UK Tax Calculator Hub

What Is a UK Tax Calculator?

A UK tax calculator is an online tool that estimates how much income tax and National Insurance (NI) you will pay on your salary, bonus, or other income — and shows your resulting take-home pay. Unlike a simple percentage estimate, a proper UK income tax calculator applies the correct marginal tax bands and NI thresholds set by HMRC for the current tax year (2025/26), giving you an accurate breakdown of exactly where your money goes.

This hub provides 10 free UK tax calculators covering every common scenario: PAYE salary, bonus tax, hourly wages, self-employment, dividends, salary sacrifice, two jobs, and more — all updated for 2025/26 and covering both England/Wales/NI and Scottish tax rates.

UK Income Tax Rates 2025/26 — England, Wales & Northern Ireland

UK income tax is calculated on a marginal band basis — you only pay the higher rate on the portion of income that falls within each band, not on your entire salary. The 2025/26 rates and thresholds for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are as follows:

*The 60% effective rate in the taper zone arises because the Personal Allowance is withdrawn at £1 for every £2 earned over £100,000, creating an additional hidden tax cost on top of the 40% Higher Rate. Pension contributions can reduce your adjusted net income and restore the allowance.

Scottish Income Tax Calculator 2025/26

Scottish taxpayers pay income tax at rates set by the Scottish Parliament rather than Westminster. Scotland has six income tax bands in 2025/26, with higher earners paying significantly more than their counterparts in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Scottish rates apply to non-savings income only — savings interest and dividends are still taxed at UK-wide rates.

All calculators on this site include a Scotland toggle so you can instantly switch between English and Scottish rates and see the difference in your take-home pay.

National Insurance Calculator UK — 2025/26 Rates

National Insurance (NI) is a separate deduction from income tax, paid by both employees and employers. Employee Class 1 NI contributions in 2025/26 are charged at 8% on weekly earnings between £242 and £967 (£12,570–£50,270 annually), and 2% on earnings above that. Employer NI is charged at 15% on earnings above the Secondary Threshold of £9,100 per year.

NI contributions count towards your State Pension entitlement and certain benefits. You need 35 qualifying years of NI contributions to receive the full new State Pension (£221.20 per week in 2025/26). Unlike income tax, NI is calculated on a weekly or monthly basis — it cannot be averaged across the year — which is particularly relevant for bonus payments and irregular income.

PAYE Tax Calculator — How PAYE Works in the UK

PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is the system used by HMRC to collect income tax and National Insurance directly from your wages before you receive them. Your employer deducts the correct amount each pay period based on your tax code, which tells them how much of your income is tax-free. The standard tax code for 2025/26 is 1257L, which reflects the £12,570 Personal Allowance.

The PAYE system is designed so that most employees pay the right amount of tax throughout the year without needing to file a Self Assessment return. However, if you have multiple jobs, significant investment income, or earn over £100,000, you may need to complete a Self Assessment to ensure you have paid the correct amount. Our PAYE tax calculator shows your deductions under the standard 1257L tax code — use the Two Jobs calculator if you have a second income source.

Free UK Tax Calculator Online — 10 Tools in One Place

Every calculator on this hub is completely free to use, with no registration required. Each tool is designed to answer a specific question UK earners commonly face:

How to Reduce Your UK Tax Bill Legally

There are several HMRC-approved strategies that UK taxpayers can use to legally reduce their income tax and National Insurance liability. The most effective approaches for employed individuals are as follows:

Salary sacrifice pension contributions — contributing to a workplace pension via salary sacrifice reduces your gross salary before tax and NI are calculated. A Higher Rate taxpayer sacrificing £10,000 saves £4,000 in income tax plus £800 in NI, meaning the contribution effectively costs only £5,200 out of pocket.

Pension contributions to escape the £100k trap — if your income is between £100,000 and £125,140, pension contributions reduce your adjusted net income and can restore your Personal Allowance, cutting your effective marginal rate from 60% back to 40%.

ISA contributions — up to £20,000 per year can be invested in a Stocks and Shares ISA or Cash ISA, with all growth and income completely free of UK tax. This does not reduce your income tax bill directly, but shelters future investment returns from tax entirely.

Timing of bonus payments — if you are close to the Higher Rate threshold or the £100k taper zone, asking your employer to defer a bonus to the next tax year (if your income will be lower) can save significant tax. Use our Bonus Tax Calculator to model both scenarios.

UK Tax Calculator for Self-Employed and Sole Traders

Self-employed individuals in the UK pay income tax and Class 4 National Insurance on their trading profits, rather than the Class 1 NI paid by employees. In 2025/26, Class 4 NI is charged at 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on profits above that. Class 2 NI was abolished from April 2024 and is no longer payable.

Unlike employees, self-employed people must file a Self Assessment tax return each year and pay their tax in two instalments on account (31 January and 31 July), plus a balancing payment. Allowable business expenses — including home office costs, equipment, professional subscriptions, and travel — can be deducted from your gross income before tax is calculated, reducing your overall tax liability. Use our Self-Employed Tax Calculator to estimate your bill and plan your payments on account.