UK tax and pay guides

Everything that decides what lands in your bank account each month, explained in plain English for the 2026/27 tax year. Each guide is the definitive version of its topic on this site: start here, then follow the linked articles for specific situations.

How UK Income Tax Works in 2026/27

The Personal Allowance, the 20%, 40% and 45% bands, the 60% trap above £100,000, and how income tax is actually deducted from your pay.Guide

National Insurance Explained: 2026/27 Rates and Thresholds

What Class 1 National Insurance costs you at 8% and 2%, when it starts, how it differs from income tax, and what it pays for.Guide

UK Tax Codes: What 1257L, BR, D0 and K Codes Mean

How to read your tax code, why it changes, what emergency codes cost you, and how to fix a wrong code and claim back overpaid tax.Guide

Student Loan Repayments: Plans 1, 2, 4, 5 and Postgraduate

The 2026/27 repayment thresholds for every plan, how 9% deductions actually work, and what happens with multiple loans or a new job.Guide

Workplace Pensions and Salary Sacrifice: The Complete Guide

Auto-enrolment minimums, how tax relief works at 20% and 40%, why salary sacrifice beats relief at source, and the £100k trap escape route.

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