UK Take-Home Pay Calculator

On a £30,000 salary with a standard 1257L tax code, you pay income tax of £3,486 (20% on £17,430 taxable income) and employee NI of £1,394 (8% on £17,430 above the primary threshold). Your total take-home pay is approximately £25,120 per year, or around £2,093 per month.

The personal allowance for 2026/27 is £12,570 — the same as it has been since April 2021. This is the amount you can earn before paying income tax. It has been frozen at this level until at least April 2028. If your income exceeds £100,000, your personal allowance is gradually reduced.

Tax on a pay rise is calculated at your marginal rate. If your current salary is £40,000 and you get a £5,000 rise to £45,000, the extra £5,000 is taxed at 20% income tax and 8% employee NI — a combined marginal rate of 28%. If the rise takes you above £50,270, the portion above that threshold is taxed at 40% income tax plus 2% NI.

If your pension is via salary sacrifice, yes — contributions are taken before tax and NI, reducing both. A £3,000 salary sacrifice pension contribution saves 20% income tax (£600) and 8% employee NI (£240) for a basic rate taxpayer, meaning the net cost to your take-home pay is only £2,160.

The higher rate tax threshold for 2026/27 is £50,270. Income above this amount (and below £125,140) is taxed at 40%. This threshold has been frozen since April 2021 and will remain at this level until at least April 2028.

Employee National Insurance for 2026/27 is 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on earnings above £50,270. There is no NI below the primary threshold of £12,570. For example, on a £40,000 salary you pay NI of 8% × (£40,000 − £12,570) = £2,194 per year.

You must complete a Self Assessment tax return if: your income exceeds £100,000; you are self-employed with income over £1,000; you receive untaxed income (rental, savings, dividends over £500); you are a company director; your income or your partner's is over £60,000 and you receive Child Benefit; or HMRC has asked you to complete one.

Scottish taxpayers have their own income tax rates set by the Scottish Parliament. For 2026/27 Scotland has five bands: starter rate (19%), basic rate (20%), intermediate rate (21%), higher rate (42%), and top rate (48%). NI rates are the same across the UK. This calculator uses England, Wales and Northern Ireland rates.

You can check your tax code on your payslip, P60, or through your Personal Tax Account at gov.uk. The most common code is 1257L. If your code is not 1257L and you believe you should have the standard personal allowance, contact HMRC or check your tax account online.

Gross pay is your salary before any deductions — the headline figure in your contract. Net pay is what you actually receive in your bank account after income tax, National Insurance, pension contributions and any student loan repayments have been deducted.