The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc has announced the pounds sterling and euro equivalent dividend payments in respect of the first quarter 2016 interim dividend, which was announced on May 4, 2016 at US$0.47 per A ordinary share (“A Share”) and B ordinary share (“B Share”).
Dividends on A Shares will be paid, by default, in euro at the rate of €0.4172 per A Share. Holders of A Shares who have validly submitted pounds sterling currency elections by June 6, 2016 will be entitled to a dividend of 32.98.p per A Share.
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Dividends on B Shares will be paid, by default, in pounds sterling at the rate of 32.98p per B Share. Holders of B Shares who have validly submitted euro currency elections by June 6, 2016 will be entitled to a dividend of €0.4172 per B Share.
This dividend will be payable on June 27, 2016 to those members whose names were on the Register of Members on May 20, 2016.
Taxation – cash dividend
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Cash dividends on A Shares will be subject to the deduction of Dutch dividend withholding tax at the rate of 15%, which may be reduced in certain circumstances. Based on a policy statement issued by the Dutch Ministry of Finance on April 29, 2016, and depending on their particular circumstances, non-Dutch individual shareholders may be entitled to a full or partial refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax.
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Furthermore, in April 2016, there were changes to the UK taxation of dividends. The dividend tax credit has been abolished, and a new tax free dividend allowance of £5,000 introduced. Dividend income in excess of the allowance will be taxable at the following rates: 7.5% within the basic rate band; 32.5% within the higher rate band; and 38.1% on dividend income taxable at the additional rate.