Our UK calculators use HMRC rates for the tax year running 6 April to 5 April. Take-home pay tools include Income Tax (with separate Scottish bands), National Insurance, pension and student loans. Most people get a £12,570 tax-free Personal Allowance and the standard tax code 1257L.
About our UK calculators
Our United Kingdom calculators follow the rates and thresholds published by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for the current tax year. Take-home pay tools cover Income Tax, National Insurance, workplace pension and student loan repayments, with separate Income Tax bands for Scottish taxpayers. Property tools use Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rules for England and Northern Ireland.
The UK tax year at a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Tax year | 6 April to 5 April the following year. |
| How tax is collected | Pay As You Earn (PAYE): your employer deducts Income Tax and National Insurance before you are paid. |
| Personal Allowance | £12,570 of income is tax-free for most people. It is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000. |
| Standard tax code | 1257L, which reflects the £12,570 Personal Allowance. |
| Scotland | Scottish taxpayers pay Income Tax in six bands set by the Scottish Parliament. National Insurance is the same across the UK. |
| Self Assessment deadline | 31 January for online returns, if you need to file one. |
| Standard VAT rate | 20%. |
Property taxes differ across the UK
| Nation | Tax on buying a home |
|---|---|
| England and Northern Ireland | Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) |
| Scotland | Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) |
| Wales | Land Transaction Tax (LTT) |
Each tax has its own rates, first-time buyer rules and surcharges for additional homes, so always choose the calculator for the nation where the property is.
Key terms explained
- PAYE: the system that takes Income Tax and National Insurance from your wages before you are paid.
- Tax code: tells your employer how much tax-free pay you get. An emergency code (often ending in W1, M1 or X) can mean you pay too much tax temporarily.
- National Insurance: a separate deduction that builds your entitlement to the State Pension and some benefits.
- Student loan plans: Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgraduate loans have different repayment thresholds and rates.
- Auto-enrolment pension: most employees are enrolled in a workplace pension; the legal minimum is 8% of qualifying earnings in total, at least 3% of it from the employer.
- P60: the end-of-year summary of your pay and tax, given to you after 5 April.
How to get the most accurate result
- Find your annual salary and tax code on your payslip or P60.
- Choose England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or Scotland, for Income Tax.
- Add your pension contribution and student loan plan if you have one.
- Compare the monthly figure with your payslip. Differences usually come from your tax code, salary sacrifice or benefits in kind.
Key facts
- The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April.
- The standard Personal Allowance is £12,570 and the standard tax code is 1257L.
- The Personal Allowance falls by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000.
- Scotland has six Income Tax bands; National Insurance is UK-wide.
- Stamp Duty Land Tax applies in England and Northern Ireland; Scotland uses LBTT and Wales uses LTT.
- The standard VAT rate is 20%.
Frequently asked questions
Which tax year do the UK calculators use?
The current UK tax year, which runs from 6 April to 5 April. The exact year is shown at the top of each calculator.
Do you support Scottish income tax?
Yes. Take-home pay calculators let you choose Scotland, which applies the Scottish Income Tax bands. National Insurance is the same across the UK.
What does tax code 1257L mean?
It is the most common tax code. The number 1257 means you get £12,570 of tax-free pay, and L means you get the standard Personal Allowance.
Does the stamp duty calculator cover Scotland and Wales?
Stamp Duty Land Tax applies in England and Northern Ireland. Scotland uses LBTT and Wales uses LTT, which have different rates.
Why is my payslip different from the calculator?
Your tax code, salary sacrifice, benefits in kind or an emergency tax code can all change the real figure.
Is pension taken before or after tax?
It depends on your scheme. Net pay and salary sacrifice schemes take pension before tax; relief at source schemes take it after tax and the provider claims basic-rate relief.
Sources & methodology
- HMRC — Income Tax rates and allowances
- GOV.UK — National Insurance
- GOV.UK — Tax codes
- GOV.UK — Stamp Duty Land Tax
Read our full calculation methodology.