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Self-employed tax calculator 2026/27

Income Tax and National Insurance on your self-employed profit, worked out from HMRC's published rates, with CIS deductions, payments on account and whether Making Tax Digital applies to you.

About you
Where you live Scotland sets its own Income Tax rates.
Your business
Everything the business earned in the year, before taking anything off.
Running costs HMRC allow you to deduct. Leave blank if none.
Tick any that apply
The total contractors took off your pay this year. It is on your monthly payment and deduction statements.
Rent before expenses. Making Tax Digital counts it together with self-employment income. It is not included in the tax estimate.

How it is worked out

Profit is income before expenses, less allowable expenses. Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance are worked out on the profit, using HMRC's rates for 2026/27 (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Personal allowance£12,570
Reduced by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000
Income Tax, basic rate 20%£12,571 to £50,270
Income Tax, higher rate 40%£50,271 to £125,140
Income Tax, additional rate 45%over £125,140
Class 4 National Insurance 6%profit over £12,570 up to £50,270
Class 4 National Insurance 2%profit over £50,270
Class 2 National Insurancetreated as paid from £7,105 profit; voluntary £3.65 a week below
Trading allowance£1,000

A worked example

Income of £40,000 and expenses of £6,000 give a profit of £34,000. Income Tax is 20% of £21,430, which is £4,286.00. Class 4 National Insurance is 6% of £21,430, which is £1,285.80. Together: £5,571.80, about 16% of the profit.

What this calculator does not cover

Questions

How much tax do you pay when you are self-employed?

Income Tax on profit above the personal allowance (£12,570 in 2026/27): 20% up to £50,270, 40% up to £125,140 and 45% above that. On top of that, Class 4 National Insurance: 6% of profit over £12,570 up to £50,270, and 2% above. These are the rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Profit is income less allowable expenses. Income Tax rates on GOV.UK

Do I still pay Class 2 National Insurance?

Not as a bill. If your profits are £7,105 or more, Class 2 is treated as paid, which protects your National Insurance record without a payment. Below that you do not have to pay anything, but you can choose to pay voluntary Class 2 at £3.65 a week. Self-employed National Insurance rates on GOV.UK

When is the tax paid?

By 31 January after the tax year ends: 31 January 2028 for 2026/27. That is also the deadline for an online tax return. Where payments on account apply, the second one is due by 31 July 2028. Self Assessment deadlines on GOV.UK

What are payments on account?

Advance payments towards next year's bill, each 50% of this year's, due by 31 January and 31 July. HMRC do not ask for them if the bill was less than £1,000, or if more than 80% of the tax owed was taken at source, for example by CIS deductions. The first time they apply, January's payment can be 150% of the bill. Payments on account on GOV.UK

Do CIS deductions come off my tax bill?

Yes. CIS deductions count as advance payments towards your tax and National Insurance. HMRC work out what you owe and take off the deductions, and if more was deducted than you owe, HMRC pay the difference back. CIS deductions on GOV.UK

Does Making Tax Digital apply to me?

It depends on your qualifying income: self-employment and property income added together, before expenses. It applies from April 2026 if your 2024–25 return shows more than £50,000; from April 2027 if your 2025–26 return shows more than £30,000; from April 2028 if your 2026–27 return shows more than £20,000. You can also sign up voluntarily. Making Tax Digital eligibility on GOV.UK

What is the £1,000 trading allowance?

If your trading income before expenses is £1,000 or less, you do not need to tell HMRC or register for Self Assessment for it, though you must keep records. Above that, you can take the £1,000 allowance off your income instead of your actual expenses: one or the other, not both. It cannot be used for income from your employer, or from a company or partnership you or someone connected to you controls. The trading allowance on GOV.UK

Why is there no Income Tax figure for Scotland?

Scotland sets its own Income Tax rates and bands, and this calculator only holds the rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Rather than show a figure from the wrong rates, it shows National Insurance, which is the same across the UK. Scottish Income Tax on GOV.UK

Sources

HMRC's published rates for 2026/27, last checked against GOV.UK on 22 September 2026.