Free UK Salary After Tax Calculator
Published: 5 November 2026 · Updated: 5 November 2026
A single employee on £45,000 in the UK keeps about £35,919.60 per year — £2,993.30 per month after 2026/27 income tax and National Insurance. The first £12,570 is tax-free, the next slice is taxed at 20%, and National Insurance takes 8% in the main band. Enter your salary below.
The UK system is frozen, not simple. The £12,570 personal allowance and the £50,270 higher-rate threshold have not moved since 2021, so every pay rise drags more of your salary into tax — on £45,000 you still keep about 80% of your pay, but the 60% taper trap waits above £100,000.
Researched by MixKhazana Team · Last updated 5 November 2026 · Data: HMRC income tax rates and personal allowances 2026/27 (GOV.UK), HMRC Class 1 National Insurance 2026/27
How to use
- Enter your gross annual salary in pounds.
- Pick your pay frequency — monthly, weekly or annual.
- Click Calculate My UK Take-Home Pay to see income tax, National Insurance and net pay.
- Use Copy link to this result to save or share your exact calculation.
How it works
The UK taxes your pay in two slices taken straight from your payslip: income tax (PAYE) and National Insurance (NI). First, the personal allowance — £12,570 for 2026/27 — is subtracted from your salary and taxed at 0%. The rest is taxed in bands: 20% basic rate up to £50,270, 40% higher rate up to £125,140, and 45% additional rate above that. Only the slice inside each band pays that band's rate, so earning £60,000 does not mean paying 40% on all of it — you pay 40% only on the £9,730 above £50,270. Compare it with our Germany salary after tax calculator to see how a different European system treats the same pay.
National Insurance is the second deduction, and it works on its own thresholds: 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% on everything above. It funds the State Pension and the NHS, and unlike income tax it has no personal-allowance taper — the same £12,570 starting point applies at every income level. One fact matters more than any other in 2026/27: the personal allowance has been frozen at £12,570 since the 2021/22 tax year, and the higher-rate threshold at £50,270 for just as long. The House of Commons Library confirmed in June 2026 that all thresholds are unchanged for 2026/27 and frozen through 2030/31 — so as wages rise with inflation, more of each pay rise is taxed. That quiet process, called fiscal drag, is why a salary that felt comfortable five years ago now loses a bigger share to HMRC.
The formula is: Income tax = 20% × slice to £50,270 + 40% × slice to £125,140 + 45% × slice above, after the personal allowance; NI = 8% × slice to £50,270 + 2% × slice above, from £12,570. Above £100,000 the allowance itself shrinks by £1 for every £2 over the line, which is why the calculator models the taper instead of assuming a full £12,570 for everyone.
Worked example
Amelia, single, earns £45,000 in London and is paid monthly in 2026/27:
- Personal allowance: £12,570 tax-free
- Taxable income: £45,000 − £12,570 = £32,430
- Income tax: 20% × £32,430 = £6,486 (all inside the basic-rate band)
- National Insurance: 8% × £32,430 = £2,594.40
- Take-home: £35,919.60/year — £2,993.30/month, about 79.8% of gross
Try £60,000 in the widget: income tax becomes £7,540 + 40% × £9,730 = £11,432, and National Insurance £3,016 + 2% × £9,730 = £3,210.60, leaving £45,357.40 a year.
Figures used here
| Figure | 2026/27 value |
|---|---|
| Personal allowance | £12,570 (0%) |
| Basic rate | 20% to £50,270 |
| Higher rate | 40% to £125,140 |
| Additional rate | 45% above £125,140 |
| NI main rate | 8% (£12,570–£50,270) |
| NI upper rate | 2% above £50,270 |
| Allowance taper | £1 lost per £2 over £100,000 |
| Tax year | 6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is a £45,000 salary after tax in the UK in 2026/27?
On a £45,000 salary in the UK in 2026/27, a single employee keeps about £35,919.60 per year — £2,993.30 per month. Deductions are income tax of £6,486 and National Insurance of £2,594.40. Enter your own salary in the calculator above for a personal estimate.
What are the UK income tax rates for 2026/27?
For 2026/27 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the personal allowance is £12,570 (0%), the basic rate is 20% on income from £12,571 to £50,270, the higher rate is 40% from £50,271 to £125,140, and the additional rate is 45% above £125,140. Scotland sets its own bands, so this calculator uses the England, Wales and Northern Ireland rates.
How much National Insurance do I pay on my salary in 2026/27?
Employees pay Class 1 National Insurance of 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on everything above £50,270. On a £45,000 salary that is 8% of £32,430, which is £2,594.40 a year. There is no National Insurance on earnings below £12,570.
What happens to my personal allowance if I earn over £100,000?
Your £12,570 personal allowance tapers away once your income passes £100,000: you lose £1 of allowance for every £2 earned above £100,000, so it reaches zero at £125,140. Between £100,000 and £125,140 this creates an effective marginal tax rate of 60%, the single biggest quirk of the UK tax system — and this calculator models the taper automatically.
When does the UK tax year start and end?
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. The 2026/27 tax year begins on 6 April 2026 and ends on 5 April 2027, and the rates in this calculator are the 2026/27 rates published by HMRC.
Does this calculator include pension contributions or student loans?
No — this calculator models income tax and National Insurance only, on your full gross salary. Workplace pension contributions, student loan repayments and salary-sacrifice schemes all reduce the tax you actually pay, so treat the result as a before-pension estimate and check your payslip for the exact figure.
What official sources are the 2026/27 UK figures based on?
The £12,570 personal allowance, the 20%, 40% and 45% bands, the £50,270 higher-rate threshold and the £125,140 additional-rate threshold come from HMRC's income tax rates and personal allowances for 2026/27 on GOV.UK, and the 8% and 2% National Insurance rates from HMRC's Class 1 National Insurance guidance for the same tax year.