Skip to main content
Free Tool

UK take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net income after income tax, National Insurance, pension, and student loan for 2026/27. Built for UK employees, directors, and contractors.

How is UK take-home pay calculated?

Take-home pay is your gross salary minus income tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, and student loan repayments. For 2026/27 the personal allowance is £12,570; the basic rate (20%) applies to taxable income between £12,571 and £50,270, the higher rate (40%) between £50,271 and £125,140, and the additional rate (45%) above £125,140. Employee Class 1 NI is 8% between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above. The calculator below applies these rates to your inputs.

Your Profile

Combined salary and dividend income for company directors and shareholders.

Income

Deductions and Settings

Estimated Take Home Pay

£47,873.75

per year

Gross Income

£52,570.00

Income Tax

£0.00

National Insurance

£0.00

Dividend Tax

−£4,696.25

Total Deductions

−£4,696.25

Effective Tax Rate

8.9%

Income Breakdown

Take Home
Dividend Tax

Insight

Dividend tax makes up the largest part of your deductions. Dividend income is taxed differently from salary, which changes the take home result. As a director or shareholder, your actual position depends on how salary, dividends, pension, and company profits are structured.

These figures are estimates based on published HMRC rates and thresholds. They do not constitute tax advice. For personalised guidance, speak to an accountant.

Compare Income Structures

See how different salary and dividend splits could affect your estimated take home pay.

Salary Heavy

Salary£50,270.00
Dividends£2,300.00
Total Deductions£11,199.50

Estimated Take Home

£41,370.50

Balanced

Best Estimate
Salary£12,570.00
Dividends£40,000.00
Total Deductions£4,696.25

Estimated Take Home

£47,873.75

Dividend-focused

Salary£9,100.00
Dividends£43,470.00
Total Deductions£5,936.78

Estimated Take Home

£46,633.22

These scenarios are simplified estimates. Actual results depend on company profits, employer NI, expenses, and other factors. Check your figures with an accountant before acting.

Want to plan how you get paid?

Your actual tax position depends on salary structure, dividends, pension strategy, student loan position, and personal circumstances. RR Accountants helps directors, contractors, and business owners structure income more efficiently.

Get Expert Help

What This Calculator Includes

Income Tax

Estimate income tax based on your selected tax year and region.

National Insurance

See the impact of NI on your earnings.

Dividends

For directors and contractors, estimate how dividend income affects take home pay.

Student Loan and Pension

Factor in common deductions for a more realistic result.

This tool provides an estimate for planning. Check salary, dividends and remuneration decisions against your own figures before acting.

Rates are checked against HMRC's current-year guidance for Income Tax rates and allowances and National Insurance contribution rates.

The estimate does not model every payroll adjustment, benefit, tax-code restriction, or multi-employment position. Check your payslip and use a personalised review for decisions that depend on your exact circumstances.

Salary after tax in 2026/27: worked examples

These examples use the same rates as the calculator: an employee in England, Wales or Northern Ireland on tax code 1257L, with no pension, student loan, bonus or benefits.

SalaryIncome taxEmployee National InsuranceTake-home a yearA monthA week
£35,000£4,486.00£1,794.40£28,719.60£2,393.30£552.30
£50,000£7,486.00£2,994.40£39,519.60£3,293.30£759.99

Your payslip can differ because payroll works pay period by pay period and uses your tax code, pension set-up and benefits. If you live in Scotland the income tax bands are different; choose Scotland in the calculator.

How to calculate your tax and take-home pay

  1. Start with your gross pay for the year, before any deductions.
  2. Take off the £12,570 Personal Allowance (tax code 1257L). The rest is taxable income.
  3. Charge income tax at 20% on taxable income up to £37,700 (pay up to £50,270), then 40% up to £125,140 of total pay and 45% above that. The allowance shrinks by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000.
  4. Work out employee National Insurance: 8% on pay between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% above.
  5. Take off pension contributions and any student loan repayment, then divide by 12 or 52 for a monthly or weekly figure.

Is this a PAYE calculator?

PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is HMRC's system for collecting Income Tax and National Insurance from employment, so your employer takes both from your pay each pay day. This calculator estimates the year's PAYE tax and National Insurance on a salary. It does not read your tax code from HMRC, so check your payslip and your tax code on GOV.UK.

Self-employed or a sole trader? Use the Self Assessment tax calculator. Paid in salary and dividends? See salary vs dividend. Want the rates in one place? Read UK tax thresholds 2026/27.

Frequently Asked Questions

Need help with salary planning, dividends, or payroll?

Book a 30-minute call. We'll review what the estimate means, confirm whether we're a fit, and outline the right payroll or director pay next step.

Book a call