🇬🇧 UK · 2026/27 Tax Year · Free

National Minimum Wage Checker

Last updated: 09 September 2026 · 2026/27 UK tax year

Millions of workers in the UK are underpaid without realising it. Check your age group against the current rates and find out what to do if your employer is breaking the law.

The National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage are legal minimums set by the UK government that all employers must pay. Failing to pay at least the minimum is a criminal offence, and HMRC actively investigates underpayment complaints. Workers in certain sectors — particularly hospitality, retail, care, and domestic cleaning — are the most common victims of minimum wage violations.

From April 2026, the National Living Wage (for workers aged 21 and over) is £12.71 per hour. Workers aged 18–20 must receive at least £10.85/hour. Those aged 16–17 or in their first year of an apprenticeship must receive at least £8.00/hour. These rates apply to all workers regardless of immigration status, whether employed or on zero-hours contracts. Use this checker to verify whether your current hourly rate meets the legal minimum for your age and calculate your weekly and annual earnings at minimum wage.

Your Details

Your Age / Status

Your Hourly Rate

Hours Worked per Week

You are being UNDERPAID

The legal minimum for your age is £12.71/hr.

What you are missing out on:

Shortfall per week:£82.88

Shortfall per year:£4,309.50

Your Gross Weekly Pay£393.75

Legal Minimum Weekly Pay£476.63

Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on standard HMRC tax rules for the 2026/27 tax year. It does not account for cumulative PAYE codes, previous underpayments, or specific employer payroll configurations. It is not professional financial advice. For definitive figures, always refer to your official payslip or your HMRC Personal Tax Account.

National Minimum Wage rates 2026/27

These are the legal minimum rates from April 2026. They apply to all UK workers in the relevant age bands regardless of sector, contract type, or employer size.

Age band	Rate per hour	Weekly (40hrs)	Annual equivalent
21 and over National Living Wage	£12.71	£508.40	£26,437
18–20 National Minimum Wage	£10.85	£434.00	£22,568
Under 18 National Minimum Wage	£8.00	£320.00	£16,640
Apprentice Apprentice Rate	£8.00	£320.00	£16,640

Apprentice rate applies if: aged under 19, OR aged 19+ and in the first year of apprenticeship. After the first year, apprentices aged 19+ must be paid the rate for their age (£10.85 for 18–20, or £12.71 for 21+).

What counts as working time for NMW?

Your employer must pay you minimum wage for all "working time" — which is broader than just your scheduled shift hours. This is where many underpayments slip through unnoticed:

✅ Counts as working time

All scheduled shift time
Mandatory induction and training
Time spent travelling between work sites
On-call time spent at the workplace
Pre-shift setup and post-shift cash-up
Time spent waiting for work at the employer's request

❌ Does not count

Commuting to and from work
Genuine rest breaks taken away from work duties
Time spent on personal errands during working day
Voluntary overtime that isn't then worked

What doesn't count towards your NMW rate?

Some employers reduce workers' effective hourly rates through deductions or arrangements that are either illegal or on the edge of the law. Know what does and doesn't count:

Tips and service charges

Cannot be counted toward NMW since 2009. Since October 2024, all tips must be passed to workers in full.

Uniform deductions that push pay below NMW

If your employer deducts money for uniforms and it brings your hourly rate below the minimum, this is illegal. You cannot waive this right even if you sign an agreement.

Salary sacrifice that reduces pay below NMW

Salary sacrifice arrangements (pension, cycle to work) must not reduce your hourly rate below the minimum wage. If they would, the sacrifice amount must be reduced.

Benefits in kind (accommodation offset aside)

Employer-provided benefits like meals or gym access generally cannot count toward NMW. The only exception is accommodation — employers can offset up to £9.10/day toward NMW.

How to report underpayment to HMRC

If you believe you're being underpaid, there are clear steps to follow. You don't have to confront your employer directly, and your complaint to HMRC is kept strictly confidential. For a complete walkthrough of your rights, read our guide on What to do if your employer is underpaying you and stay up to date with the April 2026 new minimum wage rates.

Check your effective hourly rate

Add up all your actual working time (including prep, training, travel between sites). Divide your gross pay by those hours. If the result is below the minimum for your age, you may be underpaid.

Speak to your employer first (optional)

Many underpayments are genuine payroll errors — especially after a birthday moves you into a higher age band. A quick word with HR or your manager may resolve it quickly and amicably.

Report to Acas or HMRC confidentially

Call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100 or use the Gov.uk online reporting tool. All reports are anonymous. Your employer will not be told who made the complaint.

HMRC investigates and enforces

HMRC can compel the employer to repay all arrears going back 6 years, plus a penalty of up to 200% of the underpayment. Named and shamed employers are publicly listed on Gov.uk.

Check your full take-home pay

Make sure your monthly budget adds up. Use our comprehensive payslip calculator to see exactly how much you will take home after tax, pension, and student loan deductions.

Take Home Pay Calculator →

Frequently asked questions

What are the National Minimum Wage rates for 2026/27?

The 2026/27 National Minimum Wage rates (from April 2026) are: National Living Wage for workers 21 and over — £12.71/hour; 18–20 year olds — £10.85/hour; Under 18s (above compulsory school age) — £8.00/hour; Apprentices (under 19 or in first year of apprenticeship) — £8.00/hour. These rates are the legal minimum — your employer cannot pay below these levels for any worked hours.

Do I get paid minimum wage for sleep-in shifts?

Sleep-in shifts are complex following the Mencap Supreme Court ruling in 2021. Workers required to sleep at the workplace (e.g. care workers) are only entitled to minimum wage for the hours they are actually awake and required to work, not for the sleeping period. However, if you are required to be awake and available throughout the shift, you are entitled to minimum wage for all hours. Check your contract carefully.

What are the apprentice minimum wage rules?

Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate of £8.00/hour if they are under 19, OR if they are 19 or over AND are in the first year of their apprenticeship. Once an apprentice aged 19 or over completes their first year, they must be paid the National Minimum Wage for their actual age — either £10.85 (18–20) or £12.71 (21+). Many apprentices are underpaid because employers don't apply the age-based increase after year one.

Do tips and service charges count towards minimum wage?

No. Since October 2009, tips, gratuities, and service charges cannot count towards the minimum wage. Under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 (in effect from October 2024), employers must pass 100% of tips to workers fairly and maintain a written tips policy. Your hourly rate from your employer alone must meet the minimum wage, regardless of tips received.

What counts as working time for minimum wage purposes?

Working time for NMW includes: all time at work on the employer's premises, time spent travelling for work (but not commuting), mandatory training (including induction), time spent on standby or on-call at the workplace, and time spent before or after shifts doing required tasks (e.g. setting up, cashing up). Unpaid 'prep time' that pushes your effective hourly rate below the minimum is illegal.

How do I report minimum wage underpayment to HMRC?

You can report underpayment to HMRC confidentially via the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100, or through the Gov.uk reporting form at gov.uk/report-employer-to-companies-house (HMRC National Minimum Wage team). Reports are anonymous — your employer will not be told it was you. HMRC will investigate, can force the employer to repay arrears going back 6 years, and may impose a penalty of up to 200% of the underpayment.