£20,000 After Tax 2026/27
UK Take-Home Pay
A £20,000 salary leaves you with £1,436/month take-home after PAYE tax, National Insurance, and pension in 2026/27.
Your take-home — 2026/27
How your £20,000 is split
Full deduction breakdown
2026/27 · Standard tax code 1257L · Auto-enrolment pension at 5%
| Deduction | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £20,000 | £1,667 |
| Income Tax (PAYE) | −£1,486 | −£124 |
| National Insurance | −£594 | −£50 |
| Pension (5% auto-enrolment) | −£688 | −£57 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | £17,232 | £1,436 |
What £20,000 means in practice
Your income sits comfortably in the basic rate band. Only £7,430 of your £20,000 salary is taxable — everything above your £12,570 personal allowance. You pay 20% on that taxable portion.
Your National Insurance is £594 per year (£50/month). NI is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270. There is no NI-free personal allowance in the same way as income tax — NI starts at your Primary Threshold (£12,570 in 2026/27).
Your pension contribution under auto-enrolment is £688 per year. This is 5% of qualifying earnings (the £6,240–£50,270 band). Your employer contributes at least another 3% (minimum £413/year). That money doesn't disappear — it goes into your pension pot and receives tax relief on the way in.
- You keep 86% of your gross pay (£17,232/year)
- Tax + NI combined: £2,080/year — effective rate 10.4%
- Monthly difference gross vs net: £231 per month in deductions
Student loan impact (Plan 2)
At £20,000, your salary is below the Plan 2 student loan repayment threshold of £29,385 for 2026/27. No student loan repayments are deducted at this income level for Plan 2 borrowers.
Frequently asked questions — £20,000 salary
How much is £20,000 after tax?
On a £20,000 salary in 2026/27, your annual take-home pay after income tax and National Insurance is £17,232. Including auto-enrolment pension contributions (5% of qualifying earnings), your take-home is £17,232 per year.
How much tax do I pay on £20,000?
On a £20,000 gross salary in 2026/27, you pay £1,486 in income tax. This uses the standard personal allowance of £12,570. Your effective income tax rate is 7.4%.
What is £20,000 as a monthly salary after tax?
A £20,000 annual salary works out to approximately £1,436 per month after income tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions in 2026/27.
How much National Insurance on £20,000?
On a £20,000 salary in 2026/27, you pay £594 in National Insurance contributions. NI is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above £50,270.