Check your UK income tax, National Insurance and take-home pay for 2025/26
Check Your Tax
Enter your annual salary below to instantly check how much income tax, National Insurance, and student loan you'll pay in the 2025/26 tax year. Uses official HMRC rates and thresholds.
Found on your payslip, P45 or P60. Default is 1257L (standard personal allowance of £12,570).
The UK tax system uses a progressive structure where different portions of your income are taxed at different rates. For 2025/26, the first £12,570 of your income is tax-free (your personal allowance). Income between £12,571 and £50,270 is taxed at the basic rate of 20%. Income between £50,271 and £125,140 is taxed at the higher rate of 40%. Anything above £125,140 is taxed at the additional rate of 45%.
If you earn over £100,000, your personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 you earn above £100,000. This creates an effective marginal tax rate of 60% on income between £100,000 and £125,140, because you lose £1 of tax-free allowance (worth 40p in tax) for every £2 earned, on top of the 40% higher rate.
National Insurance contributions are charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on earnings above £50,270. Student loan repayments are calculated at 9% (or 6% for postgraduate loans) on income above the relevant plan threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the UK Tax Checker work?
Enter your annual salary, tax code, and student loan plan (if applicable), then click "Check My Tax". The calculator uses official HMRC 2025/26 tax rates and thresholds to instantly compute your income tax, National Insurance, student loan repayments, and take-home pay. All calculations run in your browser — no data is stored or sent anywhere.
What tax code should I use?
The default tax code for 2025/26 is 1257L, which gives a personal allowance of £12,570. You can find your tax code on your payslip, P45, P60, or HMRC tax code notice. Common codes include 1257L (standard), BR (basic rate on all income, no allowance), and D0 (higher rate on all income). If you're unsure, leave the default 1257L.
How much tax will I pay on £30,000?
On a £30,000 salary in 2025/26 with the standard 1257L tax code: your personal allowance is £12,570 (tax-free), leaving £17,430 taxable at the basic rate of 20%. Income tax is £3,486.00. National Insurance is £1,394.40 (8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270). Total deductions are £4,880.40, giving a take-home pay of £25,119.60 per year or £2,093.30 per month.
What is the personal allowance for 2025/26?
The personal allowance for 2025/26 is £12,570. This is the amount you can earn tax-free each year. However, if you earn more than £100,000, your allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 above that threshold. At £125,140, the personal allowance is completely eliminated.
How much National Insurance will I pay?
For 2025/26, employee National Insurance (Class 1) is 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% on earnings above £50,270. For example, on a £40,000 salary, NI would be £2,194.40 per year. There's no NI on earnings below £12,570.
What are the student loan repayment thresholds?
2025/26 student loan repayment thresholds: Plan 1 (pre-2012): £24,990 at 9%. Plan 2 (post-2012): £28,470 at 9%. Plan 4 (Scotland): £31,395 at 9%. Plan 5 (post-2023): £25,000 at 9%. Postgraduate Loan: £21,000 at 6%. You only repay on income above the relevant threshold.
Is this tax checker accurate?
Yes, this tax checker uses the official UK 2025/26 rates as published by HMRC. It includes income tax bands, the personal allowance taper above £100,000, National Insurance thresholds, and all current student loan repayment plans. For complex situations involving multiple employments, benefits in kind, or Scottish tax rates, consult a qualified accountant.
When is the UK tax year?
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. The 2025/26 tax year started on 6 April 2025 and ends on 5 April 2026. Self-assessment tax returns for the 2025/26 year must be filed by 31 January 2027 (online) or 31 October 2026 (paper).