UK take-home pay calculator 2026/27
Enter your salary to see exactly what you take home after income tax, National Insurance, student loan repayments and pension deductions for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027).
Your take-home pay
£27,320/year
£2,277/month · £525/week
Tax band breakdown
Effective tax rate: 21.94% · Personal allowance: £12,570
How the UK salary calculator works
This calculator uses the latest HMRC tax rates and thresholds for the 2026/27 tax year to work out your take-home pay. It accounts for income tax under England, Wales and Northern Ireland rates (or Scottish rates if you tick the Scottish taxpayer box), employee National Insurance contributions, student loan repayments under all active plans, and pension contributions on either a relief-at-source or salary sacrifice basis.
Simply enter your gross annual salary — or switch to monthly if that is how you think about your pay — and the results update instantly. The breakdown shows every deduction separately so you can see exactly where your money goes.
Income tax rates and bands 2026/27
The personal allowance for 2026/27 is £12,570. This is the amount you can earn before paying any income tax. Above that threshold, the following rates apply for taxpayers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland:
| Band | Taxable income | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 to £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 to £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% |
If you earn over £100,000, your personal allowance is tapered away at a rate of £1 for every £2 earned above £100,000. It disappears entirely at £125,140, which creates an effective 60% marginal tax rate on income between £100,000 and £125,140.
National Insurance contributions 2026/27
Employee National Insurance (Class 1) is charged on earnings above the primary threshold of £12,570 per year. The rates for 2026/27 are:
- 8% on weekly earnings between £242 and £967 (annual: £12,570 to £50,270)
- 2% on weekly earnings above £967 (annual: above £50,270)
Unlike income tax, National Insurance applies across the whole of the UK at the same rates — it does not differ for Scottish taxpayers. Employer National Insurance is a separate cost paid on top of your salary by your employer and is not deducted from your pay.
Pension contributions and take-home pay
Pension contributions reduce your taxable income, which in turn reduces the amount of income tax you pay. There are two main ways pension contributions work:
- Relief at source — your contribution is taken from your net pay and HMRC adds basic rate tax relief (20%) on top. Higher and additional rate taxpayers can claim further relief through self-assessment.
- Salary sacrifice — your employer reduces your gross salary by the pension contribution amount before tax and National Insurance are calculated. This is more tax-efficient because you also save on National Insurance, not just income tax.
Tick the "salary sacrifice" box in the calculator above to see the difference in your take-home pay between the two methods.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do I pay on a £50,000 salary?
On a £50,000 salary in 2026/27 you pay £7,486 in income tax (20% on earnings between £12,571 and £50,000) and £3,014 in National Insurance. Your take-home pay is approximately £39,500 per year, or £3,292 per month.
What is the 60% tax trap?
When your income exceeds £100,000, HMRC tapers away your £12,570 personal allowance by £1 for every £2 you earn above that threshold. On earnings between £100,000 and £125,140 you effectively pay 40% income tax on the income itself plus lose 20p of personal allowance for every £1 earned — a combined marginal rate of 60%. The personal allowance is gone entirely at £125,140.
How does salary sacrifice reduce my tax bill?
Salary sacrifice works by reducing your contractual gross pay before tax and National Insurance are applied. This means you save both income tax and employee NI on the sacrificed amount — whereas a standard pension contribution only saves income tax. For a basic rate taxpayer, salary sacrifice saves around 28p for every £1 contributed (20% tax + 8% NI) versus 20p with relief at source.
Does tax code affect my take-home pay?
Yes. Your tax code tells your employer how much income to treat as tax-free. The standard code for 2026/27 is 1257L, which represents the £12,570 personal allowance. If your code is lower (for example because you have an unpaid tax debt or a benefit in kind), more of your pay will be taxed. If it is higher, you keep more.
Are my calculations estimates or exact figures?
This calculator gives a close approximation for PAYE employees with straightforward tax affairs. It assumes the standard personal allowance (1257L tax code), no adjustments for benefits in kind, and that all income is from a single employment. If you have multiple jobs, rental income, or self-employed income, your actual tax position may differ. Always check your payslip or contact HMRC for official figures.
When does the 2026/27 tax year run?
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to the following 5 April. The 2026/27 tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. All rates and thresholds in this calculator are based on confirmed HMRC figures for this period.