Taxable pay
Your gross pay less anything that reduces the income tax base, such as a net pay pension contribution or salary sacrifice.
Why it matters
It differs from your National Insurable pay, which is why a pension can cut your tax without cutting your student loan deduction.
Where you will see it
Shown on your payslip as a year-to-date figure alongside gross pay. If they differ, something is coming off before tax.
What people get wrong
It is not the same as your National Insurable pay, which is why a pension can cut your tax bill and leave your student loan deduction untouched.
What it looks like in numbers
| Salary | Income tax | National Insurance | Take-home | A month | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £2,486 | £994 | £21,520 | £1,793 | 13.9% |
| £35,000 | £4,486 | £1,794 | £28,720 | £2,393 | 17.9% |
| £50,000 | £7,486 | £2,994 | £39,520 | £3,293 | 21.0% |
| £75,000 | £17,432 | £3,510 | £54,058 | £4,505 | 27.9% |
| £110,000 | £33,432 | £4,210 | £72,358 | £6,030 | 34.2% |
Every figure above is computed from the published 2026/27 rates by the same engine that runs the calculators on this site, so the number in a table and the number in a calculator can never disagree. There is a fuller explanation here.
And the marginal rate, which is usually the point
| Salary | England, Wales, NI | Scotland | With a Plan 2 loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | 28.0% | 28.0% | 28.0% |
| £35,000 | 28.0% | 29.0% | 36.4% |
| £50,000 | 38.2% | 45.6% | 47.8% |
| £60,000 | 42.0% | 44.0% | 51.6% |
| £105,000 | 62.0% | 69.5% | 70.4% |
The same salary, by pay frequency
| Paid | Gross | Income tax | National Insurance | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly | £45,000.00 | £6,486.00 | £2,594.40 | £35,919.60 |
| Monthly | £3,750.00 | £540.50 | £216.16 | £2,993.34 |
| 4-weekly | £3,461.54 | £498.92 | £199.48 | £2,763.13 |
| Fortnightly | £1,730.77 | £249.46 | £99.74 | £1,381.57 |
| Weekly | £865.38 | £124.73 | £49.87 | £690.78 |
Income tax across a full year is the same whichever row you are on. National Insurance is not quite, because it is worked out on each pay period in isolation rather than cumulatively — which is a small effect on steady pay and a larger one on irregular hours.
Related terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Marginal tax rate | The share of your next pound of income that does not reach you. |
| Effective tax rate | Total tax and National Insurance as a share of your gross pay across the year. |
| Salary sacrifice | An arrangement where you give up part of your contractual salary and your employer pays the equivalent into a pension or a benefit instead. |
| Net pay arrangement | A pension arrangement where your contribution is taken before income tax is worked out, giving you full relief at your marginal rate immediately. |
Questions people actually ask
What does taxable pay mean?
Your gross pay less anything that reduces the income tax base, such as a net pay pension contribution or salary sacrifice.
Where does taxable pay show up on my payslip?
Shown on your payslip as a year-to-date figure alongside gross pay. If they differ, something is coming off before tax.
Figures on this page are for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027) and were last checked on 29 August 2026. Every rate we use is listed on the sources page.