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Updated for the 2025 tax year · Not financial advice

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United Kingdom · 2025/26 tax year

UK Salary Calculator — income tax & National Insurance

See your take-home pay after income tax, National Insurance, student loan and pension. Updated for the 2025/26 tax year.

£45,000

annual gross salary

Salary sacrifice — reduces income tax and National Insurance

0%
0%8%15%

Display pay period

Your take-home pay

£2,993

per month · gross £3,750

Income Tax
14.4%£541
National Insurance
5.8%£216
Take-Home Pay
79.8%£2,993
20.2% effective rate28% marginal rate

How is this calculated?

Step-by-step breakdown

Gross salary£45,000
Income Tax
14.4%−£6,486
National Insurance
5.8%−£2,594
= Take-home pay
£35,920/yr79.8% of gross
20.2% effective rate28% marginal rate

What each deduction means

Income Tax

Applied above the £12,570 personal allowance. Basic rate 20% to £50,270; higher rate 40% to £125,140; additional rate 45% above. The personal allowance tapers away above £100,000.

National Insurance

Employee Class 1 NI: 8% on earnings £12,570–£50,270, then 2% above. Salary-sacrifice pension reduces NI wages, saving you NI contributions.

Estimates use the latest 2025 tax rates. Individual circumstances vary. Not financial advice.

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£25K · £30K · £40K · £50K · £60K · £80K · £100K — tap to pre-fill the calculator.

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How UK take-home pay is calculated

UK take-home pay is your gross salary minus income tax, National Insurance and any pension or student loan deductions. For 2025/26 the personal allowance is £12,570 — earn less than that and you pay no income tax. Above it, the basic rate of 20% applies up to £50,270, the higher rate of 40% up to £125,140, and the additional rate of 45% above that.

National Insurance is charged separately: employees pay 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% on anything above. A salary-sacrifice pension reduces both your income tax and your National Insurance, because the contribution comes out of gross pay before either is calculated — one of the most tax-efficient things you can do with a pay rise.

Watch the £100,000 threshold: the personal allowance tapers away by £1 for every £2 earned above it, fully gone at £125,140. This creates an effective 60% marginal rate on that band of income, which a pension contribution can help you avoid.

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How it works

  1. 1

    Enter your salary

    Drag the slider or type your gross pay and pick your country, state and any pre-tax deductions.

  2. 2

    We calculate your exact taxes

    We apply the latest income tax brackets, FICA and local rates to your income in real time.

  3. 3

    See your real take-home

    Get your net pay per year, month and paycheck — with a full, itemised breakdown of every deduction.

UK salary & tax — frequently asked questions

What is National Insurance?+

National Insurance (NI) is a contribution separate from income tax that funds the State Pension and certain benefits. Employees pay Class 1 NI at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 a year, then 2% on everything above £50,270. It is deducted automatically through PAYE alongside income tax. Salary-sacrifice pension contributions reduce the earnings NI is charged on, lowering your NI bill.

What is the personal allowance?+

The personal allowance is the amount you can earn before paying any income tax — £12,570 for the 2025/26 tax year. Income above it is taxed at 20% (basic rate) up to £50,270, 40% (higher rate) up to £125,140, and 45% (additional rate) above that. The allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 you earn over £100,000, so it disappears entirely at £125,140 — creating an effective 60% marginal rate between £100,000 and £125,140.

How is take-home pay calculated in the UK?+

Your net pay is your gross salary minus income tax, National Insurance, any pension contribution and student loan repayments. For 2025/26, income tax uses the £12,570 personal allowance with 20%/40%/45% bands, and NI is 8% then 2%. A £40,000 salary, for example, pays around £5,486 income tax and £2,194 National Insurance, leaving roughly £32,320 take-home before any pension.

How do student loan repayments work?+

Student loan repayments are deducted as a percentage of income above a plan-specific threshold, not as a tax. Plan 2 (most English and Welsh graduates since 2012) repays 9% above £28,470; Plan 1 above £26,065; Plan 4 (Scotland) above £32,745; and Postgraduate loans 6% above £21,000. You can owe more than one type at once, and repayments stop automatically once the balance is cleared.

What pension contributions should I make?+

Pension contributions made by salary sacrifice come out of gross pay before income tax and National Insurance, making them highly tax-efficient. Contributing 5% of a £50,000 salary (£2,500) saves 20% income tax and 8% NI on that amount. Many employers match contributions, and the annual allowance for tax-relieved pension saving is £60,000 for 2025/26. This calculator lets you model different pension percentages instantly.