Salary After Tax Calculator
Find out your UK take-home pay (after income tax + National Insurance) for the 2025/26 tax year. Add pension contributions to see the impact.
Your salary
The PAYE maths
- Salary-sacrifice pension reduces your gross before income tax and NI are calculated (not net pay)
- Personal Allowance £12,570 — tapered by £1 for every £2 above £100,000
- Income tax: 20% on £12,571–£50,270, 40% on £50,271–£125,140, 45% above
- Class 1 employee NI: 8% on £12,570–£50,270, then 2% above
- Student loan: Plan 2 (9% above £27,295), Plan 1 (9% above £24,990), Plan 4 (9% above £31,395), Plan 5 (9% above £25,000)
- Uses England/Wales/NI rates — Scotland has different income tax bands
- Doesn't include taxable benefits-in-kind, dividends, or other income sources
Going self-employed?
Compare your PAYE take-home with what you'd net as a sole trader. Free 15-min modelling call with a UK accountant.
What does "take-home pay" mean?
Your take-home pay is what hits your bank after the deductions HMRC and your employer take from your gross salary. The big four:
- Income tax via PAYE (20% / 40% / 45% bands)
- Class 1 employee NI (8% / 2%)
- Pension contributions (typically 5–8% if salary-sacrifice)
- Student loan repayments (9% above plan threshold)
Salary-sacrifice pension contributions reduce your gross salary before tax and NI are calculated — saving 28%+ for basic-rate, 42%+ for higher-rate earners.
How PAYE take-home is calculated
2025/26 rates (England, Wales and Northern Ireland — Scotland has different bands):
| Band | Income tax | NI | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| £0 – £12,570 (PA) | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| £12,571 – £50,270 (basic) | 20% | 8% | 28% |
| £50,271 – £100,000 (higher) | 40% | 2% | 42% |
| £100,000 – £125,140 (PA taper) | 40% + 20%* | 2% | 62% |
| £125,140+ (additional) | 45% | 2% | 47% |
* The 60% effective rate between £100k and £125,140 happens because you lose £1 of PA per £2 of income. Pension contributions or charity giving in this band give 60% relief — best ROI in the UK tax system.
When does PAYE apply?
PAYE applies to anyone employed under a contract of employment in the UK. Your employer calculates and remits tax + NI to HMRC each pay run, using your tax code (typically 1257L for 2025/26) to apply the right Personal Allowance.
If you have multiple income streams (employment + self-employment, dividends, rental income), you'll likely need to file Self Assessment too — PAYE alone can't handle the full picture.
Boost your take-home pay
- Salary-sacrifice pension — reduces gross before tax + NI; saves 28%–62% depending on band
- Cycle-to-Work / Tech-scheme — buy equipment from gross salary, save 28%+
- Marriage Allowance — non-taxpayer spouse transfers £1,260 of PA; saves £252/year
- Check your tax code — wrong codes cost thousands; use our Tax Code Checker
- Claim work-from-home / professional fees via P87 form (without filing Self Assessment)
If you found this useful
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