UK Take-Home Pay 2026/27 — What Changed This Tax Year
The 2026/27 tax year began on 6 April 2026, and while there were no dramatic headline changes, several thresholds and rates shifted in ways that affect most UK workers. Here's a complete breakdown of what changed, how it affects your take-home pay, and what to watch out for.
The key numbers for 2026/27
| Threshold | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | £12,570 | £12,570 | Frozen |
| Basic rate band (20%) | £12,571–£50,270 | £12,571–£50,270 | Frozen |
| Higher rate threshold (40%) | £50,270 | £50,270 | Frozen |
| Additional rate threshold (45%) | £125,140 | £125,140 | Frozen |
| Employee NI (8%) | £12,570–£50,270 | £12,570–£50,270 | Frozen |
| Employer NI rate | 13.8% | 15% | +1.2% |
| Employer NI threshold | £9,100 | £5,000 | −£4,100 |
| National Living Wage | £11.44/hr | £12.71/hr | +11.1% |
The personal allowance freeze — and why it hurts
The personal allowance has been frozen at £12,570 since April 2021 and is now set to remain frozen until at least April 2029. This sounds neutral — nothing changed — but it isn't. When wages rise with inflation but tax thresholds don't, more of your income falls into taxable bands every year.
This is known as fiscal drag. A worker earning £35,000 in 2021 who received average annual pay rises of 4% now earns around £42,500. The portion above the basic rate band hasn't grown, but the real purchasing power of their allowance has shrunk. In effect, the freeze is a stealth tax increase.
Employer NI — what it means for your pay
The most significant change for 2026/27 is employer National Insurance. The rate rose from 13.8% to 15%, and the threshold at which employers start paying dropped from £9,100 to £5,000 per year. This is a substantial increase in the cost of employing someone.
This doesn't directly reduce your take-home pay — employer NI is paid by your employer, not deducted from your salary. However, it affects:
- Pay rise budgets — if your employer's total payroll costs have risen, there's less headroom for salary increases
- Hiring decisions — especially for part-time and lower-paid roles near the old £9,100 threshold
- Salary sacrifice value — because employer NI is calculated on gross pay before sacrifice, using salary sacrifice for pension contributions now saves your employer even more, which may make them more receptive to salary sacrifice arrangements
National Living Wage rises to £12.71/hr
From April 2026 the National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 21 and over rose from £11.44 to £12.71 per hour — an increase of 11.1%. For a full-time worker on the NLW (37.5 hours per week), that's a gross annual salary increase from around £22,308 to approximately £24,784.
After tax and NI, a full-time NLW worker's take-home pay rises from roughly £19,200 to approximately £20,900 per year — an extra £142/month in the pocket.
Scottish income tax — different bands, different bills
Scottish taxpayers pay income tax under a separate five-band system set by the Scottish Parliament. For 2026/27 the bands are:
| Band | Rate | Income range |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 19% | £12,571–£14,876 |
| Basic | 20% | £14,877–£26,561 |
| Intermediate | 21% | £26,562–£43,662 |
| Higher | 42% | £43,663–£75,000 |
| Top | 47% | Above £75,000 |
A Scottish taxpayer earning £50,000 pays significantly more income tax than an equivalent English/Welsh taxpayer. National Insurance is the same across the UK.
Student loan repayment thresholds
Student loan repayment thresholds increased slightly for 2026/27:
- Plan 1: £26,900 (up from £26,575)
- Plan 2: £29,385 (up from £28,470)
- Plan 4 (Scotland): £33,795 (up from £31,395)
- Plan 5: £25,000 (new loans from August 2023)
See your exact 2026/27 take-home pay
Updated for all current HMRC thresholds, NI rates and student loan plans.
What to do if your tax code looks wrong
Most people are on tax code 1257L, which reflects the £12,570 personal allowance. If your code is different, check it via your payslip or HMRC's online service. Common reasons for unusual codes include: benefits in kind (company cars, medical insurance), underpaid tax from previous years being collected, or multiple jobs.
An incorrect tax code can mean overpaying or underpaying tax all year. You can claim back overpaid tax for up to four previous tax years.