Estimate your 2025/26 take-home
Drag the sliders or type exact figures. Calculations update as you change them.
Based on 2025/26 UK rates (England, Wales, NI). Class 2 NI voluntary post-April 2024 not included. Pension contributions and student loan repayments not modelled. For guidance only — not a substitute for professional accounting advice.
How self-employed take-home is calculated
- Turnover minus allowable expenses = taxable profit.
- Subtract personal allowance (£12,570 in 2025/26) - what's left is taxable income.
- Income Tax: 20% basic rate up to £50,270, 40% higher rate up to £125,140, 45% additional rate above.
- Class 4 NI: 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, 2% above.
- Class 2 NI: abolished from April 2024 for most self-employed people earning above the Small Profits Threshold.
Worked example - £45K turnover
- Turnover: £45,000
- Allowable expenses: £5,000
- Taxable profit: £40,000
- After personal allowance: £27,430 taxable
- Income Tax (20%): £5,486
- Class 4 NI (6%): £1,646
- Total tax: £7,132
- Take-home from £40K profit: ~£32,868 (82%)
Where Take Home adds value
- Connects to your accounting tool - FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks - so calculations use real data, not estimates.
- Surfaces unclaimed expenses - most self-employed people under-claim by £500-£3K/year. We compare your actual expenses against typical claims for your sector.
- Models 'should I incorporate?' - the question every successful self-employed person eventually asks. We model the after-tax difference for your specific income.
- Pension recommendations - personal pension contributions reduce your tax bill. We calculate the optimal contribution given your other circumstances.
- Insurance audit - public liability, professional indemnity, income protection. What you need vs what you have.
Frequently asked questions
Should I incorporate as a limited company?+
Often worth considering above £40-50K profit. Take Home models your specific situation including other income, family circumstances, and retirement plans. The right answer depends on more than just income.
What about Making Tax Digital?+
From April 2026, MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment applies to sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50K. From April 2027, it extends to those over £30K. You'll need digital records and quarterly submissions. Take Home connects to MTD-compliant tools.
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