When the tax bills come, the money is already there and the main account was never overstating what you could spend.
Roughly how much to set aside
As a rough guide for a limited company, set aside:
- 19% of your company profit for corporation tax — or 25% if your profit is over £50,000,
- 10.75% of what you draw as dividends, for your Self Assessment, and
- your VAT each month, if you're registered.
These are rules of thumb to keep the pot roughly right, not a precise calculation — your own figures will vary. The point is that the money is waiting when the bill lands, instead of being a nasty surprise.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't my profit the same as my cash? Profit is what the business earned; your bank balance is the cash on hand. Unpaid invoices, bills you owe, and tax you've accrued but not paid all sit between the two — so a healthy balance can still include money that belongs to HMRC.
How much tax should I set aside? As a rough guide for a limited company: 19% of profit for corporation tax (rising towards 25% above £50,000 of profit), 10.75% of what you draw as dividends for your Self Assessment, plus your VAT each month if you're registered.
What is a tax pot? A separate account you move a slice of every payment into and leave untouched, so the money is there when your tax bills are due.
Work with us
Knowing your real numbers — what's yours to spend and what's tax waiting to be paid — is the heart of what we do for founders. Book a call with Carr Accounting Studio.
General information, not advice. UK figures 2026/27 — they change, and your situation may differ. Written by David Carr, chartered accountant and founder of Carr Accounting Studio.