UK pay guide · 2026/27
UK tax year 2026/27: what it means for your take-home pay
The 2026/27 tax year runs from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027. PAYE, National Insurance and student-loan payroll deductions use rules for this period.
In short
When checking a new salary or payslip, use the tax year that contains your payment date. A calculation based on an earlier year can give a different result even if your gross pay has not changed.
Which tax year should you use?
Use 2026/27 for payments made from 6 April 2026. A March 2026 payslip belongs to 2025/26, while an April 2026 payslip normally belongs to 2026/27. This matters because payroll thresholds, tax codes and loan thresholds can change at the start of a tax year.
Key standard PAYE figures
For a typical employee in England, Wales or Northern Ireland using the standard Personal Allowance, the allowance is £12,570 and the basic-rate band is £37,700 of taxable income. Employee National Insurance is normally 8% between the primary threshold and upper earnings limit, then 2% above that limit. Actual deductions still depend on pay frequency, tax code and circumstances.
Why your payslip may not match a simple annual estimate
Income Tax is normally cumulative for most tax codes, whereas National Insurance is generally calculated for each pay period. Pension contributions, student loans, bonuses, benefits and an emergency or non-cumulative tax code can also change an individual payment. Use a payslip calculator when checking one weekly or monthly payment.
What to check when a new tax year begins
- Your tax code and whether it ends in M1 or W1.
- Your pension contribution percentage and whether it is salary sacrifice.
- Your student-loan plan, if applicable.
- Whether a bonus, overtime or a change in hours affected this pay period.
Use the UK take-home pay calculator for an annual estimate or the UK payslip calculator for a payment-period check. Figures are based on HMRC's 2026/27 employer rates and thresholds and National Insurance guidance.