UK Salary and Tax Guides
Actionable guides built for real PAYE decisions: salary comparisons, tax-region differences, student loan impact and pension trade-offs.
Each guide is written for a real salary-planning decision and links back to calculators, salary pages and city pages.
Calculator assumptions and guide explanations are reviewed together so content stays aligned with the active tax year.
Use guides to understand the rules, then test scenarios in the calculator, compare page and salary-band pages.
PAYE Basics
How Take-Home Pay Is Calculated in the UK
A plain-English guide to PAYE deductions and how gross salary becomes net monthly pay in the UK.
£1,100 After Tax (UK): Monthly, Weekly or One-Off?
A practical UK guide to interpreting '£1,100 after tax' correctly, with a clear method for monthly, weekly and one-off checks.
Emergency Tax Code Explained
Why emergency tax codes appear, how much extra you pay, and how to get HMRC to correct the code quickly.
P60 Explained, What It Shows and How to Check It
What a P60 is, how to read every line, and what to do when the figures look wrong.
How Your Take-Home Pay Changes in 2026/27
What changes for UK take-home pay in 2026/27: the frozen £12,570 personal allowance and £50,270 higher-rate threshold, fiscal drag, the 2026/27 income tax bands, National Insurance at 8% and 2%, and worked net-pay examples at £30k, £50k and £70k.
How to Read Your Payslip (Pay Stub): Every Line Explained, UK 2026/27
Pay stub or payslip, here is every line explained for 2026/27: gross pay, tax code 1257L, PAYE income tax, National Insurance, pension, student loan, net pay and year-to-date totals, with a worked £35,000 example and the errors to check for.
Personal Allowance 2026/27: £12,570 Tax-Free (Frozen) and When You Lose It
The personal allowance for 2026/27 is £12,570, frozen again, so the first £12,570 you earn is tax-free (£1,047.50 a month). It is cut by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000 and gone at £125,140. Covers tax code 1257L, Marriage Allowance, Blind Person's Allowance and Scotland.
Tax Code 1257L Explained: What It Means and When It Is Wrong (2026/27)
Tax code 1257L means you get the standard £12,570 personal allowance for 2026/27, £1,047.50 tax-free each month. What 1257L W1/M1, BR, D0, 0T and K codes mean, how much a wrong code costs, how to check yours on a payslip, and how to get HMRC to correct it.
National Living Wage 2026: £12.71 an Hour, Weekly, Monthly and Annual Take-Home
The National Living Wage from April 2026 is £12.71 an hour (21+), £10.85 for 18 to 20 year olds and £8.00 for under-18s and apprentices. At 37.5 hours a week that is £476.63 a week, £2,065.38 a month and £24,784.50 a year, about £1,780 a month after tax and NI.
How to Claim a Tax Refund from HMRC (PAYE): Overpaid Tax, Emergency Tax and the 4-Year Limit
How employees get overpaid tax back from HMRC: the automatic payroll and P800 routes, claiming after you stop work, job expenses and Marriage Allowance, the 4-year time limit, and why you never need a refund company.
P800 Tax Calculation Letter Explained: Refund, Underpayment and How to Check It
What HMRC's P800 tax calculation letter means, when it arrives, how to get a refund, how an underpayment is collected through your tax code, how to check the figures, and how to spot a P800 scam.
Second Job Tax Code (BR, D0, D1): How Two Jobs Are Taxed and How to Split Your Allowance
How PAYE taxes a second job or pension: what BR, D0 and D1 mean, when they over- or under-tax you, how to split your Personal Allowance between jobs, National Insurance on two jobs, and how to fix a wrong code.
K Tax Code Explained: What K Means, How It Is Worked Out and the 50% Limit
What a K tax code means, why HMRC issues one (company car, State Pension, tax owed, savings interest), how to read the number, a worked example, the rule that stops payroll taking more than half your pay, and how to check it.
Payslip Abbreviations and Codes Explained: PAYE, NI Letter, YTD, SL, SSP and More
A glossary of the short codes on UK payslips: tax and NI lines, the NI category letter, tax period and year-to-date figures, student loan, pension and salary sacrifice lines, statutory pay and court-order deductions, with a decoded example.
National Insurance Category Letters Explained: A, B, C, H, J, M, V, Z and the Rates for 2026/27
What each National Insurance category letter means, who it applies to, the 2026/27 employee and employer rates for each, what a wrong letter costs at £30,000, and how to get it fixed.
Tax Relief for Work Expenses 2026/27: Uniforms, Mileage, Professional Fees and the End of Working-From-Home Relief
Which work expenses employees can claim tax relief on in 2026/27, what each claim is worth at 20% and 40%, the new 55p mileage rate, the end of working-from-home relief, and how to claim up to four years back.
Simple Assessment Tax Bill (PA302): Why You Got One and Paying by 31 January 2027
What a Simple Assessment (PA302) is, who gets one, the 31 January 2027 and 3-month payment deadlines for 2025/26, the 60-day window to query it, a worked two-jobs example, and when you need a full tax return instead.
Regions
Scotland vs England Tax: What Actually Changes
Understand the practical take-home differences between Scottish and rUK tax settings.
£60,000 After Tax in Scotland: What You Actually Take Home
A focused Scotland guide for £60,000 after tax with practical monthly take-home planning and region comparison scenarios.
Scottish Income Tax Rates 2026/27: Bands, Thresholds and Take-Home Pay
Scotland has six income tax bands for 2026/27, including a 42% higher rate from £43,662 and a 45% advanced rate above £75,000. See how each band affects take-home pay vs England.
Student Loans
Student Loan Repayment Explained
Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgraduate loan impact explained with practical salary planning context.
Plan 5 Student Loan Guide
A practical planning guide for Plan 5 repayment impact on monthly net pay and offer comparisons.
Student Loan Plan 2: How It Affects Your Take-Home Pay (2026/27)
Plan 2 is the most common student loan for English and Welsh graduates. In 2026/27, you repay 9% on earnings above £29,385. See the exact monthly deduction at popular salary levels.
Student Loan Repayment Thresholds 2026/27: Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgraduate
The salary at which student loan repayments start in 2026/27 for every plan, as yearly, monthly and weekly thresholds, with what you repay at salaries from £25,000 to £60,000, how payroll deducts it, and the Plan 2 freeze from April 2027.
Pensions
Pension Salary Sacrifice Explained
Compare salary sacrifice with standard contributions and see how each affects monthly net pay.
Pension Contributions and Tax Relief 2026/27: How Much Do You Actually Save?
Pension salary sacrifice reduces both income tax and NI. At basic rate you save 28p per £1. At higher rate 42p. In the personal allowance taper zone, up to 62p per £1. Full worked examples.
How to Claim Higher-Rate Pension Tax Relief: the Extra 20% (or 25%) You Have to Ask For
Why higher- and additional-rate taxpayers in relief-at-source pensions must claim extra relief themselves, who does not need to, worked examples for England and Scotland, how to claim online or through Self Assessment, and how far back you can go.
High Earners
Marginal Tax Rate Explained for UK Employees
A practical guide to effective vs marginal rates and why pay rises can feel smaller than expected.
Personal Allowance Taper Explained (£100k+ Salaries, 2026/27)
UK personal allowance taper: above £100,000 your £12,570 allowance is withdrawn by £1 per £2 earned, reaching zero at £125,140. Effective marginal rate: 60%. See net pay scenarios for 2026/27.
£200k Salary After Tax UK (2026/27): Monthly Planning Guide
A practical 2026/27 guide to £200k after tax in the UK, with monthly take-home planning, threshold context and scenario checks.
£200k Salary Monthly Take-Home (UK 2026/27): £9,816/month After Tax
£200,000 after tax in the UK (2026/27): take-home is £9,816/month (£117,786/year). Income tax £76,203, NI £6,011. No personal allowance. See pension and salary sacrifice scenarios.
£112,000 and £114,000 After Tax UK: Threshold Comparison Guide
A practical UK guide for comparing £112k and £114k after tax, with monthly net planning around high-earner threshold effects.
£173,000 After Tax UK: High-Income Planning Guide
A high-earner UK salary guide for £173,000 after tax with monthly take-home planning and scenario checks.
Child Benefit High Income Charge: How It Works and What It Costs (2026/27)
If you or your partner earns over £60,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) claws back child benefit through your tax code or a tax return. This guide explains the threshold, the taper and how to manage it.
40% Tax Threshold 2026/27: When You Start Paying Higher Rate (£50,270)
The 40% higher-rate tax threshold for 2026/27 is £50,270 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (£12,570 personal allowance + £37,700 basic-rate band). Only income above £50,270 is taxed at 40%. Worked examples at £55,000 and £70,000, the £100k taper and Scotland's 42% band.
Location Planning
London Salary After Tax Budgeting Guide
Use take-home pay benchmarks and budgeting checkpoints to assess London salary offers realistically.
Average Salary in Manchester After Tax: £36,278 = £2,470 a Month (2026/27)
The median full-time salary for Manchester residents is £36,278 (ONS ASHE 2025), which leaves £2,469.98 a month after 2026/27 income tax and National Insurance. Take-home at common Manchester salaries, by sector, and how student loans and pension change it.
Average Salary in London After Tax: £49,789 = £3,280.64 a Month (2026/27)
The median full-time salary for London (region) residents is £49,789 (ONS ASHE, April 2026, provisional), which leaves £3,280.64 a month after 2026/27 income tax and National Insurance using England income tax rates. The UK median is £40,911.
Average Salary in Edinburgh After Tax: £43,272 = £2,881.47 a Month (2026/27)
The median full-time salary for City of Edinburgh residents is £43,272 (ONS ASHE, April 2026, provisional), which leaves £2,881.47 a month after 2026/27 income tax and National Insurance using Scottish income tax rates. The UK median is £40,911.
Average Salary in Birmingham After Tax: £37,484 = £2,542.34 a Month (2026/27)
The median full-time salary for Birmingham residents is £37,484 (ONS ASHE, April 2026, provisional), which leaves £2,542.34 a month after 2026/27 income tax and National Insurance using England income tax rates. The UK median is £40,911.
Guides
£35,000 After Tax UK (2026/27): Monthly Take-Home Guide
A practical UK guide to £35,000 after tax with monthly take-home figures, deduction breakdown and offer comparison framework for 2026/27.
£30,000 After Tax UK (2026/27): Monthly Take-Home Guide
A practical UK guide to £30,000 after tax with monthly net pay figures, deduction breakdown and salary comparison steps for 2026/27.
£40,000 After Tax UK (2026/27): Monthly Take-Home and Offer Guide
£40,000 after tax in England 2026/27: approximately £2,693/month take-home. All income is in the basic-rate band, the £50,270 higher-rate threshold is £10,270 away. Compare with £38k and £42k offers using matched deduction assumptions.
£45,000 After Tax UK (2026/27): Monthly Take-Home Near Higher-Rate Threshold
£45,000 after tax in England 2026/27: approximately £2,993/month take-home. You are £5,270 below the higher-rate threshold, compare with £42k and £50k using matched pension and loan assumptions.
£80,000 After Tax UK (2026/27): Monthly Take-Home and Higher-Rate Planning
£80,000 after tax in England 2026/27: approximately £4,746/month. A significant portion falls in the 40% higher-rate band. Pension contributions save 42p per £1. Scotland is £183/month less. Full planning guide for offer comparisons.
£100,000 After Tax UK (2026/27): Personal Allowance Taper Planning Guide
£100,000 after tax in England 2026/27: approximately £5,713/month. This salary sits at the personal allowance taper entry point. Earnings above £100,000 face an effective 60% marginal rate until £125,140. Full planning guide for pension, bonuses and offer decisions.
£50,000 After Tax UK (2026/27): Higher Rate Threshold Guide
A practical UK guide to £50,000 after tax with monthly take-home figures, higher-rate threshold context and offer comparison steps for 2026/27.
What Is a Good Salary in the UK in 2026?
Regional context, life-stage benchmarks, and how to assess whether a salary offer is competitive after tax.
Marriage Allowance Transfer, Is It Worth It?
How the Marriage Allowance works, who qualifies, and how to claim a backdated refund.
How UK Bonuses Are Taxed, Salary After Tax With Bonus
Why bonuses feel heavily taxed in the UK, how PAYE handles irregular payments, and planning options.
National Insurance Rates 2026/27 Explained
Employee and employer NI rates, thresholds, and categories with practical take-home pay examples.
Pay Rise After Tax, What a Gross Increase Really Means
How to calculate the actual monthly gain from a pay rise, by tax band, with examples at common salary levels.
Part-Time Salary After Tax, Pro Rata Take-Home Pay
How pro rata salary is calculated, what part-time take-home looks like after tax, and how to compare offers correctly.
How Much Is £X Per Hour Annually? Hourly Rate to Salary Conversion
Convert any UK hourly rate to annual salary and after-tax take-home with worked examples.
Freelancer vs Employee, Net Pay Comparison in the UK
Compare take-home pay for self-employed vs PAYE employment at the same gross income, including NI differences and hidden costs.
Offer Planning
£47,000 After Tax UK: Offer Comparison Guide
A practical UK guide to take-home pay on £47,000 with clear monthly-net and nearby-salary comparison steps.
Salary Increase After Tax: How Much Will You Really Keep?
A practical guide to converting gross pay rises into realistic monthly net outcomes for UK employees.
£42,000 After Tax UK: Monthly Take-Home and Offer Planning
A practical guide to £42,000 after tax in the UK, including monthly take-home checks and nearby salary comparisons.
£69,000 After Tax UK: Practical Net Pay Comparison Guide
Use this guide to compare £69,000 take-home pay in the UK and test pension, student loan and region assumptions.
Self-Employed
Contractor Take-Home Pay and IR35 (2026/27): Limited, Umbrella and PAYE Compared
Whether you are inside or outside IR35 significantly affects your take-home pay as a contractor. This guide compares limited company, umbrella company and PAYE net pay at common contractor day rates.
Quarterly Tax for the Self-Employed 2026/27: How Much to Set Aside and When to Pay
How much self-employed tax to put aside each quarter in 2026/27, with a table from £20,000 to £100,000 profit, how payments on account work on 31 January and 31 July, the 150% first-year bill, and what Making Tax Digital quarterly updates do (and do not) change.
Guide FAQ
Are these guides written for UK salary planning or tax advice?
They are written for UK salary planning and scenario comparison. They explain common PAYE situations in plain English and link to calculator pages, but they do not replace personal tax advice.
Do the guides use the same assumptions as the calculator?
Yes. Guides are maintained alongside calculator assumptions and link back to methodology so wording and examples stay aligned with the active tax-year logic.
Which guides should I read first if a payslip does not match the calculator?
Start with the PAYE basics guides (how take-home pay is calculated, tax code 1257L, and payslip reading), then check student loan or pension guides if those deductions apply to you.
Are the salary and city pages linked from these guides?
Yes. The guides are intended to feed into salary pages, city pages, compare pages and the full calculator so you can test practical scenarios quickly.