The short answer
On a £21,000 salary in England, Wales or Northern Ireland for 2025/26 (standard allowance, no pension or student loan), you keep roughly £18,640 a year — about £1,553 a month (~£358/week). The Tax Bite is around £2,360 (Income Tax + employee NI).
Full breakdown
- Gross pay: £21,000
- Income Tax: £1,686
- National Insurance: £674
- Estimated net: £18,640 (£1,553 / month)
- You keep: ~89% · HMRC bite: ~11%
Mostly basic-rate — for now
£21,000 sits in the bulk of UK earners' comfort zone: mostly 20% Income Tax plus employee NI. The bite is real but predictable — until bonuses, Scotland, or student loans enter the chat.
What changes the number
- Scotland — different Income Tax bands (often a bigger bite at this salary).
- Pension % — can reduce taxable pay depending on your scheme.
- Student loan — Plan 1/2/4/5 or postgraduate trims take-home further.
- Bonus — taxed at marginal rate; use Advanced Features for true bonus take-home.
How we estimated this
Standard personal allowance scenario for 2025/26, employee PAYE, no student loan, pension, or bonus. Your payslip may differ with tax codes, benefits, or emergency codes. TaxBite runs in your browser on taxbite.lol — estimates only, not tax advice.