How to use the UK Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026/27
- Choose yearly or monthly salary and enter your gross pay.
- Add your pension contribution percentage if you use salary sacrifice.
- Read your Income Tax, National Insurance and take-home pay per year, month and week.
UK Income Tax and National Insurance, 2026/27
| Band | Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 – £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 – £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% |
The Personal Allowance falls by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000, reaching zero at £125,140. That creates an effective 60% rate between £100,000 and £125,140.
Employee Class 1 NI = 8% of earnings £12,570–£50,270 + 2% above £50,270Worked examples
| Salary | Income Tax | National Insurance | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £2,486 | £994 | £21,520 | £1,793 |
| £35,000 | £4,486 | £1,794 | £28,720 | £2,393 |
| £50,000 | £7,486 | £2,994 | £39,520 | £3,293 |
| £60,000 | £11,432 | £3,211 | £45,357 | £3,780 |
| £100,000 | £27,432 | £4,011 | £68,557 | £5,713 |
Why thresholds matter: the freeze
The Personal Allowance and higher-rate threshold are frozen, so as pay rises, more of it is taxed at higher rates. This is often called fiscal drag. Paying more into a pension through salary sacrifice cuts both tax and National Insurance. Buying a home? Check your Stamp Duty Calculator (England & NI) and monthly repayments with the Mortgage Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do I pay on £30,000 in the UK?
In 2026/27, Income Tax is £3,486 and National Insurance is £1,394, so take-home pay is £25,120 a year or about £2,093 a month.
What is the tax-free Personal Allowance for 2026/27?
£12,570, the same as the last several years. It is frozen until April 2031.
What National Insurance rate do employees pay?
8% on weekly earnings between £242 and £967 (about £12,570 to £50,270 a year), and 2% above that.
Does this work for Scotland?
No. Scottish taxpayers have six Income Tax bands with rates from 19% to 48%. National Insurance is the same across the UK.
What is the 60% tax trap?
Between £100,000 and £125,140 you lose £1 of Personal Allowance for every £2 earned, so the effective rate is 60% plus 2% NI. Pension contributions can bring income back below £100,000.
Sources and references
Our team builds and tests every tool by hand, checks each formula against official sources (IRS, HMRC, the Income Tax Department of India, CBSE, NHS, WHO) and reviews pages whenever rules change. Last reviewed on . Spotted a mistake? Tell us.