Samenvatting
The take-home pay calculator converts a gross annual salary into the net amount you actually receive after all statutory deductions: income tax, National Insurance (NI), student loan repayments, and pension contributions.
Hoe het werkt
UK take-home pay is calculated by subtracting four types of deduction from gross salary:
- Income tax — progressive bands (20%, 40%, 45%) applied to taxable income after the Personal Allowance
- National Insurance — employee contributions at 8% (above the Primary Threshold) and 2% (above the Upper Earnings Limit)
- Student loan — 9% of income above the plan-specific threshold (Plans 1, 2, 4, 5) or 6% (Postgraduate)
- Pension — employee contribution as a percentage of gross salary (default 5% for auto-enrolment)
The Personal Allowance taper
For incomes over £100,000, the £12,570 Personal Allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000. This creates an effective 60% marginal tax rate between £100,000 and £125,140.
De formule
Where
Uitgewerkt voorbeeld
£50,000 salary, no student loan, 5% pension
Pension contribution (5% of gross)
= £2,500
Taxable income (gross − pension − Personal Allowance)
= £34,930
Income tax (all within basic rate band)
= £6,986
Employee NI (8% on £12,570–£50,270)
= £2,994
Net annual pay
= £37,520 (£3,127/month)
Result
Take-home pay = £37,520/year = £3,127/month
Invoer uitgelegd
- Gross salary — your annual salary before any deductions, as stated in your employment contract
- Tax year — rates change each April; the calculator supports 2024/25, 2025/26, and 2026/27
- Student loan plan — determines the repayment threshold and rate. Check your plan on the Student Loans Company website.
- Pension contribution — the percentage of your salary you contribute. UK auto-enrolment minimum is 5% (3% employee + 2% often bundled).
- Scottish taxpayer — Scottish residents pay different income tax rates set by the Scottish Parliament
Uitvoer uitgelegd
- Annual/monthly/weekly net pay — the amount deposited into your bank account after all deductions
- Effective tax rate — total deductions as a percentage of gross salary
- Marginal rate — the tax rate on the next £1 you earn (important for pay rise decisions)
- Breakdown chart — visual split of where your gross salary goes
Aannames en beperkingen
- Assumes PAYE employment — not self-employed (which has different NI rates and payment schedules)
- Does not model benefits in kind, company car tax, or other P11D items
- Marriage Allowance transfer is not included (worth up to £252/year for eligible couples)
- Tax codes other than the standard 1257L are not modelled
- The calculator uses annual figures — it does not account for mid-year salary changes or cumulative PAYE adjustments
Verificatie
| Test case | Gross | Expected net (approx.) | Verified against |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic rate | £30,000 | ~£24,600 | HMRC tax calculator |
| Higher rate | £60,000 | ~£43,900 | HMRC tax calculator |
| PA taper zone | £110,000 | ~£73,600 | HMRC tax calculator |
| Additional rate | £200,000 | ~£126,000 | HMRC tax calculator |
Accounting identity: gross = net + incomeTax + employeeNI + studentLoan + pension — verified in unit tests for every test case.
Sources
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