UK tax guides · 2026/27
Plain-English UK tax, written carefully.
13 explainers plus the live cliff map, built around the Afterax calculators and reviewed against current HMRC rates.
New guides
Why was my bonus taxed so much?
Separate bonus PAYE, National Insurance, pension and student loan deductions, with 2026/27 worked examples and a practical payslip check.
6 min read · Reviewed 24 October 2026
Pay & payroll · new
Emergency tax after changing jobs
Check your P45, starter checklist, emergency tax basis and HMRC record after a job change, with realistic timing and worked examples.
7 min read
Pensions · new
Claim extra pension tax relief
Find your pension relief method, distinguish cash from gross contributions and choose the current HMRC claim route, with UK and Scottish examples.
6 min read
Family & thresholds · new
The £100,000 childcare check
Calculate each parent’s adjusted net income for Tax-Free Childcare and England’s working-parent offer, with pension examples and country boundaries.
6 min read
Student loans · new
Student loan deductions after a bonus
See why a bonus triggers a student loan deduction, compare annual and monthly thresholds, and check the official refund conditions for 2026/27.
7 min read
Live tool
High earners and thresholds
High earners
4 min read
UK high-earner tax routes
A routing guide for Child Benefit, the £100k tax trap, bonuses, pensions, student loans and Scotland.
Read the guide
Income tax
6 min read
The 60% tax trap, explained
Why the £100k taper creates a 60% income-tax effect, and why employee examples are often about 62% including NI.
Read the guide
Pension
Pension
7 min read
Is salary sacrifice worth it?
How a £1 of take home pay turns into £2 or £3 in your pension, and the trade offs nobody mentions.
Read the guide
Pension
5 min read
Can salary sacrifice go below minimum wage?
Why salary sacrifice must not reduce cash earnings below the minimum wage and how employers cap it.
Read the guide
Pay and codes
Family
Business
Investing
How these guides are sourced
Facts come from HMRC and GOV.UK primary sources named beside the claims, with the tax year labelled at the top of every page and worked examples showing their assumptions. Start with the guide that matches the rule you are trying to understand, then open the linked calculator with your own income, region, pension and student loan details.
Browse salary after tax examples
Compare take home pay from £20,000 to £150,000, plus worked threshold and regional scenarios.
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