Rates & sources
UK tax rates and thresholds, as published by HMRC. Scotland and Wales have devolved rates for income tax and property transactions.
Source: HMRC — Tax rates — figures refreshed at the start of each tax year.
When to use this calculator
- Before accepting a pay change, bonus, pension contribution, or salary-sacrifice option.
- When you want to compare employed, self-employed, or dividend-based income scenarios.
- When you need a simple take-home estimate before running payroll or filing returns.
- When you are approaching the £100,000 income level and want to understand the personal allowance taper effect.
- When you are planning a salary sacrifice arrangement and need to see the net pay impact before agreeing terms.
A realistic New Zealand planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
Annual Net Profit (NZ$)
80000
Additional Business Expenses (NZ$)
0
Voluntary KiwiSaver Contribution (NZ$)
NZ$250 per month
Provisional Tax Method
Standard (105% of prior year)
After entering these figures, review income tax, acc work levy and total tax together rather than in isolation — each metric tells a different part of the story. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted to see which variable has the biggest effect on all three outputs before you settle on a plan.
How to read your results
Income Tax
Review this figure alongside your gross income so you can understand the true cost of deductions and plan around any thresholds before the tax year closes. If the figure looks higher than expected, check whether any pension or gift-aid contributions could reduce your taxable income.
ACC Work Levy
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Total Tax
Review this figure alongside your gross income so you can understand the true cost of deductions and plan around any thresholds before the tax year closes. If the figure looks higher than expected, check whether any pension or gift-aid contributions could reduce your taxable income.
Provisional Tax (105%)
Review this figure alongside your gross income so you can understand the true cost of deductions and plan around any thresholds before the tax year closes. If the figure looks higher than expected, check whether any pension or gift-aid contributions could reduce your taxable income.
Effective Rate
The effective rate lets you compare options on a true like-for-like basis rather than being misled by different compounding periods or fee structures. Use it to cut through headline marketing rates when shortlisting providers or products.
Net Income
Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
New Zealand sole traders and contractors are taxed on their net business profit at the same progressive income tax rates that apply to employees, but without an employer to withhold PAYE, the responsibility for calculating and paying tax falls entirely on the individual. For the 2024/25 tax year the rates are: 10.5% on the first $14,000, 17.5% from $14,001 to $48,000, 30% from $48,001 to $70,000, 33% from $70,001 to $180,000, and 39% on income above $180,000. This calculator deducts any additional allowable business expenses you enter from your gross profit to arrive at taxable income before applying those bands, giving you a realistic income tax figure. The ACC Work Levy at 1.6% of liable earnings (capped at $139,384 for 2024/25) is added on top, as ACC invoices self-employed workers directly each year based on their tax return income.
Provisional tax is the mechanism IRD uses to collect income tax from self-employed people during the year rather than as a single end-of-year bill. Under the standard uplift method, your provisional tax obligation equals 105% of the previous year’s residual income tax, split across three instalments (28 August, 15 January, and 7 May for a 31 March balance date). This calculator displays that 105% figure as a forward-planning benchmark so you know roughly how much to set aside. If your income has changed significantly from the prior year, the estimation method allows you to base provisional payments on your current-year forecast instead, reducing the risk of overpaying. For detailed guidance on provisional tax, allowable deductions, and GST registration thresholds, visit ird.govt.nz/income-tax/provisional-tax.
Common mistakes
- !Entering gross income when you really want take-home pay, or vice versa.
- !Ignoring pension contributions, deductions, or local tax rules that change the result.
- !Comparing monthly and annual figures without standardising them first.
- !Overlooking the National Insurance threshold changes that apply mid-year when rates or bands are adjusted in a Budget.
- !Assuming a salary sacrifice benefit reduces take-home pay by the full gross amount, rather than only the after-tax cost.
What to do next
- Check the same scenario with related pay or deduction calculators to see the full picture.
- Keep a copy of the assumptions you used so you can compare next tax year or pay period accurately.
- Read the related guides below if you are choosing between multiple income or deduction options.
- If you are self-employed, run the self-employment tax calculator alongside this result to compare the net position against employed income.
- Check whether increasing your pension contribution by even one or two percent changes the take-home significantly — use the pension calculator next.
Frequently asked
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End-of-article next steps
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