1257L, 1257M, 1257N
The number is your tax-free pay with its last digit taken off: 1257 means £12,570. L is the standard allowance; M means you get Marriage Allowance from a partner, N that you give it to one.
Free salary calculator · 2026/27
Net pay calculator: your salary after tax, to the penny.
See your net pay - what you take home after Income Tax, National Insurance, student loan and pension - a year, a month, a week or an hour. Add your tax code, bonus, overtime, salary sacrifice, childcare vouchers and benefits; compare two salaries or two tax years; and work out pay between two dates, sick pay, maternity pay and hourly pay. No email, no sign-up.
The calculator needs JavaScript to work out your figures. The tables below give the net pay on common salaries.
Salary after tax
Net pay on common salaries in 2026/27.
Paid monthly on tax code 1257L, with no student loan or pension. Each figure is the year's twelve payslips added up, exactly as a payroll works them out.
| Salary | Income Tax | National Insurance | Net pay a year | A month | A week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £15,000 | £484.20 | £193.92 | £14,321.88 | £1,193.49 | £275.42 |
| £18,000 | £1,084.20 | £433.92 | £16,481.88 | £1,373.49 | £316.96 |
| £20,000 | £1,484.20 | £593.88 | £17,921.92 | £1,493.49 | £344.65 |
| £22,000 | £1,884.20 | £753.84 | £19,361.96 | £1,613.50 | £372.35 |
| £24,000 | £2,284.20 | £913.92 | £20,801.88 | £1,733.49 | £400.04 |
| £25,000 | £2,484.20 | £993.84 | £21,521.96 | £1,793.50 | £413.88 |
| £26,000 | £2,684.20 | £1,073.88 | £22,241.92 | £1,853.49 | £427.73 |
| £27,000 | £2,884.20 | £1,153.92 | £22,961.88 | £1,913.49 | £441.57 |
| £28,000 | £3,084.20 | £1,233.84 | £23,681.96 | £1,973.50 | £455.42 |
| £30,000 | £3,484.20 | £1,393.92 | £25,121.88 | £2,093.49 | £483.11 |
| £32,000 | £3,884.20 | £1,553.88 | £26,561.92 | £2,213.49 | £510.81 |
| £35,000 | £4,484.20 | £1,793.88 | £28,721.92 | £2,393.49 | £552.34 |
| £38,000 | £5,084.20 | £2,033.88 | £30,881.92 | £2,573.49 | £593.88 |
| £40,000 | £5,484.20 | £2,193.84 | £32,321.96 | £2,693.50 | £621.58 |
| £42,000 | £5,884.20 | £2,353.92 | £33,761.88 | £2,813.49 | £649.27 |
| £45,000 | £6,484.20 | £2,593.92 | £35,921.88 | £2,993.49 | £690.81 |
| £48,000 | £7,084.20 | £2,833.92 | £38,081.88 | £3,173.49 | £732.34 |
| £50,000 | £7,484.20 | £2,993.88 | £39,521.92 | £3,293.49 | £760.04 |
| £55,000 | £9,428.40 | £3,109.92 | £42,461.68 | £3,538.47 | £816.57 |
| £60,000 | £11,428.40 | £3,210.00 | £45,361.60 | £3,780.13 | £872.34 |
| £65,000 | £13,428.40 | £3,309.96 | £48,261.64 | £4,021.80 | £928.11 |
| £70,000 | £15,428.40 | £3,409.92 | £51,161.68 | £4,263.47 | £983.88 |
| £75,000 | £17,428.40 | £3,510.00 | £54,061.60 | £4,505.13 | £1,039.65 |
| £80,000 | £19,428.40 | £3,609.96 | £56,961.64 | £4,746.80 | £1,095.42 |
| £85,000 | £21,428.40 | £3,709.92 | £59,861.68 | £4,988.47 | £1,151.19 |
| £90,000 | £23,428.40 | £3,810.00 | £62,761.60 | £5,230.13 | £1,206.95 |
| £95,000 | £25,428.40 | £3,909.96 | £65,661.64 | £5,471.80 | £1,262.72 |
| £100,000 | £27,428.40 | £4,009.92 | £68,561.68 | £5,713.47 | £1,318.49 |
| £110,000 | £33,428.40 | £4,209.96 | £72,361.64 | £6,030.14 | £1,391.57 |
| £120,000 | £39,428.40 | £4,410.00 | £76,161.60 | £6,346.80 | £1,464.65 |
| £125,000 | £42,428.40 | £4,509.96 | £78,061.64 | £6,505.14 | £1,501.19 |
| £130,000 | £44,703.00 | £4,609.92 | £80,687.08 | £6,723.92 | £1,551.67 |
| £140,000 | £49,203.00 | £4,809.96 | £85,987.04 | £7,165.59 | £1,653.60 |
| £150,000 | £53,703.00 | £5,010.00 | £91,287.00 | £7,607.25 | £1,755.52 |
| £175,000 | £64,953.00 | £5,509.92 | £104,537.08 | £8,711.42 | £2,010.33 |
| £200,000 | £76,203.00 | £6,009.96 | £117,787.04 | £9,815.59 | £2,265.14 |
The same salaries in Scotland (Scotland's own Income Tax rates)
| Salary | Income Tax | National Insurance | Net pay a year | A month | A week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £15,000 | £459.99 | £193.92 | £14,346.09 | £1,195.51 | £275.89 |
| £18,000 | £1,044.53 | £433.92 | £16,521.55 | £1,376.80 | £317.72 |
| £20,000 | £1,444.53 | £593.88 | £17,961.59 | £1,496.80 | £345.42 |
| £22,000 | £1,844.53 | £753.84 | £19,401.63 | £1,616.80 | £373.11 |
| £24,000 | £2,244.53 | £913.92 | £20,841.55 | £1,736.80 | £400.80 |
| £25,000 | £2,444.53 | £993.84 | £21,561.63 | £1,796.80 | £414.65 |
| £26,000 | £2,644.53 | £1,073.88 | £22,281.59 | £1,856.80 | £428.49 |
| £27,000 | £2,844.53 | £1,153.92 | £23,001.55 | £1,916.80 | £442.34 |
| £28,000 | £3,044.53 | £1,233.84 | £23,721.63 | £1,976.80 | £456.19 |
| £30,000 | £3,449.18 | £1,393.92 | £25,156.90 | £2,096.41 | £483.79 |
| £32,000 | £3,869.18 | £1,553.88 | £26,576.94 | £2,214.75 | £511.10 |
| £35,000 | £4,499.18 | £1,793.88 | £28,706.94 | £2,392.25 | £552.06 |
| £38,000 | £5,129.18 | £2,033.88 | £30,836.94 | £2,569.75 | £593.02 |
| £40,000 | £5,549.18 | £2,193.84 | £32,256.98 | £2,688.08 | £620.33 |
| £42,000 | £5,969.18 | £2,353.92 | £33,676.90 | £2,806.41 | £647.63 |
| £45,000 | £6,878.27 | £2,593.92 | £35,527.81 | £2,960.65 | £683.23 |
| £48,000 | £8,138.27 | £2,833.92 | £37,027.81 | £3,085.65 | £712.07 |
| £50,000 | £8,978.27 | £2,993.88 | £38,027.85 | £3,168.99 | £731.30 |
| £55,000 | £11,078.27 | £3,109.92 | £40,811.81 | £3,400.98 | £784.84 |
| £60,000 | £13,178.27 | £3,210.00 | £43,611.73 | £3,634.31 | £838.69 |
| £65,000 | £15,278.27 | £3,309.96 | £46,411.77 | £3,867.65 | £892.53 |
| £70,000 | £17,378.27 | £3,409.92 | £49,211.81 | £4,100.98 | £946.38 |
| £75,000 | £19,478.27 | £3,510.00 | £52,011.73 | £4,334.31 | £1,000.23 |
| £80,000 | £21,728.00 | £3,609.96 | £54,662.04 | £4,555.17 | £1,051.19 |
| £85,000 | £23,978.00 | £3,709.92 | £57,312.08 | £4,776.01 | £1,102.16 |
| £90,000 | £26,228.00 | £3,810.00 | £59,962.00 | £4,996.83 | £1,153.12 |
| £95,000 | £28,478.00 | £3,909.96 | £62,612.04 | £5,217.67 | £1,204.08 |
| £100,000 | £30,728.00 | £4,009.92 | £65,262.08 | £5,438.51 | £1,255.04 |
| £110,000 | £37,478.00 | £4,209.96 | £68,312.04 | £5,692.67 | £1,313.69 |
| £120,000 | £44,228.00 | £4,410.00 | £71,362.00 | £5,946.83 | £1,372.35 |
| £125,000 | £47,603.00 | £4,509.96 | £72,887.04 | £6,073.92 | £1,401.67 |
| £130,000 | £50,034.35 | £4,609.92 | £75,355.73 | £6,279.64 | £1,449.15 |
| £140,000 | £54,834.35 | £4,809.96 | £80,355.69 | £6,696.31 | £1,545.30 |
| £150,000 | £59,634.35 | £5,010.00 | £85,355.65 | £7,112.97 | £1,641.45 |
| £175,000 | £71,634.35 | £5,509.92 | £97,855.73 | £8,154.64 | £1,881.84 |
| £200,000 | £83,634.35 | £6,009.96 | £110,355.69 | £9,196.31 | £2,122.22 |
How it is worked out
From your pay to your net pay.
Income Tax
Most people have a personal allowance of £12,570 a year that is not taxed; tax code 1257L gives it to you through your pay. The rest is taxed at 20% up to £50,270, 40% up to £125,140 and 45% above that. Scotland has six rates of its own, from 19% to 48%. Above £100,000 the personal allowance shrinks by £1 for every £2 of income, so it has gone by £125,140 - which is why pay between the two is taxed at an effective 60%.
National Insurance
Employees pay 8% on pay between £12,570 and £50,270 a year, and 2% above it. Unlike tax, it is worked out on each payday on its own: £1,048 a month is free of it, whatever you earned in other months. Over State Pension age you pay none. Your employer pays 15% on your pay above £5,000 a year as well - that is not taken from your pay, but it is part of what you cost.
Student and postgraduate loans
9% of your pay above your plan's threshold, worked out on each payday's pay and rounded down to the pound; 6% above £21,000 for a postgraduate loan, on top. With more than one plan, your employer takes the one with the lowest threshold until HMRC says otherwise.
Pension contributions
How much your contribution costs you depends on the kind of scheme. Relief at source: it comes out of your pay after tax, and the scheme adds the basic rate tax back - so £80 from your pay puts £100 in; a higher rate taxpayer claims the rest through Self Assessment. Net pay arrangement: it comes out before tax, so you get your full rate of relief straight away. Salary sacrifice: you give up that much pay and your employer pays it in instead, so you save National Insurance as well as tax. Auto-enrolment usually works on your qualifying earnings - pay between £6,240 and £50,270 a year.
Salary sacrifice, childcare vouchers and benefits
Pay given up for a cycle to work scheme or an electric car is neither taxed nor charged National Insurance, but it lowers your pay for everything else too. Childcare vouchers are only for schemes joined by 4 October 2018. A company car or private medical cover is taxed through your tax code, or through the payroll if your employer payrolls benefits.
Why this matches a payslip
A payroll works out tax cumulatively and National Insurance payday by payday, with HMRC's own period thresholds and roundings. So £30,000 paid monthly takes home £25,121.88 - the twelve payslips added up - where a sum done on the year gives £25,119.60. This calculator runs the same payroll engine as the Stoneledger software, payday by payday, so its figures are a payslip's.
Rates and thresholds
The 2026/27 figures the calculator uses.
| Income Tax - England, Wales and Northern Ireland | Income a year | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 to £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 to £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% |
| Income Tax - Scotland | Income a year | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Starter rate | £12,571 to £16,537 | 19% |
| Scottish basic rate | £16,538 to £29,526 | 20% |
| Intermediate rate | £29,527 to £43,662 | 21% |
| Higher rate | £43,663 to £75,000 | 42% |
| Advanced rate | £75,001 to £125,140 | 45% |
| Top rate | Over £125,140 | 48% |
| National Insurance | A week | A month | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Earnings LimitCounts towards your State Pension; nothing to pay | £129 | £559 | £6,708 |
| Primary thresholdYou pay 8% above it | £242 | £1,048 | £12,570 |
| Upper Earnings LimitYou pay 2% above it | £967 | £4,189 | £50,270 |
| Secondary thresholdYour employer pays 15% above it | £96 | £417 | £5,000 |
| Student loan | A week | A month | A year | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | £517.30 | £2,241.66 | £26,900 | 9% |
| Plan 2 | £565.09 | £2,448.75 | £29,385 | 9% |
| Plan 4 (Scotland) | £649.90 | £2,816.25 | £33,795 | 9% |
| Plan 5 | £480.76 | £2,083.33 | £25,000 | 9% |
| Postgraduate loan | £403.84 | £1,750.00 | £21,000 | 6% |
| Statutory pay and minimum wage | Rate |
|---|---|
| Statutory Sick PayOr 80% of average weekly earnings, if lower | £123.25 a week |
| Statutory Maternity Pay, weeks 7 to 39Weeks 1 to 6: 90% of average weekly earnings | £194.32 a week |
| National Living Wage21 and over, from 1 April 2026 | £12.71 an hour |
| National Minimum Wage, 18 to 20 | £10.85 an hour |
| Under 18, and apprentices | £8.00 an hour |
From HMRC's "Rates and thresholds for employers" and GOV.UK's National Minimum Wage rates. Earlier years are in the calculator: choose the tax year.
Tax codes
What your tax code means.
K codes
A K code means you owe more than your allowance - for a company car, say, or tax from an earlier year - so the number is added to your pay before it is taxed. No more than half your pay can be taken in tax on any payday.
BR, D0, D1, 0T, NT
BR taxes everything at 20%, D0 at 40% and D1 at 45% - usually a second job. 0T gives no allowance but the bands still apply. NT means no tax is taken.
S and C
An S at the front means Scottish rates; a C means Welsh, which are the same as England's.
W1, M1 and X
An emergency code: each payday has only its own share of the allowance, so nothing is caught up on or paid back until HMRC sends a new code.
A new job
Give your new employer your P45. Without one, the starter checklist decides the code: your first job since April gets 1257L in full, another job 1257L week 1 / month 1, and a second job BR.
Sick pay and maternity pay
Statutory Sick Pay and Statutory Maternity Pay in 2026/27.
Statutory Sick Pay
£123.25 a week or 80% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for up to 28 weeks. Since 6 April 2026 it is paid from the first day you are off sick and there is no lowest earnings to qualify; before then it started on the fourth day and needed earnings of at least the Lower Earnings Limit.
Statutory Maternity Pay
Six weeks at 90% of your average weekly earnings, then 33 weeks at £194.32 or 90% if that is lower. You need average earnings of at least £129 a week and 26 weeks with your employer by the 15th week before the baby is due.
Taxed like pay
Both are paid through the payroll, so Income Tax, National Insurance and any student loan come off them as they do from pay. Your employer may pay more under your contract.
Questions
What people ask about net pay.
What is net pay?
Net pay is what you take home: your gross pay - the salary or wages before anything is taken off - less Income Tax, National Insurance, student loan repayments, pension contributions and any other deductions. It is the figure paid into your bank, and the bottom line of your payslip. Take-home pay is the same thing by another name.
How much is £30,000 a year after tax?
In 2026/27, paid monthly on tax code 1257L with no student loan or pension: £25,121.88 a year, or £2,093.49 a month - after £3,484.20 of Income Tax and £1,393.92 of National Insurance.
How is take-home pay worked out?
Your pay, less any salary sacrifice and pension paid before tax, less Income Tax by your tax code, National Insurance, student loan repayments, any pension paid after tax and any other deductions. A payroll works tax out cumulatively over the tax year and National Insurance on each payday, which this calculator does too.
What is the tax-free personal allowance?
£12,570 a year for most people. It shrinks by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000, and is gone at £125,140. Blind Person's Allowance and Marriage Allowance can add to it.
How much National Insurance will I pay?
8% of your pay between £12,570 and £50,270 a year and 2% above that, worked out on each payday on its own - £1,048 a month is free of it. Nothing over State Pension age.
Does salary sacrifice increase my take-home pay?
No - it lowers it, but by less than you give up, because the pay you sacrifice is not taxed or charged National Insurance. Sacrificing £100 of pay into a pension costs a basic rate taxpayer about £72 of take-home pay. Lower pay can affect things worked out on it, such as a mortgage or statutory pay.
How does a student loan change my take-home pay?
You repay 9% of your pay above your plan's threshold - for Plan 2 in 2026/27, £29,385 a year or £2,448.75 a month - and 6% above £21,000 for a postgraduate loan. It is worked out on each payday's pay, so a bonus month repays more.
Why is more tax taken in my bonus month?
A bonus can push that payday's pay into a higher tax band, and National Insurance and student loan repayments are worked out on that payday alone. Tax evens out over the year on a cumulative code, but the National Insurance and loan repayments do not come back.
Is this the same as my payslip?
It works out pay the way a payroll does, payday by payday with HMRC's own thresholds and roundings, so on the same pay, tax code and deductions it gives a payslip's figures. Your actual payslips can differ if your pay changes during the year, you start part way through, or your tax code is changed.
What is the 60% tax trap?
Between £100,000 and £125,140 every £2 of extra income takes away £1 of personal allowance, so that pay is taxed at an effective 60%. Paying more into a pension through salary sacrifice or a net pay scheme can bring your income back below £100,000.
How much is Statutory Sick Pay?
£123.25 a week, or 80% of your average weekly earnings if that is lower, from the first day of sickness since 6 April 2026, for up to 28 weeks.
How much is Statutory Maternity Pay?
90% of your average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, then £194.32 a week or 90% of your earnings if lower, for 33 weeks: 39 weeks in all.
What is the National Living Wage?
£12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026 for those aged 21 and over. Full-time at 37.5 hours a week that is £24,784.50 a year.
More free tools
Self-employed, a director, or paying staff?
Self-employed tax calculator
Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance on your profit, with what is due and when.
Dividend tax calculator
For a company director taking a salary and dividends: the tax on the dividends.
Payroll, explained
Running a payroll as a small employer: PAYE, RTI, auto-enrolment and the year end.
Payroll that matches the payslip.
Stoneledger runs your payroll on this same engine - the payslips, RTI to HMRC and the year end - beside your books.