Work out your take-home pay
Income tax, National Insurance and net pay for any UK salary, 2026-27.
Calculating your take-home pay can be tricky, especially if you're unfamiliar with the UK tax system. Fortunately, several tools are available to help you determine your salary after taxes and other deductions. One of the most valuable tools is our salary calculator UK, which considers your gross pay and other factors to give you a clear picture of what you can expect each month. In this blog post, we'll look at how to use a salary calculator UK and what you need to know to get the most accurate results possible.
£ per month
e.g. 1257L, S1257L, BR, D0
S = Scotland · C = Wales · W1/M1 = non-cumulative
Enter a salary or hourly rate above
About this calculator
This calculator gives you a close estimate of your UK payroll deductions for 2026-27, using HMRC's exact percentage method with periodised thresholds. It handles the three tax territories, K codes with the 50% regulatory limit and its carry-forward, weeks 53, 54 and 56, the cumulative and W1/M1/X bases, student and postgraduate loans, and pension contributions on qualifying earnings. It still won't match your payslip to the penny in every case: it does not cover in-year tax code changes, payrolled benefits in kind, NI deferral across more than one employment, directors on the annual earnings period, or employer-level annual adjustments such as the Employment Allowance and the apprenticeship levy. Powered by the same engine as the Moonworkers Payroll API.
Frequently asked questions
Why might the result differ from my payslip?
This calculator uses your current gross pay and tax code to produce an estimate. K-code carry-forwards and weeks 53, 54 and 56 are handled, and the Year-to-date section reproduces a specific period exactly. What your employer may apply that this does not: a mid-year tax code change, benefits in kind processed through payroll, or NI deferral across more than one employment. For most employees on a standard tax code the difference is negligible.
What tax code should I enter?
Use the tax code shown on your most recent payslip or the PAYE Coding Notice (P2) from HMRC. If you're not sure, 1257L is the standard code for most employees resident in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. Use S1257L for Scotland or C1257L for Wales if you pay Scottish or Welsh income tax.
Which NI category applies to me?
Most employees use Category A. Use M if you are under 21, H if you are an apprentice under 25, or C if you are over State Pension age. Your employer is responsible for assigning the correct category — if in doubt, check your payslip.
Which student loan plan am I on?
Your plan depends on when and where you studied. Plan 1 covers students who started before September 2012. Plan 2 is for English and Welsh students who started from September 2012 to July 2023. Plan 5 applies to English students who started from August 2023. Plan 4 covers Scottish students. You can check your plan at gov.uk or on your payslip.
What is the YTD cumulative PAYE mode?
HMRC's standard method calculates income tax on your total earnings to date each period, then subtracts tax already paid. If you're mid-year and want to see exactly what tax should be deducted in a specific period, expand the Year-to-date section and enter your running totals from previous periods only.
Explanation of what the salary calculator is and the importance of determining take-home pay
The salary calculator UK is helpful for accurately calculating your take-home pay to budget and plan for the future. It considers your gross income, tax deductions, National Insurance contributions, pension contributions, student loans and more to estimate how much money you will have at the end of the month. This can be especially important if you plan to make significant purchases or investments or want to know what you can expect at the end of each month.
Gross Pay vs Net Pay
Gross pay is the money you earn before taxes, and other deductions are taken out. This is sometimes referred to as 'salary' or 'wages'. Net pay, however, is the amount of money you take home after all deductions have been made. This can vary considerably from your gross pay depending on factors such as taxes, your National Insurance category letter and pension contributions, among a few others.
Understanding Tax Codes
Explanation of tax codes
Tax codes are used by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to help them work out how much income tax you need to pay. Your tax code is usually a number followed by a letter, such as 1257L. The number part of your tax code shows how much of your income is free from tax before deductions, and the letter reflects your tax-free allowance. HMRC assigns you a letter according to your situation.
How to find your tax code
You can usually find your tax code on payslips, P45s, P60s or in the letters HMRC send you.
Income Tax
Your PAYE tax will also depend on annual salary thresholds, sometimes called tax bands.
Here are the details for England and Wales:
- Personal allowance (understand tax-free) of £12,750 per year: no tax to pay under this amount.
- Up to £50,270: 20% on all income between £12,570 and £50,270.
- Up to £150,000: 40% on all wages between £50,270 and £150,000.
- Above £150,000: 45% on all wages above £150,000.
- Moreover, HMRC applies a personal allowance reducer of £2 for every pound earned for all wages above £100,000. Therefore, if you earn more than £150,000 per year, your tax-free allowance is zero.
How tax codes affect your take-home pay
Your tax code can significantly impact how much money you take home each month. For example, if your tax code is wrong, you may be paying more or less tax than you should. Keep in mind that HMRC changes tax codes almost every year. In addition, you must inform your employer of any changes to your tax code, who must update your tax code in their payroll system at the start of the tax year on the 6th of April, when applicable. Therefore, you must ensure your tax code is correct, so you're not overpaying or underpaying.
National Insurance Contributions
Explanation of National Insurance contributions
National Insurance contributions are deductions from your salary to fund the UK's social security system. There are two types of National Insurance Contributions: Class 1 and Class 2.
Class 1 contributions are deducted from your gross pay, while Class 2 contributions will be added to any other deductions, including tax, to work out your net income.
National Insurances deductions are the same across the UK. In other words, Scotland applies the same thresholds and rates as England and Wales.
How National Insurance Contributions affect your take home pay
Your National Insurance Contributions can have a significant effect on your take-home pay. Depending on the type of contributions you are paying, and how much you earn, they can range from a few pounds to over £100 per month. So it's essential to ensure that your National Insurance contributions are correct to not over or underpay.
Similarly to PAYE tax, HMRC applies thresholds for National Insurance rates.
Pension Contributions
Explanation of pension contributions
Pension contributions are deductions taken from your salary for retirement savings. They are usually carried out of your gross pay and added to other deductions, such as tax and National Insurance Contributions, to work out your net income.
How pension contributions affect your take-home pay
Your pension contributions can significantly impact how much money you take home each month. Depending on the type of contributions you are paying, and how much you earn, they can range from a few pounds to over £100 per month. So it's crucial to ensure that your pension contributions are correct to not over or underpay. If you are eligible for the pension scheme, the regulator has set a minimum contribution of 5% for employees and 3% for employers. Note that each pension provider's investment strategy offers different returns at the state pension age.
Bonus Payments, commissions and additions to the pay
Although it seems counter-intuitive, HMRC treats bonuses, commissions, or any additions in the same way as regular income. Therefore, these sums of money are subject to the same deductions as your regular salary, including income tax, National Insurance Contributions and pension.
Conclusion
Recap of the importance of determining take-home pay
Accurately calculating your take-home pay can be challenging, especially if you're unfamiliar with the UK tax system. Fortunately, our Salary Calculator UK provides a helpful solution. It lets you quickly estimate your salary after taxes and other deductions, giving you a clearer picture of what you can expect each month. You can also use it to determine how much tax and National Insurance Contributions will be deducted from your salary. By understanding and calculating your take-home pay, you can plan for the future and budget accordingly.
Final thoughts and recommendations
Our Salary Calculator UK is essential for any employee based in England or Wales. It's easy to use and can help you estimate your take-home pay quickly and accurately. However, it's important to remember that the calculator's information is only an estimate and should not be used for any official purposes. We recommend consulting with your employer or payroll advisor if you need more specific advice on calculating taxes and National Insurance contributions.
