UK Salary & Tax
Understand every line on your payslip and keep more of what you earn. From gross-to-net pay and tax codes to National Insurance, student loan deductions and legal ways to reduce your bill — built around the 2026/27 UK tax year.
Start with a calculator
Put your own numbers in first — the guides below explain what the results mean and what to do next.
UK Salary Calculator 2026/27
Enter your gross salary and see income tax, National Insurance, student loan and pension deductions itemised down to net pay.
Open calculatorBudget Planner
Lay your take-home pay against your real monthly spending to see exactly what is left to save or overpay.
Open calculatorUnderstanding my payslip and take-home pay
What each deduction is and how gross pay becomes the number that hits your account.
How income tax and National Insurance work
The two biggest deductions — the bands, thresholds and allowances behind them.
Student loan repayments
Repayments that behave like a graduate tax — understand them so you can plan around them.
Legally reducing my tax bill
Use the allowances and reliefs you are entitled to — within the rules.
Choose the right guide
Several pages in this area cover related questions. Use this to pick the one that matches what you are actually trying to do.
- “What will my actual take-home pay be?”
- Use the calculator, then read the take-home-pay guide for what each line means. Calculate your true take-home pay
- “How do I read my payslip?”
- The UK salary guide walks through PAYE and payslip deductions. UK salary guide
- “How is my income tax calculated?”
- The income tax guide covers bands and the Personal Allowance. Comprehensive UK income tax guide
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Every guide in this hub is written and maintained by Shaun da Silva, Finance Consultant. SmartMoneyTools provides educational estimates only — not financial advice. Read our financial disclaimer and editorial policy.