Self-employed tax calculator 2026/27
For sole traders and side hustles in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Shows how much to set aside for your Self Assessment bill.
📘 Guide: sole trader allowable expenses list 2026/27
2026/27 self-employed rates
- Income tax: the same bands as employees (Personal Allowance £12,570, 20%, 40% from £50,270, 45% from £125,140). Any salary uses up the lower bands first.
- Class 4 NI: 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that.
- Class 2 NI: nothing to pay. It's treated as paid if your profits are £7,105 or more. Below that, you can pay £3.65 a week voluntarily to protect your State Pension.
- Trading allowance: if your turnover is £1,000 or less, you don't need to declare it. Above that, you can deduct £1,000 instead of your actual expenses.
- Making Tax Digital: from April 2026 it applies if your qualifying income is over £50,000, and from April 2027 over £30,000.
Sources: GOV.UK self-employed NI, NI rates 2026 to 2027. Estimate only: it ignores student loans, the High Income Child Benefit Charge, losses and Scottish tax bands.
Income and expenses logs with HMRC categories, mileage, use of home, an estimate of income tax and Class 4 NI, and MTD-style quarterly totals.
See the template →
Profit per item, own items vs resale, per-platform counts against the HMRC reporting thresholds, a £1,000 trading allowance check and a stock list.
See the template →
FAQs
How much should I save for tax when self-employed?
A basic-rate sole trader with no other job usually needs about 20–26% of profit above £12,570, which covers 20% income tax plus 6% Class 4 NI. Use the calculator for your exact figure, and remember payments on account if your bill is over £1,000.
What are payments on account?
If your Self Assessment bill is over £1,000 (and less than 80% of your tax is collected through PAYE), HMRC asks for two advance payments towards next year: each is half of this year's bill, due on 31 January and 31 July.
Related calculators & guides
SA deadline countdown · Payments on account · Child Benefit charge (HICBC) · Mileage allowance 45p · Sole trader expenses guide · WFH tax relief 2026 · Vinted & eBay HMRC check · Take-home pay
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