If rising living costs are putting pressure on your take‑home pay, it can be reassuring to understand exactly how much Income Tax you’re likely to owe. HMRC’s online calculator, available at gov.uk/estimate-income-tax, is a useful tool for getting a clearer picture of your position. It can also help if you think you may have paid too much tax and want to check whether you could be due a refund.
The ‘Estimate your Income Tax’ service works out how much Income Tax and National Insurance you are likely to pay for the current tax year (6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026). It is particularly helpful for employees paid through PAYE, as it provides an estimate of your expected take‑home pay after tax, pension contributions and any student loan deductions.
The calculator is simple to use, but there are a few things to be aware of. If you have more than one job, you’ll need to complete a separate calculation for each income source. The tool also isn’t suitable if your only income comes from state benefits such as the State Pension.
While the calculator gives a good indication of your likely tax bill, it doesn’t cover every situation. For example, certain adjustments — such as repayments of the Winter Fuel Payment for higher‑income individuals — are not included in the tool’s calculations.
