UK Take-Home Pay Calculator (South Korea)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the UK personal allowance for 2025/26?

  The standard personal allowance for 2025/26 is £12,570 — the amount you can earn tax-free. It tapers by £1 for every £2 you earn above £100,000 and is fully removed at £125,140.

• What are the UK income tax bands for 2025/26?

  For England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 20% basic rate (£12,571–£50,270), 40% higher rate (£50,271–£125,140) and 45% additional rate (above £125,140). Scotland has its own bands ranging from 19% starter rate to 48% top rate.

• How much National Insurance will I pay?

  Class 1 employee NI is 0% up to £12,570, 8% from £12,571 to £50,270 and 2% above £50,270. NI is calculated separately on each pay period, not annually.

• Does the calculator support Scottish tax rates?

  Yes — toggle the "Scotland" option to apply Scottish income tax bands (Starter 19%, Basic 20%, Intermediate 21%, Higher 42%, Advanced 45%, Top 48%). National Insurance is the same across the UK.

• How does pension contribution affect my take-home?

  Pension contributions made through salary sacrifice or net-pay arrangements reduce your taxable income, lowering both income tax and NI. The calculator deducts your pension percentage before computing tax.

• What student loan plans does this support?

  Plan 1 (9% above £24,990), Plan 2 (9% above £27,295), Plan 4 / Scotland (9% above £31,395) and Postgraduate Loan (6% above £21,000). You can select multiple if you have both an undergraduate and postgraduate loan.

• Why is my take-home different from the gov.uk estimate?

  Differences usually come from your tax code. Our calculator assumes the standard 1257L code. If you have a different code (BR, K, T, NT, etc.), your actual deductions may differ. Check your payslip or HMRC personal tax account.

• What is the marginal tax rate vs effective tax rate?

  Effective tax rate is your total deductions ÷ gross income (your average rate). Marginal rate is the tax you pay on your next pound earned (the highest band you're in). Marginal rate matters most for raises, bonuses and pension decisions.

• Are bonuses taxed differently?

  Bonuses are taxed at your marginal rate but PAYE may withhold them at a higher rate temporarily because the system assumes the bonus repeats every period. The over-deduction is usually corrected in subsequent payslips within the tax year.

• Does the calculator account for the £100,000 trap?

  Yes — between £100,000 and £125,140 your personal allowance tapers, creating an effective marginal rate of 60%. The calculator handles this automatically.