Exactly how much you take home on a £27,000 salary in the UK for 2026-27. Full breakdown with Plan 5 and Plan 2 student loan impact.
| Component | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £27,000 | £2,250 |
| Income Tax (20%) | −£2,616 | −£218 |
| National Insurance (8%) | −£1,154 | −£96 |
| Pension (5%) | −£1,350 | −£113 |
| Take-home pay | £21,880 | £1,823 |
With a 5% pension contribution, taxable income is £25,650. Tax is 20% on £13,080 above the £12,570 personal allowance, giving £2,616 per year or £218 per month. You remain entirely within the basic rate band.
NI is 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270. On £27,000 that is 8% on £14,430, giving £1,154 per year or £96 per month. Your effective NI rate is 4.3% of gross salary.
Plan 2 threshold is £27,295 — at £27,000 you are just below it, so no Plan 2 repayments apply. If you start on £27,000 and receive a pay rise to £27,295 or above, Plan 2 kicks in at 9% on the amount above. Plan 5 (£25,000 threshold) would add £180/year (9% on £2,000) to your deductions.
Scottish taxpayers on £27,000 pay slightly less income tax than in England due to the 19% Starter Rate. Scottish income tax is approximately £2,576 versus £2,616 in England — about £40 per year less. Scottish take-home is approximately £21,920 per year.
What is take-home pay on £27,000 in the UK?
On a £27,000 salary with 5% pension and no student loan, take-home pay is £21,880 per year (£1,823 per month) after £2,616 income tax and £1,154 NI in 2026-27.
How much tax on £27,000?
On £27,000 with 5% pension, taxable income is £25,650. You pay £2,616 income tax (20% on £13,080) and £1,154 NI (8% on £14,430). Combined effective tax rate is 14.0%.
Does Plan 2 student loan apply at £27,000?
No — the Plan 2 threshold is £27,295, so at £27,000 you are £295 below and no Plan 2 repayments apply. Plan 5 threshold is £25,000 so Plan 5 deductions of 9% on £2,000 = £180/year would apply if you are on Plan 5.
Free, accurate, 2026-27 rates. Scotland and tax code supported.