£21,000 After Tax 2026/27
If you earn £21,000 a year in the 2026/27 tax year, your take-home pay will be £18,641 per year, or £1,553 per month, after income tax and National Insurance deductions. You'll pay £1,684 in income tax and £674 in National Insurance, giving you an effective tax rate of 11.2%.
Take-Home (Year)
£18,641.41
Take-Home (Month)
£1,553.46
Take-Home (Week)
£358.50
Effective Tax Rate
11.2%
Full salary breakdown
| Annual | Monthly | Weekly | Daily | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | £21,000.00 | £1,750.00 | £403.84 | £95.45 |
| Income Tax | £1,684.19 | £140.34 | £32.38 | £7.65 |
| National Insurance | £674.40 | £56.20 | £12.96 | £3.06 |
| Take-Home Pay | £18,641.41 | £1,553.46 | £358.50 | £84.74 |
England, Wales & Northern Ireland rates for 2026/27. No pension or student loan deductions applied. Based on HMRC income tax rates and National Insurance rates.
How your £21,000 income is taxed
Your first £12,570 is tax-free (Personal Allowance). Income above this threshold is taxed at the basic rate of 20%. Your marginal rate — the rate on your next pound of income — is 20%.
Personal Allowance — £12,579
Basic Rate (20%) — £8,421 (tax: £1,684)
| Band | Rate | Income in band | Tax paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | 0% | £12,579 | £0 |
| Basic Rate (20%) | 20% | £8,421 | £1,684 |
National Insurance on £21,000
National Insurance contributions (NICs) are separate from income tax. For 2026/27, employees pay 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 (the Primary Threshold to Upper Earnings Limit), and 2% on anything above £50,270. On your £21,000 salary, this totals £674 per year (£56/month).
Get your personalised breakdown
The figures above assume no pension contributions or student loan. Add your pension scheme, student loan plan (1, 2, 4, 5 or postgraduate), Scottish tax rates, salary sacrifice, or Gift Aid to see your exact take-home pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much is £21,000 after tax?
On a £21,000 salary in 2026/27, your take-home pay is £18,641 per year (£1,553 per month). You pay £1,684 in income tax and £674 in National Insurance.
What is the effective tax rate on £21,000?
Your combined effective tax rate (income tax + NI) on a £21,000 salary is 11.2%. This means you keep 88.8% of every pound earned.
What is my marginal tax rate on £21,000?
Your marginal income tax rate is 20%. This is the rate you pay on each additional pound of income above your current earnings.
How much National Insurance do I pay on £21,000?
On a £21,000 salary you pay £674 in National Insurance contributions per year (£56/month). NI is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that.
How can I reduce my tax on a £21,000 salary?
Common ways to reduce your tax include: salary sacrifice pension contributions (which reduce both income tax and NI), workplace pension contributions under net-pay arrangements, claiming Marriage Allowance if eligible, and salary sacrifice for electric vehicles or cycle-to-work schemes.
All calculations use HMRC 2026/27 tax rates and thresholds. See our methodology for full details.