UK Take-Home Pay Calculator
Find out exactly how much of your salary you keep after income tax, National Insurance, student loan repayments, and pension contributions.
Learn how this calculator works →Your details
Sole traders pay Class 4 National Insurance (6% main rate) instead of Class 1 Employee NI (8%).
Scottish income tax has six bands (19% / 20% / 21% / 42% / 45% / 48%); rUK has three (20% / 40% / 45%).
What happens to my data?
Your monthly take-home pay
£2,393
£28,720 per year
Annual breakdown
Tax rates
Effective tax rate
17.9%
Total deductions as a share of gross pay
Marginal rate
28%
Income tax on your next pound earned
UK marginal rate bands (2025/26)
England / Wales / NI · PAYE| Gross earnings | Band | Income tax | NI | Marginal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £0 - £12,570 | Personal allowance | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| £12,570 - £50,270 | Basic rate | 20% | 8% | 28% |
| £50,270 - £100,000 | Higher rate | 40% | 2% | 42% |
| £100,000 - £125,140 | 60% trap (PA taper) | 60% | 2% | 62% |
| £125,140 - + | Additional rate | 45% | 2% | 47% |
The highlighted row the band each extra pound of your salary falls into. Pension salary sacrifice reduces your taxable gross, which can move you down a band. Add a Plan 1/2/4/5 student loan to add 9% on top above its threshold.
National Insurance: employee vs sole trader (2025/26)
| Earnings band | Employee (Class 1) | Sole trader (Class 4) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £12,570 | 0% | 0% | - |
| £12,570 - £50,270 | 8% | 6% | 2pp less |
| Above £50,270 | 2% | 2% | - |
Sole traders pay 2 percentage points less personal NI on profits up to £50,270, which compensates for the absence of employer NI contributions (15% above £5,000). The trade-off: no statutory sick / holiday / redundancy pay, and no workplace pension match. Above £50,270 the rates are identical at 2%.
Monthly breakdown
This calculator uses 2025/26 UK tax year rates and thresholds. It assumes a standard tax code and does not account for benefits in kind, salary sacrifice arrangements beyond pension, or Scottish/Welsh income tax rates. Pension contributions are treated as salary sacrifice (deducted before tax and NI). Student loan repayments are calculated on gross salary. Results are estimates - for exact figures, check your payslip or speak to a qualified accountant.
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Important: Not Financial Advice
This calculator is provided for educational and illustrative purposes only. Freedom Isn't Free is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and does not provide financial advice, investment recommendations, or tax guidance.
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