UK Tax Bands 2025/26 Explained
UK income tax is progressive — meaning you pay different rates on different slices of your income, not one flat rate on everything. Understanding how the bands work stops you overpaying and helps you plan more effectively around bonuses, pension contributions and pay rises.
The 2025/26 Income Tax Bands (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)
HMRC divides your income into bands. Each band has its own rate, and you only pay that rate on the income that falls within it — not on everything you earn.
| 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% |
How the Bands Actually Work: A Worked Example
Say you earn £60,000. You do not pay 40% on £60,000. Here is how the tax is really calculated:
- £0 – £12,570: Personal Allowance — no tax (£0)
- £12,571 – £50,270: Basic rate — 20% on £37,700 = £7,540
- £50,271 – £60,000: Higher rate — 40% on £9,730 = £3,892
- Total income tax: £11,432
On a £60,000 salary your effective (average) tax rate is around 19%, not 40%. You only pay 40% on the £9,730 above the higher rate threshold — everything below is still taxed at lower rates.
What Is the Personal Allowance?
The Personal Allowance (£12,570 in 2025/26) is the amount you can earn completely free of income tax each year. It is automatically applied through your PAYE tax code — usually 1257L — so you do not need to claim it separately.
When Does the Personal Allowance Taper Away?
If your income exceeds £100,000, HMRC reduces your Personal Allowance by £1 for every £2 you earn above that threshold. By £125,140 your allowance has been completely withdrawn, meaning you effectively pay a 60% marginal rate on income between £100,000 and £125,140.
The £100,000–£125,140 trap: pension contributions can restore your Personal Allowance by bringing adjusted net income below £100,000. This is one of the most valuable tax-planning moves available to higher earners.
Scotland Has Different Bands
If you live in Scotland, the Scottish Parliament sets its own income tax rates. Scotland uses six bands, compared to three in the rest of the UK. National Insurance is the same wherever you live.
| Band | Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Starter rate | £12,571 to £15,397 | 19% |
| Basic rate | £15,398 to £25,296 | 20% |
| Intermediate rate | £25,297 to £43,662 | 21% |
| Higher rate | £43,663 to £75,000 | 42% |
| Advanced rate | £75,001 to £125,140 | 45% |
| Top rate | Over £125,140 | 48% |
Does a Pay Rise Always Mean More Tax?
Yes — but only on the extra income. If a pay rise takes you from £49,000 to £52,000, only the £1,730 above £50,270 is taxed at 40%. The rest stays in the basic rate band. You will always be better off earning more.
How to Reduce Your Tax Band Exposure
- Pension contributions: reduce your adjusted net income, potentially dropping you into a lower band
- Salary sacrifice: pre-tax benefits (pension, cycle to work, childcare) lower the gross income HMRC sees
- Marriage Allowance: transfer up to £1,260 of unused Personal Allowance to a basic-rate-paying spouse
- Gift Aid: donations made through Gift Aid extend your basic-rate band, effectively giving higher-rate relief
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Marcel Tonet
AAT Qualified · CeMAP Qualified · Tech & Financial Services
Marcel is an AAT-qualified accounting technician and CeMAP-qualified mortgage adviser with a career spanning technology and the UK financial services industry. He built and maintains Salary Take Home UK, updating all tax rates and thresholds each April for the new tax year.
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