United Kingdom · Updated for 2026/27
Self employed tax calculator 2026/27
On £30,000 of profit in 2026/27 you pay £3,486.00 income tax and £1,045.80 Class 4 National Insurance, and keep £25,468.20. In your first year that means £6,797.70 by 31 January 2028, then £2,265.90 by 31 July 2028.
Type what the business takes in and what it costs, or tick the trading allowance.
Self-employed · England, Wales or Northern Ireland · no student loan
£25,468.20 a year after tax
Tax and NI: £4,531.80 · £2,122.35 a month
| Year | |
|---|---|
| Income | £30,000.00 |
| Expenses | £0.00 |
| Profit | £30,000.00 |
| Income tax | −£3,486.00 |
| Class 4 National Insurance | −£1,045.80 |
| Take-home | £25,468.20 |
Class 2 National Insurance
Your profit is over the Small Profits Threshold, so Class 2 is treated as paid: the year counts towards your State Pension at no cost.
When you pay it
Your bill for income tax and Class 4 is £4,531.80, so payments on account apply. In your first year you pay £6,797.70 by 31 January 2028 (the whole 2026/27 bill, plus £2,265.90 towards next year), then £2,265.90 by 31 July 2028. After that, if your profit stays the same, £2,265.90 each January and July.
How is self-employed tax worked out?
Start with your profit: the money in, less your allowable expenses (or less the £1,000 trading allowance, if you use that instead). Income tax is then charged on the profit above your Personal Allowance (£12,570), at the same rates as a salary. On top comes Class 4 National Insurance: 6% of profit between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that. You pay both through Self Assessment, after the tax year ends.
What happened to Class 2 National Insurance?
Nobody has to pay it now. If your profit is £7,105 or more (the Small Profits Threshold), Class 2 is treated as paid: the year counts towards your State Pension and costs you nothing. Below that, you can choose to pay voluntary Class 2 at £3.65 a week (£189.80 a year) to fill the gap in your National Insurance record. It is usually a cheap way to protect your State Pension.
What are payments on account?
Advance payments towards next year’s bill. Once your income tax and Class 4 bill is £1,000 or more, HMRC asks for two payments towards the next year, each 50% of this year’s bill: one by 31 January and one by 31 July. You don’t make them if more than 80% of your tax was already taken at source, for example through a job.
On £30,000 of profit your bill is £4,531.80. In your first year you pay the whole bill plus the first payment on account, £6,797.70 by 31 January 2028, and then £2,265.90 by 31 July 2028. If your profit stays the same, each later January and July is £2,265.90, and the first year’s double payment is never repeated. Student loan repayments and Class 2 are not part of payments on account. GOV.UK explains payments on account in full.
What does the calculator leave out?
Other income, such as a salary, savings interest or rent; pension payments; losses from earlier years; and the special rules for partners, farmers and some trades. If you work through your own limited company, use the contractor calculator.
What else can I work out?
- Dividend tax calculator Tax on dividends band by band, after the dividend allowance, with your salary.
- Contractor calculator Your limited company in full: Corporation Tax, salary, dividends and profit kept.
- Student loan repayment calculator Your monthly repayment, and whether the loan is paid off or written off, and when.
- Salary calculator Take-home pay on any salary, with tax codes, Scotland, pensions and student loans.
Every UK tool on one page: salary and tax tools. How the rules work: UK pay and tax guides.
Questions about self-employed tax
How much tax do I pay on £60,000 of self-employed profit?
£11,432.00 income tax and £2,456.60 Class 4 National Insurance in 2026/27, if the business is your only income. You keep £46,111.40.
Do I have to pay Class 2 National Insurance?
No. With profits of £7,105 or more, Class 2 is treated as paid, so the year counts for your State Pension at no cost. Below that you pay nothing, but you can choose to pay £3.65 a week to protect your State Pension.
When is the Self Assessment deadline?
For 2026/27, file your return online and pay the tax by 31 January 2028. If payments on account apply, the second one is due by 31 July 2028.
Should I use the trading allowance or my expenses?
Whichever is bigger. The £1,000 trading allowance replaces your expenses, so it only helps when your real costs are under £1,000. If your income from trading is £1,000 or less in all, you may not need to tell HMRC at all.
What if I also have a job?
This calculator assumes the business is your only income. A salary uses up your Personal Allowance and tax bands first, so more of the profit is taxed. For a salary, use the salary calculator.