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SalarySorted

What do you actually take home?

Enter your salary — see tax, NI, pension and student loan at a glance

✓2026/27 HMRC rates✓No sign up✓Free

Your details

£
0%
0%60%

The standard code for most UK employees. You receive the full £12,570 personal allowance tax-free.

Only relevant if you or your partner earns over £60,000 and claims Child Benefit

Your breakdown

Take-home pay

£12,000

/yr

Effective rate0.0%
Tax bandPersonal Allowance
Take-homeIncome TaxNI
Gross salary
£12,000
Income TaxPersonal Allowance
−£0
National Insurance
−£0
Take-home
£12,000
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In plain English

On a £12,000 gross salary in England & Wales, you're in the Personal Allowance band (0% income tax). After paying £0 in income tax and £0 in National Insurance, you take home £12,000 per year — that's £1,000 a month or £231 a week. Your effective overall deduction rate is 0.0%.

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£12,000 salary after tax — 2026/27 breakdown

Annual take-home

£12,000

Monthly take-home

£1,000

Weekly take-home

£231

Tax band

Personal Allowance

Deductions at a glance

Gross salary£12,000
Income Tax (20%)−£0
National Insurance (8%)−£0
Take-home pay£12,000

A £12,000 salary sits close to the National Living Wage and represents an entry-level income in the UK. It is common across retail, hospitality, care work and administration — sectors where wages are anchored near the statutory minimum. Outside of London and the South East, this level of income can provide a reasonable standard of living when managed carefully.

After income tax and National Insurance you take home £12,000 per year — that is £1,000 per month or £231 per week. All of your taxable income falls within the basic rate band, so every pound of taxable earnings is taxed at 20%. These figures assume the standard 1257L tax code, no pension contributions and no student loan repayments.

Even at this salary level, auto-enrolment pension contributions are worth taking seriously. A 5% salary sacrifice contribution costs you less in take-home pay than it adds to your pension pot, because it reduces your taxable income and NI at the same time. Use the calculator above to see exactly how different contribution percentages affect your monthly pay.

Frequently asked questions

How much is £12,000 a year after tax?

On a £12,000 salary in England and Wales for 2026/27, your take-home pay is £12,000 per year — that's £1,000 per month or £231 per week. This assumes the standard 1257L tax code, no pension contributions and no student loan.

How much income tax do I pay on £12,000?

You pay no tax on the first £12,570 (your personal allowance). The remaining £-570 is taxed at the basic rate of 20%, giving an income tax bill of £0 per year.

How much National Insurance do I pay on £12,000?

National Insurance is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270. On a £12,000 salary that is 8% of £-570, coming to £0 per year.

Is £12,000 a good salary in the UK?

£12,000 sits below the UK median full-time salary of around £35,000 and is broadly in line with earnings at or just above the National Living Wage. It provides a workable income in lower cost-of-living areas, but can feel stretched in major cities — particularly London. The £1,000 monthly take-home requires careful budgeting to cover housing, transport and essentials.

Should I pay into a pension on £12,000?

Yes — even small contributions make a significant difference over time. If your employer offers salary sacrifice, a 5% contribution on £12,000 (£600/year) reduces your taxable income, saving you both income tax and NI. The actual cost to your monthly take-home is lower than the contribution amount. Start early and increase contributions whenever you receive a pay rise.