Tax year 2026/27
£20,000 After Tax (2026/27): £1,493 a Month
3 min read · Published 2026-03-19 · Reviewed 2026-10-13
On a £20,000 salary you take home £17,920 a year in 2026/27, which is £1,493 a month or £345 a week. That assumes England, Wales or Northern Ireland, no student loan and no pension.
Where your pay goes
| Per year | Per month | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £20,000 | £1,667 |
| Income tax | −£1,486 | −£124 |
| National Insurance | −£594 | −£50 |
| Take-home | £17,920 | £1,493 |
Take-home in your situation
| Situation | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| No student loan | £17,920 | £1,493 |
| Plan 1 student loan | £17,920 | £1,493 |
| Plan 2 student loan | £17,920 | £1,493 |
| Plan 5 student loan | £17,920 | £1,493 |
| Postgraduate loan | £17,920 | £1,493 |
| 5% salary sacrifice pension | £17,200 | £1,433 |
| Scotland, no loan | £17,943 | £1,495 |
What to know at £20,000
- Your next £1 keeps 72p. The marginal rate on extra pay at £20,000 is 28% (tax plus National Insurance).
- You are £30,270 below the £50,270 higher-rate threshold, so all your taxable pay is taxed at 20%.
- Pension: 5% via salary sacrifice puts £1,000 a year into your pension but only cuts take-home by £720. Compare options.
Pay rise calculator · Bonus tax calculator · All salaries after tax
Frequently Asked Questions
What is £20,000 a year after tax?
In 2026/27 a £20,000 salary leaves £17,920 a year (£1,493 a month, £345 a week) after income tax and National Insurance, with no student loan or pension.
How much tax and National Insurance do I pay on £20,000?
£1,486 income tax and £594 National Insurance, a total of £2,080 or 10.4% of your gross pay.
How does a student loan change take-home pay on £20,000?
At £20,000 you are below every repayment threshold (the lowest is £21,000 for a Postgraduate loan), so a student loan does not reduce your take-home yet. Repayments are 9% (6% for Postgraduate) of pay above your plan's threshold and are not reduced by pension contributions.
Do I pay more tax on £20,000 in Scotland?
Scottish income tax on £20,000 is £1,463 versus £1,486 elsewhere in the UK, so you take home £23 more a year. National Insurance is the same.
Figures use 2026/27 HMRC rates and are calculated by the SalaryMap engine. They assume a standard Personal Allowance and tax code 1257L. See HMRC Income Tax rates.