UK tax year 2026/27: rates and changes explained
A complete guide to income tax rates, National Insurance thresholds, and student loan repayment figures for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027).
Key figures for 2026/27
| Allowance or threshold | 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Personal allowance | £12,570 |
| Basic rate band upper limit | £50,270 |
| Higher rate band upper limit | £125,140 |
| Personal allowance taper starts | £100,000 |
| Employee NI primary threshold | £12,570 |
| Employee NI upper earnings limit | £50,270 |
| Employee NI main rate | 8% |
| Employee NI upper rate | 2% |
| Employer NI rate | 15% |
| Employer NI secondary threshold | £5,000 |
| Employment Allowance | £10,500 |
Income tax bands in full
The income tax bands below apply to taxpayers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland sets its own rates — see our Scottish tax calculator for the Scottish-specific bands.
| Band | Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 to £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 to £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% |
What changed for 2026/27
The following carried over from 2025/26 without change:
- Personal allowance frozen at £12,570 (freeze in place until at least 2027/28)
- Basic rate and higher rate band thresholds frozen at £50,270 and £125,140
- Employee NI rates: 8% and 2%
- Employer NI rate at 15% (increased from 13.8% in April 2025)
- Employer NI secondary threshold at £5,000 (reduced from £9,100 in April 2025)
The ongoing freeze on income tax thresholds means that as wages rise with inflation, more workers are pulled into higher tax brackets — a process known as "fiscal drag". HMRC estimates several million additional workers have become higher rate taxpayers since the freeze began in 2022/23.
National Insurance in 2026/27
Employee National Insurance (Class 1 Primary) applies to employed workers on their earnings above the primary threshold. There have been no changes to employee NI rates for 2026/27:
- 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 per year
- 2% on earnings above £50,270 per year
Self-employed workers pay Class 4 NI at different rates (currently 6% and 2%) and may also pay Class 2 contributions. This calculator covers employed workers only.
Use the salary calculator
All the rates and thresholds above are built into the UK salary calculator. Enter any gross salary to instantly see the full breakdown of income tax, National Insurance, student loan repayments and pension deductions for 2026/27.