Take-home pay calculator (2026/27)
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See exactly how much of your salary hits your bank account after Income Tax, National Insurance and your pension contribution. 2026/27 rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Annual take-home
- £34,120
- Monthly
- £2,843.30
- Effective deduction
- 24.2%
| Gross salary | £45,000 |
|---|---|
| Pension contributionnet pay | −£2,250 |
| Personal AllowanceStandard £12,570 | £12,570 |
| Income Tax£6,036 @ 20% · £0 @ 40% · £0 @ 45% | −£6,036 |
| National InsuranceEmployee Class 1 (8% / 2%) | −£2,594 |
| Take-home pay | £34,120 |
2026/27 rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland uses different income tax bands. Assumes standard tax code 1257L, no student loan and no other income. The taper of the Personal Allowance between £100,000 and £125,140 is included.
Official rates & thresholds used
United Kingdom · tax year 2026/27 · last verified . These figures match the parameters embedded in this calculator.
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | £12,570 | Frozen until April 2028. Taper applies above £100,000. |
| Basic rate band | £37,700 | 20% band up to £37,700 above the Personal Allowance (so taxable income up to £50,270). |
| Higher rate threshold | £50,270 | 40% rate from £50,270 to £125,140 (England, Wales, NI). |
| Additional rate threshold | £125,140 | 45% rate above £125,140. |
| Employee National Insurance (main rate) | 8% | Class 1 main rate on earnings between £242 and £967 per week. 2% above £967/week. |
| Basic rate | 20% | On taxable income within the basic-rate band. |
| Higher rate | 40% | On taxable income between £50,271 and £125,140. |
| Additional rate | 45% | On taxable income above £125,140. |
| NI primary threshold | £12,570 | No employee Class 1 NI below this annual earnings level. |
| NI upper earnings limit | £50,270 | 8% main rate applies between primary threshold and UEL. |
| NI rate above UEL | 2% | Employee Class 1 rate on earnings above £50,270. |
| Personal Allowance taper start | £100,000 | Allowance reduces by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income above this. |
Primary sources: HMRC; HMRC. Always confirm live figures on gov.uk before acting.
How it works
- Income tax is charged in bands: 0% up to £12,570 (your Personal Allowance), 20% from £12,571–£50,270, 40% from £50,271–£125,140, and 45% above.
- Above £100,000 your Personal Allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income, so it disappears entirely at £125,140 — creating an effective 60% marginal rate in that band.
- National Insurance for employees is 8% on earnings from £12,570–£50,270 and 2% on earnings above that.
- Pension contribution type matters: salary sacrifice also reduces National Insurance, net pay reduces taxable income but not NI, and relief at source is paid from your net salary with 20% basic-rate relief added by the provider.
Common questions
- Why is the effective rate higher than my tax band?
- Because National Insurance, the loss of the Personal Allowance above £100k, and any pension contribution all reduce take-home pay — the headline 20% or 40% is only one component.
- Does this include student loan repayments?
- No. Plan 1, 2, 4 and 5 student loans and the Postgraduate Loan all reduce take-home pay further. Use our student loan calculator for repayment estimates.
- What about the £100,000 trap?
- Above £100,000, every £1 of income costs 40p in tax plus 20p of lost allowance, plus 2p of NI — an effective 62% marginal rate. Pension contributions can pull your 'adjusted net income' back below £100,000.