UK Pay & Tax Guides
Plain-English guides to how UK pay, tax and National Insurance work in 2026/27 — every figure taken from the same verified rates as our calculators.
How Take-Home Pay Is CalculatedThe five steps from gross salary to net pay, with a worked exampleTax Codes Explained1257L, BR, D0, K codes and emergency W1/M1 codes decodedThe 60% Tax TrapThe hidden band between £100,000 and £125,140 — and the pension escapeSalary Sacrifice ExplainedHow swapping salary for benefits saves tax and NINational Insurance ExplainedClasses, rates and how NI builds your State PensionYour Payslip ExplainedEvery payslip line decoded with a real exampleScotland vs England TaxWho pays more at £30k, £50k and beyondWhat Is PAYE?How Pay As You Earn collects tax from every payslipMarriage AllowanceTransfer £1,260 of allowance and save up to £252 a year