Work out what actually lands in your account.
Free calculators for UK take-home pay, tax, benefits and bills — no account, no email, just the numbers.
Side hustle reality check
What YouTube and TikTok claim vs. what actually happens for most people who try it
Social media almost always shows the outcome, never the denominator — you see the one creator with a six-figure store, not the hundreds who tried the same product and lost money on ads. None of these side hustles are scams by default, but most take longer, cost more, and pay less than the version that gets clipped for a 30-second video. Pick one above to see the honest version.
Budget calculator
A simple 50/30/20 split — needs, wants, and savings — for your monthly income
The 50/30/20 rule is a starting point, not a rule book: 50% of take-home pay covers needs like rent, bills and groceries, 30% covers wants like eating out and subscriptions, and the remaining 20% goes to savings, investing or paying down debt. If your rent alone eats more than half your income — common in expensive UK cities — the ratios simply shift; the tool updates instantly so you can see what's realistic for your own budget rather than a national average.
Take-home pay calculator
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland — 2026/27 rates
Take-home pay is your gross salary minus Income Tax and National Insurance, and minus any pension you sacrifice before those deductions are worked out. Everyone gets a tax-free Personal Allowance of £12,570 for 2026/27, then the rest is taxed in bands — 20% up to £50,270, 40% up to £125,140, and 45% above that in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland runs six separate bands instead of three, so the same salary can land differently depending on where you live and work.
Tax refund timeline estimator
See roughly when to expect your money based on how and when you claimed
HMRC refund times vary a lot by claim type. A P800 refund claimed online through your Personal Tax Account is usually the fastest, often landing within 5 working days. A Self Assessment refund claimed online typically takes 1–2 weeks. Anything sent by post, including written correspondence to HMRC's PAYE and Self Assessment office, is far slower — usually 6–12 weeks, longer during busy periods like January. Claiming online is almost always the quickest route if the option is available to you.
State Pension next payment dates
State Pension is paid every 4 weeks — work out your next few payment dates
Unlike most benefits, the State Pension is paid every 4 weeks rather than monthly, which means the payment date drifts slightly each cycle instead of landing on the same date every month. Which day of the week you're paid on is fixed by the last two digits of your National Insurance number and doesn't change. If a payment date falls on a bank holiday or weekend, HMRC typically pays it on the last working day before, so treat these dates as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Minimum wage checker
Check your pay against the legal minimum for your age — 2026/27 rates
The National Living Wage (21 and over) and National Minimum Wage (under 21 and apprentices) are legal minimums your employer must pay — it's illegal to pay below them even if you signed a contract agreeing to a lower rate. Rates rise every 1 April, so it's worth rechecking your pay each spring, especially around a birthday that moves you into a higher age band. If you think you're being underpaid, HMRC investigates complaints and can order back pay plus penalties.
Universal Credit estimator
A rough monthly estimate based on your circumstances and earnings — 2026/27 rates
Universal Credit combines a fixed standard allowance with extra elements for children, housing, disability or caring responsibilities. Once your earnings go above your work allowance (only if you have children or limited capability for work), your payment reduces by 55p for every extra £1 you earn — known as the taper rate. If you have no work allowance, the taper applies from your very first pound of earnings. This is a simplified estimate; your actual award depends on your full circumstances.
Child Benefit calculator
See what you'd receive, and whether the High Income Child Benefit Charge applies
Child Benefit is paid regardless of income, but the High Income Child Benefit Charge claws some or all of it back through the tax system if either parent individually earns over £60,000 — it's based on the higher earner's income, not combined household income. Many high earners still claim it even knowing they'll repay some or all of it, because claiming registers the non-working or lower-earning parent for National Insurance credits that count toward their State Pension — skipping the claim entirely can mean a permanent gap in that record.
Energy bill estimator
Estimate your annual bill under the current Ofgem price cap (Jul–Sep 2026)
The energy price cap limits what suppliers can charge per unit of energy and per day of standing charge — it doesn't cap your total bill, which still depends on how much you actually use. Ofgem reviews the cap every three months (January, April, July, October), so these figures shift regularly. The standing charge is fixed daily regardless of usage, which is why low-usage households often feel it makes up a disproportionate share of their bill.
Mortgage overpayment calculator
See how much interest and time a monthly overpayment could save you
Overpaying comes straight off your capital balance, so you stop paying interest on that amount for the rest of the mortgage — even a modest monthly overpayment can cut years off the term and save thousands in interest, because mortgage interest compounds over decades. Most UK lenders allow overpayments up to 10% of the outstanding balance each year without an early repayment charge; going beyond that limit can trigger a penalty, so it's worth checking your specific mortgage terms before committing to a regular overpayment.
Council Tax reduction checker
See which reduction categories are worth checking with your local council
Unlike most benefits, Council Tax support is run by your local council rather than a single national scheme, so eligibility and reduction amounts genuinely differ depending on where you live. That said, a few categories are near-universal: a 25% single-person discount for sole adult occupiers, full student household exemptions, disability-related band reductions, and means-tested Council Tax Reduction (formerly Council Tax Benefit) for low-income households. Most councils let you check and apply online in under ten minutes once you know which category applies.
Student loan repayment calculator
Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgraduate — 2026/27 thresholds
Which plan you're on depends on when and where you studied — Plan 2 covers most English and Welsh students who started between 2012 and 2023, Plan 5 covers those starting after August 2023, and Plan 4 applies to Scottish students. Repayments are 9% of everything you earn above your plan's threshold, deducted automatically through payroll — not 9% of your whole salary. Because any remaining balance is written off after a set number of years, high earners on track to clear the loan early benefit most from overpaying; most graduates on average earnings never repay the full balance before write-off.
How UK take-home pay is worked out
Your employer takes two things off your gross pay before it reaches your account: Income Tax and National Insurance. Everyone gets a tax-free Personal Allowance — £12,570 for 2026/27 — then the rest is taxed in bands that get steeper as you earn more. Scotland sets its own bands, which is why the same salary can produce a different take-home figure depending on where you live.
All free cash tools
Every tool on Cash Updates — jump straight to the one you need.
Take-home pay calculator
Salary to net pay, all UK nations.
Tax refund timeline
Estimate when your refund will land.
State Pension dates
Your next few payment dates.
Budget calculator
A simple 50/30/20 split for your monthly income.
Minimum wage checker
Check your pay against the legal minimum.
Universal Credit estimator
A rough monthly UC estimate.
Child Benefit calculator
Rates plus the High Income Charge.
Energy bill estimator
Under the current Ofgem price cap.
Mortgage overpayment calculator
Interest and time saved by overpaying.
Council Tax reduction checker
Which national schemes to check.
Student loan repayment calculator
Plans 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgraduate.
Side hustle reality check
Hype vs. reality for 10 popular side hustles.