How much of your bonus you keep

What you keep from a bonus, and what your payslip shows the month it’s paid.

Your details

Your result

Extra take-home this year£3,600
  • You keep72%£3,600
  • Tax, NI and loan28%£1,400
Take-home without it£30,720
Take-home with it£34,320
Share you keep72.0%
Your March payslip£6,409
A normal month’s payslip£2,560
Or sacrifice it into your pension£5,000 in, for £3,600 less take-home
Show the working
Income tax and NI on your new total of £45,000
Personal allowance£12,570
Taxable income: £43,000 − £12,570£30,430
Income tax 20% on £30,430£6,086
NI 8% on £32,430£2,594
Assumptions and limits

Your payslip in the bonus month uses cumulative PAYE, so it can differ from the yearly figure; any difference evens out by the end of the tax year. Pension is assumed not to apply to the bonus. Sacrificing a bonus depends on your employer offering it.

Sources: Income Tax rates · National Insurance rates · Student loan repaymentsTax year 2026/27

Common questions

Why was so much taken from my bonus?

A bonus is added to that month’s pay, so more of it falls into higher bands on that payslip. Income tax evens out over the tax year, but National Insurance and student loan are worked out on each payslip separately.

Is a bonus taxed at a higher rate?

No. It’s taxed at the same rates as your salary. It can push part of your income into a higher band, such as above £50,270 or £100,000.

Can I put my bonus into my pension?

If your employer offers bonus sacrifice, you can swap some or all of it for a pension contribution. You save income tax and National Insurance, and it can keep your income below the £60,000 or £100,000 thresholds.

How we calculate

Every calculator uses the published 2026/27 rates from one shared set of rules, so when a rate changes, it changes everywhere.

Where rates come from

Tax, National Insurance, student loan, benefit and property tax rates come from GOV.UK. Each calculator links to its sources.

What we don’t cover

Scottish income tax bands, tax codes other than 1257L, benefits in kind and your personal circumstances. Results are estimates to help you plan, not a payslip or advice.