Tax on £20,000: Year-on-Year Comparison
Compare income tax and National Insurance on a £20,000 salary for 2026-27 vs 2025-26. Take-home pay is unchanged between the two years in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Annual Difference
—
2026-27 vs 2025-26 · England
Monthly Difference
—
per month · England
Effective Rate (2026-27)
10.4%
total deductions / gross · England
England, Wales & Northern Ireland
Income tax + employee NI on £20,000 gross salary
| 2026-27 | 2025-26 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | £12,570.00 | £12,570.00 | — |
| Income Tax | £1,486.00 | £1,486.00 | — |
| National Insurance | £594.40 | £594.40 | — |
| Total Deductions | £2,080.40 | £2,080.40 | — |
| Take-Home Pay | £17,919.60 | £17,919.60 | — |
Scotland
Income tax + employee NI on £20,000 gross salary · Scottish rates apply
| 2026-27 | 2025-26 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | £12,570.00 | £12,570.00 | — |
| Income Tax | £1,446.33 | £1,457.73 | +£11.00 |
| National Insurance | £594.40 | £594.40 | — |
| Total Deductions | £2,040.73 | £2,052.13 | +£11.00 |
| Take-Home Pay | £17,959.27 | £17,947.87 | +£11.00 |
What Changed in 2026-27
Income tax thresholds remain frozen while employer NI stays at the higher 15% rate introduced in April 2025.
Income tax thresholds remain frozen
The Personal Allowance stays at £12,570 and the higher rate threshold at £50,270, continuing the freeze that started in 2021.
Employer NI rate stays at 15%
The employer NI rate remains at 15% with the £5,000 secondary threshold, introduced in April 2025.
Capital gains tax rates unchanged
CGT rates remain at 18% (basic) and 24% (higher) for most assets after the October 2024 increases.
Dividend allowance stays at £500
The tax-free dividend allowance remains at £500, down from £2,000 in 2022-23.
Employment Allowance at £10,500
Small businesses can reduce their employer NI bill by up to £10,500, increased from £5,000.
Scottish Starter and Basic bands uplifted
Rates unchanged (19% to 48%) but Scottish Budget 2026-27 uplifted the Starter band by 40% and the Basic band by 7.4%. Starter now runs to £16,537 and Basic to £29,526. Intermediate, Higher, Advanced and Top thresholds remain frozen.
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Frequently asked questions
How much income tax do you pay on a £20,000 salary in 2026-27?
On a £20,000 salary in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland in 2026-27, you pay £1,486.00 in income tax and £594.40 in National Insurance, giving a take-home of £17,919.60 per year. The effective total deduction rate is 10.4%.
Has the tax on a £20,000 salary changed from 2025-26 to 2026-27?
For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the difference in take-home pay between 2025-26 and 2026-27 on a £20,000 salary is nil — rates and thresholds are identical in both years. The Personal Allowance and basic rate threshold remain frozen at £12,570 and £50,270 in both years.
How does Scotland compare for a £20,000 salary in 2026-27?
In Scotland, the 2026-27 income tax on a £20,000 salary is £1,446.33, giving a take-home of £17,959.27 per year. Scotland uses a six-band system (Starter 19%, Basic 20%, Intermediate 21%, Higher 42%, Advanced 45%, Top 48%), which can result in a different tax bill compared to the three-band structure in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Sources
Last updated March 2026. Reflects 2026-27 and 2025-26 tax year rates.