i

Notes on the Condensed Interim Statements
for the period 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2016
8. Taxation
The income tax expense reflects the anticipated effective rate of tax on profits before taxation for the Group for the year ending 31 March
2017, taking account of the movement in the deferred tax provision in the period so far as it relates to items recognised in the income
statement. The reported tax rate on the profit before tax before exceptional items and certain re-measurements is 19.8% (2015 – 17.2%,
March 2016 – 19.3%). The reported tax rate on the profit before tax after exceptional items, including the effect of changes in tax rate, and
certain re-measurements was 10.6% (2015 – 11.1%, March 2016 – 1.4%).
The total adjusted effective rate of tax on profits before taxation excluding exceptional items, certain re-measurements, deferred tax
associated with interest on net pension liabilities under IAS 19R and adjusted for tax on associates and jointly controlled entities for the
period can be represented as follows:
Year ended
31 March 2016
9. Dividends
Six months
ended 30
September
2016
Six months
ended 30
September
2015
Adjusted effective rate:
12.8% Current tax 12.0% 14.6%
8.8% Deferred tax 6.0% 5.1%
21.6% 18.0% 19.7%
Ordinary dividends
Year
ended
31 March
2016
Total £m
Six months
ended 30
September
2016
Total
£m
Six months
ended 30
September
2015
Total
£m
Settled
via scrip
£m
Pence
per
ordinary
share
Settled
via scrip
£m
Pence
per
ordinary
share
Settled
via scrip
£m
Pence
per
ordinary
share
- - - Final – year ended 31 March 2016 629.5 142.6 62.5 - - -
270.5 16.3 26.9 Interim – year ended 31 March 2016 - - - - - -
613.5 159.5 61.8 Final– year ended 31 March 2015 - - - 613.5 159.5 61.8
884.0 175.8 629.5 142.6 613.5 159.5
The final dividend of 62.5p per ordinary share declared in the financial year ended 31 March 2016 (2015 – 61.8p) was approved at the
Annual General Meeting on 21 July 2016 and was paid to shareholders on 23 September 2016. Shareholders were able to elect to receive
ordinary shares credited as fully paid instead of the interim cash dividend under the terms of the Company’s scrip dividend scheme.
An interim dividend of 27.4p per ordinary share (2015 – 26.9p) has been proposed and is due to be paid on 17 March 2017 to those
shareholders on the SSE plc share register on 20 January 2017. The proposed interim dividend has not been included as a liability in these
financial statements. A scrip dividend will be offered as an alternative.
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