How to Calculate Your Take-home Pay
Using the UK Take-home Pay Calculator is straightforward. Start by entering your annual gross salary (your total salary before any deductions) into the "Your salary" field. If you live in Scotland, select the Scotland region button to apply Scottish Income Tax bands. The calculator will automatically update your take-home pay breakdown as you type.
To fine-tune your calculation further, open "Show additional details". Here you can select the relevant tax year, enter your personal tax code (e.g. 1257L), adjust your pension contribution percentage, and choose your pension scheme type ("Salary Sacrifice", "Net Pay Arrangement", or "Relief at Source"). If you receive Child Benefit, enter the number of children to see the potential High Income Child Benefit Charge. If you are repaying a student loan, you can also select the appropriate plan from the available options to accurately reflect your deductions.
Understanding UK Income Tax Bands (2026/27)
Income tax in the UK is calculated using a marginal rate system. This means you only pay the specified tax rate on the portion of your income that falls within that specific band.
England, Wales & 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% |
Scotland
| Band | Taxable Income | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Starter Rate | £12,571 to £16,537 | 19% |
| Basic Rate | £16,538 to £29,526 | 20% |
| Intermediate Rate | £29,527 to £43,662 | 21% |
| Higher Rate | £43,663 to £75,000 | 42% |
| Advanced Rate | £75,001 to £125,140 | 45% |
| Top Rate | Over £125,140 | 48% |
- Gross Salary
- This is your total salary from your employer before any money is deducted. It's the "top-line" figure you might see on your employment contract or job offer.
- Taxable Income
- This is the portion of your gross salary that is actually subject to Income Tax. It's calculated by subtracting any tax-free allowances, such as your Personal Allowance, from your gross salary.
- Personal Allowance
- Most individuals in the UK are entitled to a Personal Allowance, which is a set tax-free amount you can earn each year. For the 2026/27 tax year, the standard Personal Allowance is £12,570. This allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 earned over £100,000.
- Blind Person's Allowance
- If you are registered blind or severely sight impaired, you may be entitled to an additional Blind Person's Allowance of £3,250 for 2026/27. This is added to your standard Personal Allowance and is not reduced by the Personal Allowance taper.
Student Loan Repayment Thresholds & Rates (2026/27)
If you have a UK student loan, your repayment amount is calculated based on your specific plan and the income you earn above its respective threshold. These figures are officially defined by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
| Repayment Plan | Annual Threshold (2026/27) | Deduction Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £26,900 | 9% |
| Plan 2 | £29,385 | 9% |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | £33,795 | 9% |
| Plan 5 | £25,000 | 9% |
| Postgraduate Loan | £21,000 | 6% |
Important Note on Multiple Repayment Plans
If you are paying off multiple undergraduate loans (e.g., Plan 1 and Plan 2), you only pay 9% on your income over the lowest threshold among your active plans. However, if you have a Postgraduate Loan alongside an undergraduate plan, you will be required to pay 6% of your earnings over the Postgraduate threshold in addition to your standard 9% undergraduate repayments.
Payroll deductions are calculated for each pay period. The calculator uses annualised income and annual thresholds, so irregular pay, bonuses and payroll rounding can produce a different deduction on an actual payslip.
Understanding UK Tax Codes
Your tax code tells your employer how much tax-free income you are entitled to. It is set by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and appears on your payslip and P60. The most common tax code for the 2026/27 tax year is 1257L, which represents the standard Personal Allowance of £12,570. Try the interactive tax-code decoder for a code-specific explanation.
Common Tax Code Suffixes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| L | Entitled to the standard Personal Allowance |
| M | You've received 10% of your partner's Personal Allowance (Marriage Allowance) |
| N | You've transferred 10% of your Personal Allowance to your partner |
| T | Other calculations are used to determine your allowance |
| S | Your income is taxed at Scottish rates |
| C | Your income is taxed at Welsh rates |
Special Tax Codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BR | All income taxed at the basic rate (20%) — no Personal Allowance applied |
| D0 | All income taxed at the higher rate (40%) |
| D1 | All income taxed at the additional rate (45%) |
| NT | No tax is deducted |
| 0T | No Personal Allowance; tax bands applied progressively |
| K (prefix) | You have untaxed income exceeding your allowances — the number after K is added to your taxable income |
- Tax Code
- Your tax code is an alphanumeric code issued by HMRC that determines your tax-free Personal Allowance. The number in your tax code, multiplied by 10, gives your approximate annual tax-free allowance. You can check your tax code on your payslip, P60, or via your HMRC Personal Tax Account.
Workplace Pension Contribution Types
How your pension contributions are processed affects your Income Tax and National Insurance. There are three common methods used by UK employers. Understanding which type your workplace uses is essential for an accurate take-home pay calculation.
| Feature | Salary Sacrifice | Net Pay Arrangement | Relief at Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Gross salary is reduced by the pension amount before any deductions are calculated | Pension is deducted before Income Tax, but after National Insurance | Pension is deducted after both Income Tax and National Insurance |
| Income Tax relief | Automatic | Automatic at your marginal rate | 20% claimed by provider; higher rates must be claimed via Self Assessment |
| NI savings | Yes — employee and employer save NI | No | No |
| Best for | Maximising take-home pay | Automatic full tax relief | Low earners (non-taxpayers still get 20% top-up) |
- Salary Sacrifice
- Under a salary sacrifice arrangement, you agree to a contractual reduction in your gross pay. Your employer pays the sacrificed amount directly into your pension. Because your gross salary is reduced, you save on both Income Tax and National Insurance contributions.
- Net Pay Arrangement
- Your pension contribution is deducted from your gross salary before Income Tax is calculated, providing automatic tax relief at your highest marginal rate. However, National Insurance is still calculated on your full salary, so there are no NI savings with this method.
- Relief at Source
- Your pension contribution is taken from your net (after-tax) salary. Your pension provider then claims basic rate tax relief (20%) from HMRC and adds it to your pension pot. If you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer, you must claim the extra relief through Self Assessment.
Not sure which pension type you have?
Check your payslip or ask your employer's HR/payroll department. If your pension deduction appears to reduce your taxable pay, you likely have a Salary Sacrifice or Net Pay Arrangement. If your full salary is taxed and the pension is deducted after, you have Relief at Source.
Child Benefit & the High Income Child Benefit Charge (2026/27)
Child Benefit is a tax-free payment made to parents or guardians who are responsible for bringing up a child. However, if you or your partner earns above a certain threshold, you may have to pay some or all of it back through the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).
Child Benefit Rates (2026/27)
| Recipient | Weekly Rate | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Eldest or only child | £27.05 | £1,406.60 |
| Each additional child | £17.90 | £930.80 |
HICBC Thresholds (2026/27)
The HICBC applies to the partner with the highest adjusted net income in the household:
| Adjusted Net Income | Child Benefit Charge |
|---|---|
| Below £60,000 | No charge — keep full benefit |
| £60,000 to £80,000 | 1% of benefit clawed back for every £200 earned over £60,000 |
| Above £80,000 | Full benefit amount must be repaid |
Worked Example
You earn £65,000 and claim Child Benefit for 2 children. Your annual benefit is £2,337.40 (£1,406.60 + £930.80). You earn £5,000 over the £60,000 threshold. That's 25 increments of £200, so 25% of your benefit is charged back: £584.35.
- Adjusted Net Income
- Your adjusted net income for HICBC purposes is your total taxable income after deducting certain tax reliefs such as pension contributions (including salary sacrifice) and Gift Aid donations. You can calculate this using HMRC's adjusted net income guidance.
Rates checked against official HMRC, GOV.UK and Scottish Government guidance.