UK Salary After Tax Calculator

How the estimate is calculated

For the rest of the UK, this calculator applies Income Tax at 20% (£12,571–£50,270), 40% (£50,271–£125,140) and 45% above, with the personal allowance tapered above £100,000. For Scotland, it applies the six Scottish bands instead (see below). On top of Income Tax, it adds employee National Insurance at 8% between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that — NI is the same across the whole UK regardless of region.

Pension and salary sacrifice contributions are deducted before tax, which is why adding a pension percentage often costs less in take-home than it adds to your pension pot — you're not taxed on the sacrificed amount at all.

Worked example — £35,000 salary, rest of UK, no pension, no student loan: personal allowance £12,570 is tax-free; the remaining £22,430 is taxed at 20% (£4,486 Income Tax). National Insurance adds 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £35,000 (£1,794). Total deductions: £6,280. Take-home: £28,720/year, or £2,393/month — an effective rate of 17.9%.

Scottish Income Tax bands

Scotland sets its own Income Tax bands and rates, separate from the rest of the UK, though the personal allowance (£12,570) and National Insurance are the same everywhere. Scotland uses six bands instead of three:

Band	Rate	Taxable income
Starter	19%	£12,571–£14,876
Basic	20%	£14,877–£26,562
Intermediate	21%	£26,563–£43,662
Higher	42%	£43,663–£75,000
Advanced	45%	£75,001–£125,140
Top	48%	Above £125,140

Because the intermediate (21%) band cuts in earlier than the rest-of-UK's single 20% basic band extends, most Scottish taxpayers pay slightly more Income Tax than an identical earner in England, Wales or Northern Ireland — the gap widens further once income crosses into the higher and advanced bands, which both sit above the rest-of-UK's equivalent 40% threshold structure.

Take-home pay by salary

Estimated monthly take-home at different gross salaries, rest of UK, no pension, no student loan:

Gross salary (yearly)	Take-home (monthly)	Effective rate
£25,000	£1,793	13.9%
£35,000	£2,393	17.9%
£50,000	£3,293	21.0%
£70,000	£4,263	26.9%

Unlike US take-home pay, UK take-home doesn't vary by state — but it does vary by whether you pay Scottish or rest-of-UK Income Tax, and by student loan plan, both of which the calculator above now accounts for.

Student loan repayments

This calculator now deducts student loan repayments if you select a plan. Each plan charges 9% of income above its own threshold (2026/27 figures): Plan 1 £26,900, Plan 2 £29,385, Plan 4 (Scotland) £33,795, Plan 5 £25,000. A Postgraduate Loan charges an additional 6% above its own £21,000 threshold, and stacks with an undergraduate plan if you have both — tick the Postgraduate Loan box alongside your Plan selection to see the combined deduction.

Which plan you're on depends on where you lived when you started your course and when your course began, not on where you currently live or work — check your student finance account if you're not sure which plan applies to you.

Salary sacrifice, explained

Salary sacrifice is an arrangement where you agree to a lower contractual salary in exchange for a non-cash benefit — most commonly a pension contribution, but also things like a company car, cycle-to-work scheme, or childcare vouchers. Because your contractual salary is reduced before tax and National Insurance are calculated, you and your employer both save on NI, and you save on Income Tax, on the sacrificed amount.

The pension field above models this: entering a pension percentage reduces your taxable income by that amount before Income Tax and NI are applied, exactly as a salary sacrifice pension scheme would. If your employer instead deducts pension contributions after tax (less common, sometimes called a "net pay" or non-salary-sacrifice scheme), the tax saving works slightly differently — check your payslip or ask HR which type your workplace uses.

Common deductions this doesn't include

This calculator gives you Income Tax, National Insurance and student loan repayments, but a real payslip usually has more taken off before the money lands in your account. Workplace pension contributions above what you enter here, and non-pension salary-sacrifice benefits like a company car or cycle-to-work scheme, reduce your net pay further and aren't separately modeled above.

That's why this tool is a starting point, not a payslip-exact figure. The gap between the estimate and your real payslip is almost always these extra deductions, not an error in the tax calculation itself.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is this UK salary after tax calculator?

It's a close estimate using current Income Tax bands (rest of UK or Scotland), National Insurance rates, and your selected student loan plan. Your tax code and workplace benefits can still change the exact figure — check your payslip for the precise amount.

Does this include Scottish Income Tax?

Yes. Select Scotland in the region field to use the six Scottish bands (19%, 20%, 21%, 42%, 45%, 48%) instead of the three-band rest-of-UK schedule. National Insurance is the same across the whole UK regardless of region.

Does this include student loan repayments?

Yes, if you select a plan. Plan 1, 2, 4 and 5 deduct 9% of income above their respective thresholds, and a Postgraduate Loan adds a further 6% above its own threshold — select 'None' if you don't have one.

Does this include pension contributions beyond what I enter?

Only the pension percentage you type into the calculator is deducted before tax. Any additional employer contributions or auto-enrolment increases are not included — check your latest pension statement for the full picture.

What is included in National Insurance?

Employee National Insurance is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that. Employer NI contributions are separate and don't come out of your pay.

Is there a US version of this calculator?

Yes — see our US Take-Home Pay Calculator, which uses federal tax brackets and FICA instead of Income Tax and National Insurance.

Estimates for information only, not tax advice.