UK Take-Home Pay Calculator (2025-26)
Salary in, take-home out — income tax, National Insurance, student loan and pension all in one go. Rates updated for the 2025-26 tax year (England/Wales/NI bands).
| Gross salary | £50,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£2,500 |
| Income tax | −£6,986 |
| National Insurance | −£2,794 |
| Take-home pay | £37,720 |
Income tax breakdown
| Band | Range | Amount in band | Tax on band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic rate (20%) | £12,571 – £50,270 | £34,930 | £6,986 |
UK tax bands 2025-26
Income tax (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)
| Band | Income range | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | £0 – £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 – £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 – £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | £125,141+ | 45% |
Personal allowance tapers by £1 for every £2 above £100,000 — fully gone at £125,140.
National Insurance (Class 1, employee, Category A)
| Band | Earnings range | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Below primary threshold | £0 – £12,570 | 0% |
| Primary band | £12,570 – £50,270 | 8% |
| Upper earnings limit | £50,270+ | 2% |
Student loan thresholds (annual)
| Plan | Threshold | Rate above |
|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 (pre-2012, E/W) | £24,990 | 9% |
| Plan 2 (2012-2023, E/W) | £27,295 | 9% |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | £31,395 | 9% |
| Plan 5 (post-Aug-2023) | £25,000 | 9% |
| Postgraduate | £21,000 | 6% |
Why this matters for buying a home
Mortgage lenders look at gross income for the LTI ratio — but you'll be paying the mortgage out of net. A £50k salary gives you about £3,143/month at 5% pension. If your monthly mortgage at the price you can borrow is more than ~30-35% of net, the FCA stress test will likely fail.
Use the affordability calculator to see what house price your salary supports, then the mortgage calculator for the monthly payment, and the stamp duty calculator for the upfront cost.
Related tools
- Mortgage affordability calculator
- Mortgage payment calculator
- Stamp Duty calculator
- House prices by UK local authority
- Cost Intelligence guides
Sources: HMRC income tax rates 2025-26, HMRC NI rates, Student Finance England repayment thresholds. Scotland uses different income tax bands (starter/basic/intermediate/higher/top); this calculator currently uses England/Wales/NI rates. This is general information, not tax advice — speak to an accountant for your specific situation.