Answers · UK 2025/26
How much tax do I pay on £42,000 in the UK?
On a £42,000 salary for 2026/27 (England, Wales or Northern Ireland) you pay £5,886 Income Tax and £2,354.40 National Insurance, leaving £33,759.60 take-home pay, or about £2,813.30 a month.
Full answer
On a £42,000 salary in 2026/27, the £12,570 Personal Allowance leaves £29,430 taxable, entirely within the 20% basic rate band, giving £5,886 Income Tax. National Insurance is 8% of £29,430, which is £2,354.40. Combined deductions of £8,240.40 leave £33,759.60 take-home a year, around £2,813.30 a month or £649.22 a week. This salary is broadly typical for qualified accountants early in their career, experienced project coordinators and specialist public sector roles. In Scotland, taxable income of £29,430 falls within the starter, basic and intermediate bands, producing Income Tax of approximately £5,971 -- about £85 more than the rest of the UK. A Plan 2 student loan borrower pays 9% on £12,615 above their £29,385 threshold, or £1,135.35 a year, reducing take-home to £32,624.25. A Plan 1 borrower pays 9% on £15,100 above their £26,900 threshold, or £1,359 a year. A Plan 4 (Scotland) borrower pays 9% on £8,205 above their £33,795 threshold, or £738.45 a year -- combined with the Scottish tax figure above, a Scottish Plan 4 graduate on £42,000 takes home approximately £32,936.08 a year after tax, National Insurance and student loan repayments, once you account for the Scottish rates that would typically apply alongside a Plan 4 loan.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.