UK take-home pay calculator for 2026/27
Type your salary and this UK take-home pay calculator works out your income tax, National Insurance and any student loan, then shows your pay after tax.
Last updated 2026/27 tax year
Estimates only. This is not tax, legal or financial advice.
How to use the UK take-home pay calculator
- Enter your yearly salary before tax.
- Choose your student loan plan if you have one, and pick Scotland if you pay Scottish income tax.
- Tick the box if you also repay a Postgraduate Loan.
- Press Calculate take-home pay.
- Read your pay after tax per year, month, two weeks and week, with the full breakdown below.
How the UK take-home pay calculator works
The calculator uses the 2026/27 rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or the Scottish bands if you choose Scotland. Everyone starts with a tax-free personal allowance of £12,570. Income above it is taxed at 20% on the first £37,700, 40% up to £125,140 and 45% above that.
The allowance shrinks by £1 for every £2 earned over £100,000 and disappears completely at £125,140. Employee National Insurance is charged separately: 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above. Student loans take 9% of income above your plan's threshold, and a Postgraduate Loan takes 6% above £21,000.
Formula
Personal allowance = £12,570 − (income above £100,000 ÷ 2), never below zero. Taxable income = salary − personal allowance.
Income tax = 20% of the first £37,700 of taxable income + 40% of taxable income up to £125,140 + 45% of the rest. National Insurance = 8% of earnings from £12,570 to £50,270 + 2% of earnings above £50,270.
Example
On a £50,000 salary, taxable income is £50,000 − £12,570 = £37,430, all in the basic band, so income tax is £7,486. National Insurance is 8% of £37,430, or £2,994.40. Take-home pay is £39,519.60 a year, about £3,293 a month.
At £60,000 with a Plan 2 student loan, income tax rises to £11,432 and National Insurance to £3,210.60, and the loan takes 9% of £30,615, or £2,755.35. That leaves £42,602.05 a year.
Tips and common mistakes
Watch the £100,000 trap
Between £100,000 and £125,140, each extra £1 effectively costs 60p in income tax because the allowance is withdrawn. Pension contributions can bring your income back below £100,000.
Check your tax code
Most people have the tax code 1257L. A different code, for example one collecting tax on a company car, changes your take-home pay.
Scotland has six bands
Scottish taxpayers pay 19% to 48% across six bands in 2026/27. Choose Scotland to use them: on £50,000 that means £8,982.05 of income tax instead of £7,486. National Insurance is the same everywhere in the UK.
Paid by the hour?
Work out your yearly pay with the hourly to salary calculator, then enter it here.
Budgeting for a home
Compare your monthly pay after tax with a repayment from the UK mortgage calculator before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Which tax year does it use?
The 2026/27 tax year, which runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027.
Does it include pension contributions?
No. Workplace pension contributions reduce take-home pay further, and salary sacrifice can also cut income tax and National Insurance.
Why is my payslip slightly different?
Payroll works pay period by pay period using your tax code, and may include pension, benefits or corrections from earlier in the year.
Which student loan plan am I on?
Plan 1 is mainly for courses started before September 2012, Plan 2 for courses in England and Wales from then until July 2023, Plan 4 for Scotland, and Plan 5 for courses in England from August 2023.
Is the calculator free?
Yes. It is free, needs no signup, and your figures stay in your browser.