£15,000 After Tax | Take Home Pay 2025/26
Tax year 6 April 2025 – 5 April 2026 · England, Wales & Northern Ireland · No student loan
Full Tax Breakdown – £15,000 Salary 2025/26
Here is the complete tax calculation for a £15,000 gross salary in 2025/26, including all income tax and National Insurance deductions:
| Component | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | — | £15,000.00 |
| Personal Allowance | £12,570 (standard) | −£12,570.00 |
| Taxable Income | £15,000 − £12,570 | £2,430.00 |
| Total Income Tax | See band breakdown below | −£486.00 |
| Total National Insurance | See NI breakdown below | −£194.00 |
| Total Deductions | Tax + NI | −£680.00 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | £15,000 − £680 | £14,320.00 |
Figures rounded per HMRC conventions. Monthly figures: annual ÷ 12.
Take-Home Pay for Every Period
The table below shows your gross pay, income tax, National Insurance and net take-home for each pay period.
| Period | Gross | Income Tax | Nat. Insurance | Net Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | £15,000.00 | £486.00 | £194.00 | £14,320.00 |
| Monthly | £1,250.00 | £40.50 | £16.17 | £1,193.00 |
| 4-Weekly | £1,153.85 | £37.38 | £14.92 | £1,101.54 |
| Weekly | £288.46 | £9.35 | £3.73 | £275.38 |
| Daily (5-day week) | £57.69 | £1.87 | £0.75 | £55.08 |
| Hourly (37.5h week) | £7.69 | £0.25 | £0.10 | £7.34 |
Where Your £15,000 Goes
Income Tax Band Breakdown for £15,000
At £15,000, you are a basic rate taxpayer. The 2025/26 tax thresholds are:
- Personal Allowance: £0–£12,570 — 0% tax (tax-free)
- Basic Rate Band: £12,571–£50,270 — 20% income tax
- Higher Rate Band: £50,271–£125,140 — 40% income tax
- Additional Rate: Over £125,140 — 45% income tax
| Tax Band | Income Range | Rate | Taxable Amount | Tax Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | £0 – £12,570 | 0% | £12,570 | £0.00 |
| Basic Rate | £12,571 – £15,000 | 20% | £2,430 | £486.00 |
| Higher Rate | £50,271 – £125,140 | 40% | £0 | £0.00 |
| Additional Rate | Over £125,140 | 45% | £0 | £0.00 |
| Total Income Tax | £486.00 | |||
National Insurance Breakdown for £15,000
Employees pay Class 1 National Insurance. The rate changes at the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL) of £50,270:
| NI Band | Earnings Range | Rate | Earnings in Band | NI Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below Primary Threshold | £0 – £12,570 | 0% | £12,570 | £0.00 |
| Standard Rate (Class 1) | £12,571 – £15,000 | 8% | £2,430 | £194.40 |
| Above Upper Earnings Limit | Over £50,270 | 2% | £0 | £0.00 |
| Total National Insurance | £194.00 | |||
Your NI effective rate is approximately 1.29% of gross salary. NI rates are the same across all UK nations.
Scotland and Wales: Different Tax Rates at £15,000
Income tax in the UK is devolved in Scotland. Scottish taxpayers pay rates set by the Scottish Parliament.
| Scottish Tax Band | Rate | Earnings Range |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | 0% | Up to £12,570 |
| Starter Rate | 19% | £12,571 – £14,876 |
| Basic Rate | 20% | £14,877 – £26,561 |
| Intermediate Rate | 21% | £26,562 – £43,662 |
| Higher Rate | 42% | £43,663 – £75,000 |
| Advanced Rate | 45% | £75,001 – £125,140 |
Wales and Northern Ireland
Wales matches England's income tax rates for 2025/26. Your take-home on £15,000 in Wales or Northern Ireland would be the same £14,320/year.
What £15,000 a Year Really Means
£15,000 is below the UK median full-time salary of approximately £34,963 (ONS 2025). It is above the National Living Wage and provides a stable income, particularly outside London and the South East.
Monthly Budget Planning at £1,193.00 Take-Home
| Expense Category | National Average | London Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Rent / Mortgage | £900 – £1,200 | £1,800 – £2,400 |
| Council Tax & Utilities | £180 – £300 | £220 – £380 |
| Groceries & Food | £250 – £380 | £320 – £450 |
| Transport | £120 – £250 | £200 – £400 |
| Pension (above auto-enrolment) | £150 – £350 | £150 – £350 |
| Savings / ISA | £200 – £500 | £100 – £300 |
Mortgage Affordability at £15,000
- 4x multiple: Up to £60,000 mortgage
- 4.5x multiple: Up to £67,500 mortgage
How to Reduce Your Tax Bill at £15,000
At £15,000, pension contributions save tax at 20% (basic rate). Every £1 in your pension costs just 80p after tax relief. If your salary grows beyond £50,270, contributions become even more valuable at 40% relief.
1. Pension Salary Sacrifice
Salary sacrifice reduces both income tax and National Insurance as it lowers your contractual salary before deductions. It is the most efficient pension contribution method for employees.
2. Personal Pension Contributions (SIPP)
If salary sacrifice is not available, a SIPP still attracts income tax relief at your marginal rate. Basic rate top-up (20%) is added automatically; higher and additional rate taxpayers claim extra relief via Self Assessment.
3. Gift Aid on Charitable Donations
Higher and additional rate taxpayers can claim extra relief above the standard Gift Aid 20% top-up through Self Assessment, and it extends the basic rate band.
4. £100,000 Personal Allowance Trap
At £15,000 you are well below the £100,000 personal allowance tapering threshold. The trap only applies when income exceeds £100,000 (personal allowance reduces by £1 for every £2 above £100,000, creating an effective 60% marginal rate). You do not need to worry about this at £15,000.
5. ISA Allowance
The annual ISA allowance is £20,000. All interest, dividends and capital gains inside an ISA are completely tax-free.
Student Loan Repayments at £15,000
Student loan repayments are deducted via PAYE alongside tax and NI.
| Plan | Threshold | Rate | Repayment on £15,000 | Monthly Deduction | Adjusted Take-Home/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Student Loan | N/A | — | £0 | £0 | £14,320.00 |
| Plan 1 | £24,990 | 9% | £0.00 | £0.00 | £14,320.00 |
| Plan 2 (most common) | £27,295 | 9% | £0.00 | £0.00 | £14,320.00 |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | £31,395 | 9% | £0.00 | £0.00 | £14,320.00 |
| Plan 5 (2023+ starters) | £25,000 | 9% | £0.00 | £0.00 | £14,320.00 |
| Postgraduate Loan | £21,000 | 6% | £0.00 | £0.00 | £14,320.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions – £15,000 Salary
What is the take-home pay for a £15,000 salary in 2025/26?
For a £15,000 gross salary in 2025/26, your take-home pay is £14,320 per year, £1,193.00 per month, or £275.38 per week after income tax of £486 and National Insurance of £194. These figures apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How much income tax do I pay on £15,000?
On a £15,000 salary in 2025/26, you pay £486 in income tax. Your effective income tax rate is 3.24%. Personal Allowance: £12,570. Taxable income: £2,430.
How much National Insurance do I pay on £15,000?
You pay £194 in National Insurance on a £15,000 salary for 2025/26: 8% on earnings from £12,570 to £50,270, and 2% on earnings above £50,270. NI effective rate: 1.29% of gross.
Is £15,000 a good salary in the UK?
£15,000 is below the UK median full-time salary of approximately £34,963 (ONS 2025). It is above the National Living Wage and provides a stable income, particularly outside London and the South East.
Can I reduce my tax at £15,000 through pension contributions?
At £15,000, pension contributions save tax at 20% (basic rate). Every £1 in your pension costs just 80p after tax relief. If your salary grows beyond £50,270, contributions become even more valuable at 40% relief.
The annual pension allowance is £60,000 (or 100% of earnings if lower). Salary sacrifice also reduces NI, making it the most efficient method for employees.
What is take-home pay after a student loan on £15,000?
With a Plan 2 student loan: 9% × (£15,000 − £27,295) = £0.00/year (£0.00/month). Adjusted take-home: £14,320.00/year.
£100,000 Personal Allowance Trap
At £15,000 you are well below the £100,000 personal allowance tapering threshold. The trap only applies when income exceeds £100,000 (personal allowance reduces by £1 for every £2 above £100,000, creating an effective 60% marginal rate). You do not need to worry about this at £15,000.
What is the hourly rate for a £15,000 salary?
Based on a 37.5-hour working week over 52 weeks:
- Gross hourly rate: £15,000 ÷ 1,950 = £7.69/hour
- Net hourly rate: £14,320 ÷ 1,950 = £7.34/hour
Daily (5-day week, 7.5h/day): gross £57.69, net £55.08.
Related Salary After Tax Pages
Explore take-home pay calculations for other salary levels:
| Salary | Annual Take-Home | Monthly Take-Home | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| £14,000 | £13,600 | £1,133 | View breakdown |
| £35,000 | £28,720 | £2,393 | View breakdown |
| £55,000 | £42,455 | £3,538 | View breakdown |
| £15,000 (this page) | £14,320 | £1,193.00 | — |
| £100,000 | £68,157 | £5,680 | View breakdown |
| £250,000 | £146,800 | £12,233 | View breakdown |