🇬🇧 2026/27 UK Rates · Instant · Free
Bonus Tax Calculator UK
Find out exactly how much of your UK bonus you'll actually take home after income tax and National Insurance — calculated instantly in your browser.
Your details
£
£
💰
Enter your salary and bonus amount to see your breakdown.How bonus tax works in the UK.
In the UK, a bonus is treated as ordinary incomein the pay period it is paid. Your employer adds it to your regular salary for that month and applies PAYE tax and National Insurance on the combined total — the same as if you'd earned that much every month.
Example: £45,000 salary + £5,000 bonus (annual)
Without bonus£45,000 taxable£6,486 tax | £2,665 NI£35,849 net/year
With bonus£50,000 taxable£7,486 tax | £3,065 NI£39,449 net/year
Bonus take-home£5,000 bonus£1,000 tax + £400 NI£3,600 net bonus
Notice that the effective tax rate on the bonus itself was 28% (£1,000 tax + £400 NI on a £5,000 bonus) — because the bonus kept the salary just under the Higher Rate threshold. If the bonus had pushed above £50,270, the portion over the threshold would be taxed at 42% (40% tax + 2% NI).
Ways to reduce bonus tax
- Salary sacrifice: Ask your employer to pay the bonus directly into your pension. You save both income tax and NI on the entire amount.
- Spread it: Some employers will split a large bonus across two pay periods (e.g. December and January) so less of it is taxed at the higher rate.
- Check your tax code: An incorrect tax code can mean you overpay on your bonus. Use our tax code checker to verify.
- Claim back overpaid tax: HMRC corrects overpayments automatically each tax year, but you can also submit a self-assessment or claim directly.