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UK Tax Calculators & Guides 2026/27
Everything you need to understand and calculate UK tax, income tax, National Insurance, capital gains, dividends, self-employment and more. All calculators use confirmed 2026/27 rates.
Tax calculators
Income Tax Calculator
Take-home pay after tax, NI and student loan. Covers 2023/24–2026/27 and Scottish rates.
National Insurance Calculator
Employee and employer Class 1 NI for 2026/27.
Salary Calculator
Convert between gross and net pay, hourly and annual figures.
Self-Employed Tax Calculator
Income tax and Class 2/4 National Insurance for the self-employed.
Dividend Tax Calculator
Tax on dividends for 2026/27, including the £500 allowance and optimal salary/dividend split.
Capital Gains Tax Calculator
CGT on property, shares and other assets for 2026/27.
Salary Sacrifice Calculator
Tax and NI savings from pension salary sacrifice, including employer NI passthrough.
Tax Code Calculator
Decode any PAYE tax code and calculate its effect on your take-home pay.
Child Benefit Calculator
Child Benefit entitlement and the High Income Charge above £60,000.
Tax guides
UK Income Tax Explained
Bands, rates, allowances and the personal allowance taper, all in plain English.
National Insurance Guide
Classes, thresholds and how NI builds your State Pension entitlement.
Self-Assessment Guide
Who needs to file, deadlines, penalties and how to pay your bill.
Dividend Tax Guide
Rates, the £500 allowance, and the optimal director salary/dividend strategy.
Capital Gains Tax Guide
How CGT works on property, shares, and other assets.
Tax Codes Explained
What 1257L, BR, D0 and emergency codes mean for your payslip.
How to Pay Less Tax in 2026/27
Eight legal, HMRC-approved ways to reduce your UK tax bill.
What is a Good Salary in the UK?
Median earnings, take-home pay at every level, and regional differences.
Understanding UK tax in 2026/27
The UK tax system combines income tax, National Insurance, and, depending on your situation, taxes on capital gains, dividends and savings interest. Understanding how they interact is essential for making the most of your income.
In 2026/27 the personal allowance remains frozen at £12,570. With wages rising faster than this threshold, more people move into higher bands each year through fiscal drag. The basic rate of 20% applies up to £50,270; the higher rate of 40% from £50,271 to £125,140; and the additional rate of 45% above that. Scotland has its own six-band system with different rates and thresholds set by the Scottish Parliament.
National Insurance adds a further layer: employees pay 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above. From April 2025 employer NI rose to 15%, a change that affects how much salary sacrifice saves for both employee and employer.
The personal allowance taper
One of the most important, and least understood, features of the UK tax system is the personal allowance taper. If your income exceeds £100,000, your £12,570 personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above that threshold. By £125,140 the allowance is gone entirely.
This creates an effective marginal rate of 60% on income between £100,000 and £125,140, higher than the additional rate of 45%. Pension contributions are one of the most effective ways to reduce adjusted net income below £100,000 and recover your personal allowance.
2026/27 tax rates at a glance
| Band | Income (England & Wales) | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571–£50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271–£125,140 | 40% |
| Taper zone | £100,000–£125,140 | 60% effective |
| Additional rate | Above £125,140 | 45% |
Reducing your tax bill legally
Several legitimate strategies can reduce the amount of tax you pay. Pension contributions reduce your adjusted net income, potentially moving you into a lower band or recovering your personal allowance. Salary sacrifice reduces gross pay before tax and NI are calculated, saving both at your marginal rate. ISAs shelter future returns from income tax and capital gains tax entirely.
Marriage Allowance allows a non-taxpayer (or basic-rate taxpayer) to transfer £1,260 of their personal allowance to a higher-earning spouse or civil partner, saving up to £252 per year. It can be backdated up to four years.
For those with savings, the Personal Savings Allowance lets basic-rate taxpayers earn £1,000 of savings interest tax-free (£500 for higher-rate taxpayers). The starting rate for savings (0% on up to £5,000 for those with low earned income) can further reduce the tax burden on savings interest.
Common tax questions
Do I need to complete a Self Assessment tax return?
You must file Self Assessment if you are self-employed, a company director, earn over £100,000, have income from property, have untaxed income over £2,500, or have capital gains above the annual exempt amount. HMRC will usually write to you if they expect a return, but you're responsible for registering if you meet the criteria. The deadline is 31 January for online returns (covering the previous tax year ending 5 April).
What is the Marriage Allowance and how do I claim it?
Marriage Allowance lets a spouse or civil partner who earns below the personal allowance (or is a non-taxpayer) transfer £1,260 of their personal allowance to their higher-earning partner, saving up to £252 in tax per year. The higher earner must be a basic-rate taxpayer (income between £12,570 and £50,270). You can backdate a claim up to four years, potentially recovering over £1,000. Apply via the HMRC website — it takes effect from the next tax code update.
Can I claim tax relief for working from home?
Employees who are required to work from home (not just choosing to) can claim a flat-rate deduction of £6 per week (£312 per year) without needing receipts. Higher claims require evidence of actual additional costs (heating, electricity). Claim through your Self Assessment return or via HMRC's online service. Self-employed workers can claim a proportion of home costs as a business expense through Self Assessment.
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?
If you or your partner has adjusted net income above £60,000 and you claim Child Benefit, you must pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) through Self Assessment. The charge is 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 of income above £60,000, reaching 100% at £80,000. Above £80,000, it's often simpler to opt out of receiving Child Benefit (you can always opt back in). Pension contributions can reduce your adjusted net income below the threshold and recover the full benefit.
How does Gift Aid affect my tax?
When you make a Gift Aid donation to a charity, the charity reclaims 25p from HMRC for every £1 you give. If you're a higher or additional-rate taxpayer, you can claim back the difference between the basic-rate relief (already given to the charity) and your marginal rate. For a 40% taxpayer donating £100, the charity gets £125 and you claim back £25 through Self Assessment — effectively making the donation cost you £75.