£21,000 after tax and NI: what’s your take-home pay?
In 2026/27, £21,000 leaves £18,639.60 a year — £1,553 a month — in England, Wales or Northern Ireland on the standard tax code (unchanged from 2025/26 — the income-tax and NI thresholds are frozen). Adjust anything below to match your situation.
Parsed as: 1257L (£12,570 allowance, England & NI)
The £21,000 breakdown, explained
On a £21,000 salary in 2026/27 you take home £18,639.60 a year in England, Wales or Northern Ireland — that's £1,553 a month, after £1,686.00 of income tax and £674.40 of National Insurance on the standard 1257L code. Everything above your £12,570 personal allowance is taxed at the 20% basic rate, and you're a comfortable £29,270 clear of the £50,270 higher-rate threshold. In Scotland, £21,000 attracts £39.67 less income tax (£1,646.33 in total), thanks to the 19% starter rate on the first slice above the allowance. All in, 11.2% of a £21,000 salary goes in deductions before it reaches your bank.
£21,000 across the UK
| Where you live | Income tax | National Insurance | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| England & NI | £1,686.00 | £674.40 | £18,639.60 |
| Scotland | £1,646.33 | £674.40 | £18,679.27 |
| Wales | £1,686.00 | £674.40 | £18,639.60 |
Scottish taxpayers save £39.67 income tax on £21,000 than those in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. National Insurance is the same UK-wide.
Nearby salaries
£18,000 after tax
Take-home £16,479.60 a year (£1,373/month) in 2026/27.
See breakdown£19,000 after tax
Take-home £17,199.60 a year (£1,433/month) in 2026/27.
See breakdown£20,000 after tax
Take-home £17,919.60 a year (£1,493/month) in 2026/27.
See breakdown£21,673 after tax
Take-home £19,124.16 a year (£1,594/month) in 2026/27.
See breakdown£22,000 after tax
Take-home £19,359.60 a year (£1,613/month) in 2026/27.
See breakdown£22,308 after tax
Take-home £19,581.36 a year (£1,632/month) in 2026/27.
See breakdownOr browse every salary breakdown.
£21,000 questions, answered
Sources: income tax rates · National Insurance rates · Scottish income tax