Self-Employed Tax Calculator 2026/27
Work out the Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance on your self-employed profit, and how much to set aside for your Self Assessment bill.
2026/27 rates · verified 11 October 2026
Pension, student loan and tax code options
Auto-enrolment minimum is 5% from you (including tax relief), usually on qualifying earnings.
Estimate for the whole 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027). Monthly and weekly figures are the yearly amount divided by 12 and 52.
Self-employed tax on common profits
| Profit | Income Tax | Class 4 NI | Left after tax | Set aside each month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £15,000 | £486 | £146 | £14,368 | £53 |
| £20,000 | £1,486 | £446 | £18,068 | £161 |
| £25,000 | £2,486 | £746 | £21,768 | £269 |
| £30,000 | £3,486 | £1,046 | £25,468 | £378 |
| £40,000 | £5,486 | £1,646 | £32,868 | £594 |
| £50,000 | £7,486 | £2,246 | £40,268 | £811 |
| £60,000 | £11,432 | £2,457 | £46,111 | £1,157 |
| £80,000 | £19,432 | £2,857 | £57,711 | £1,857 |
| £100,000 | £27,432 | £3,257 | £69,311 | £2,557 |
Self-employed vs employed
Self-employed people pay less National Insurance (6% instead of 8%) but have no employer paying 15% NI and pension on their behalf, no sick pay or holiday pay, and must budget for tax themselves.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do self-employed people pay?
Income Tax at the same rates as employees, on your profit, plus Class 4 National Insurance at 6% between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above. On £40,000 profit that's £5,486.00 tax and £1,645.80 NI.
Do I still pay Class 2 National Insurance?
Not compulsorily. Class 2 is now voluntary at £3.65 a week. If your profits are under £7,105, paying it can protect your State Pension record.
When do I pay my tax?
Through Self Assessment: by 31 January after the tax year ends, plus payments on account on 31 January and 31 July unless your last bill was under £1,000 or more than 80% of your tax was collected at source. See tax deadlines.
Should I set money aside for tax?
A common rule of thumb is 20% to 30% of profit, but the calculator gives you a figure for your profit. Remember your first year may include a payment on account too.
What's the trading allowance?
If your self-employed income is £1,000 or less in a tax year, you don't need to tell HMRC. Above that, you can deduct £1,000 instead of actual expenses if it's better for you.
Related calculators
All rates, thresholds and dates on this page come from official sources, including GOV.UK, HM Revenue and Customs, the Scottish Government, Revenue Scotland and the Welsh Government. Last verified 11 October 2026.