UK Self-Employed Tax Calculator
Enter your annual profit to see exactly what you keep after income tax, Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance.
Your details
Profit = revenue minus allowable business expenses
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Results are estimates only and do not constitute financial advice.
Common profit examples — 2026/27
Based on standard allowances with no pension contributions. Click any row to load it into the calculator above.
| Annual profit | Income tax | NI (Class 4) | Monthly take-home | Annual take-home |
|---|
How it's calculated
As a sole trader, you pay income tax on profits above your personal allowance of £12,570. The same bands apply as for employees — 20% basic rate, 40% higher rate, 45% additional rate.
Class 4 NI is charged at 9% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that. Unlike PAYE employees (who pay 8%), self-employed pay a slightly higher rate.
Class 2 NI is a flat charge of £3.45 per week (£179.40 per year) for profits above £12,570. It counts towards your state pension and certain benefits.
Frequently asked questions
You pay income tax and NI through Self Assessment. You file your return by 31 January following the tax year end, with a payment on account due in July.
No — pension contributions reduce your income tax but not your Class 4 NI. NI is calculated on your gross profit. This is different from employed salary sacrifice, which reduces both.
Scottish taxpayers pay Scottish income tax rates on their self-employment profits, just like employed people. Class 4 NI is the same across the UK.
What counts as profit?
Your taxable profit is your total business income (turnover) minus allowable business expenses. You are taxed on what's left, not on your revenue.
Allowable expenses include costs that are wholly and exclusively for your business — office costs, travel, equipment, professional subscriptions, marketing and accountancy fees.
If your turnover is under £90,000, you can use the cash basis of accounting, which simplifies how you record income and expenses.
How to reduce your tax bill
Many sole traders under-claim. Keep records of office costs, equipment, mileage, phone and professional fees — each pound claimed saves you tax.
Contributions to a personal pension reduce your taxable profit for income tax purposes. A basic rate taxpayer effectively gets 25p back for every £1 contributed.
You can deduct the full cost of qualifying equipment and machinery (up to £1 million) in the year of purchase rather than over time.
Self-employed tax rates 2026/27
Income tax bands are the same as for employees. Self-employed NI rates differ from employee NI.
| Band | Taxable profit | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571–£50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271–£125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% |
| Class | Profits | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | Over £12,570 | £3.45/wk |
| Class 4 | £12,571–£50,270 | 9% |
| Class 4 upper | Over £50,270 | 2% |
Scottish income tax rates also apply to Scottish self-employed taxpayers. Class 4 NI is the same across the UK.
This calculator is for sole traders and freelancers who pay tax on profits via Self Assessment. It does not apply to limited company directors, who pay themselves through salary and dividends and have different tax rules.