Income tax in the UK is charged at progressively higher rates as your income rises. Many people worry that earning more could mean they pay tax at a higher rate on all of their income — that is a common misconception. The UK uses a tiered system: only the slice of income that falls within each band is taxed at that band’s rate. Understanding the difference between your marginal rate and your effective rate is key to making sense of your tax bill.
The 2025-26 Income Tax Bands (England and Wales)
For the 2025-26 tax year, the bands for taxpayers in England and Wales are:
| Band | Income Range | 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% |
The Personal Allowance is the amount you can earn before paying any income tax. For most people this is £12,570 in 2025-26.
Scotland
Scottish taxpayers pay income tax at different rates set by the Scottish Government. The 2026-27 Scottish bands are:
| Band | Income Range | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Starter Rate | £12,571 – £16,537 | 19% |
| Basic Rate | £16,538 – £29,526 | 20% |
| Intermediate Rate | £29,527 – £43,662 | 21% |
| Higher Rate | £43,663 – £75,000 | 42% |
| Advanced Rate | £75,001 – £125,140 | 45% |
| Top Rate | Over £125,140 | 48% |
The Scottish Budget 2026-27 uplifted the Starter and Basic thresholds; Intermediate, Higher, Advanced and Top remain frozen. Rates are unchanged.
National Insurance and other deductions are the same UK-wide.
What Is a Marginal Tax Rate?
Your marginal rate is the rate of tax you pay on your next pound of income — whichever band that pound falls into. If your salary is £35,000, your marginal rate is 20%, because the next pound you earn still sits in the basic rate band. If your salary were £51,000, your marginal rate would be 40%, because additional income would fall in the higher rate band.
Knowing your marginal rate matters when you are considering:
- Whether to accept a pay rise or overtime
- How much you keep from freelance or side income
- Whether pension contributions are worth making (relief is at your marginal rate)
What Is an Effective Tax Rate?
Your effective tax rate is the total income tax you pay as a percentage of your gross income. Because the lower bands are always taxed at the lower rates, your effective rate is always lower than your marginal rate.
Formula: Effective rate = (Total income tax ÷ Gross income) × 100
Worked Example: £35,000 Salary
Let’s walk through exactly how income tax is calculated for a taxpayer in England earning £35,000 in 2025-26.
Step 1: Apply the Personal Allowance
The first £12,570 of income is free of income tax.
Taxable income = £35,000 − £12,570 = £22,430
Step 2: Calculate Tax on Each Band
All £22,430 of taxable income falls within the basic rate band (which runs up to £50,270), so the entire amount is taxed at 20%.
| Band | Taxable Amount | Rate | Tax Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Rate | £22,430 | 20% | £4,486 |
| Total | £4,486 |
Step 3: Calculate Effective Rate
Effective rate = £4,486 ÷ £35,000 × 100 = 12.82%
So while the marginal rate is 20%, the effective rate is only about 12.8% — because nearly £12,570 was sheltered by the personal allowance.
How Bands Work Incrementally
It is worth emphasising what happens when income crosses a band boundary. Suppose the same taxpayer receives a £20,000 pay rise, taking their gross salary to £55,000.
| Band | Amount | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | £12,570 | 0% | £0 |
| Basic Rate | £37,700 | 20% | £7,540 |
| Higher Rate | £4,730 | 40% | £1,892 |
| Total | £9,432 |
Only the £4,730 that exceeds £50,270 is taxed at 40%. The income already in the basic rate band continues to be taxed at 20%. The effective rate on a £55,000 salary is £9,432 ÷ £55,000 = 17.15% — not 40%.
The Personal Allowance Taper
If your income exceeds £100,000, your Personal Allowance is gradually withdrawn. It reduces by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000 and disappears entirely at £125,140. This creates an effective marginal rate of 60% on income between £100,000 and £125,140 — one of the most punishing bands in the UK tax system.
Example: An employee earning £110,000 has their personal allowance reduced by £5,000 (half of the £10,000 above the £100,000 threshold). Instead of a £12,570 allowance, they receive only a £7,570 allowance. That extra £5,000 of income that was previously tax-free becomes taxable at 40%, adding £2,000 of extra tax — equivalent to a 60p-in-the-pound marginal rate on that slice.
Pension contributions can be used to bring income below £100,000 and recover the full personal allowance.
Gift Aid and Tax Band Effects
If you make charitable donations through Gift Aid, HMRC treats the donation as having been made net of basic rate tax. Higher and additional rate taxpayers can claim back the difference between their marginal rate and the basic rate through their self assessment return. A £100 Gift Aid donation actually costs a 40% taxpayer only £60 after reclaim.
Key Takeaways
- Income tax is charged only on the slice of income in each band — not on your total income.
- Your marginal rate is the rate on your next pound; your effective rate is tax as a share of total income.
- For a £35,000 salary in 2025-26, income tax is £4,486 — an effective rate of approximately 12.8%.
- The personal allowance taper between £100,000 and £125,140 creates a 60% effective marginal rate — worth planning around with pension contributions.
- Scottish taxpayers face different (and generally higher) rates above the basic rate band.
Use the income tax calculator to see your personal figures based on your exact salary and region.