Rates & sources
UK PAYE tax + NI thresholds (2025/26 HMRC). Employers deduct both at source from gross pay.
Source: HMRC — PAYE — 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 South Africa planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
Gross Salary (£)
R400,000
Personal Allowance (£)
12570
NI Threshold (£)
12570
After entering these figures, focus on result first and then rerun the tool with a more cautious assumption to understand the realistic range of outcomes rather than relying on a single estimate.
How to read your results
Result
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
This calculator converts a gross annual or monthly salary into an estimated net (take-home) figure after all standard UK deductions. It applies the current tax year's income tax bands, personal allowance, and employee National Insurance rates. You can also include auto-enrolment pension contributions and select a student loan repayment plan to get a more accurate take-home estimate.
The calculator uses the standard personal tax code (1257L) and UK-wide income tax rates by default; a separate toggle is available for Scottish income tax rates. It does not model salary sacrifice, benefits in kind, or marriage allowance transfers. Figures are estimates based on HMRC published rates and should not be used as a substitute for a payslip or professional tax advice.
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
Use arrow keys to navigate items, Enter or Space to expand/collapse.
End-of-article next steps
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