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£1,000 Bonus After Tax UK (2026/27)
How much of a £1,000 bonus you keep in 2026/27: on a £35,000 salary you pay £200 tax and £80 NI and keep £720. Table for six salaries.
Your salary and bonus
Student loan
Bonus after tax
£720
| Bonus | £1,000 |
| Income tax on it | £200 |
| National Insurance on it | £80 |
| Total taken | £280 (28%) |
| Your December take-home pay | £3,113 |
For the whole tax year the bonus costs you £200 in income tax. National Insurance is worked out on each month on its own, so it is never adjusted later.
How it's worked out
- A bonus is paid through PAYE in the month you get it, with your normal tax code (1257L for most people).
- Income tax is cumulative: your pay so far this tax year, plus the bonus, is compared with your allowance and bands for the year so far.
- National Insurance and student loan are worked out on that month's pay only: 8% NI up to £4,189 a month, then 2%.
Rules for 2026/27, last checked October 2026. Estimate: assumes the same salary every month from April, the 1257L tax code, no salary sacrifice and no other income. Not legal, tax or financial advice. 🔒 Everything stays on your device.
✅ Rules last checked:
📚 Official sources: GOV.UK: tax on bonuses (PAYE) · GOV.UK: NI rates and thresholds
We build every tool from the official rules and re-check them when they change. Always confirm with the official source before you rely on a result.
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Answer: on a £35,000 salary, a £1,000 bonus paid in December loses £200 to income tax and £80 to National Insurance, so you keep £720.
| Salary | Income tax | NI | You keep | Due later* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £200 | £80 | £720 | — |
| £35,000 | £200 | £80 | £720 | — |
| £45,000 | £200 | £46 | £754 | — |
| £60,000 | £400 | £20 | £580 | — |
| £80,000 | £400 | £20 | £580 | — |
| £120,000 | £400 | £20 | £580 | £200 |
Paid in December (2026/27), England, Wales and Northern Ireland, tax code 1257L, no student loan or salary sacrifice. In the December bonus month PAYE can take more than your top rate; the extra comes back in January to March. *Over £100,000 you lose part of your Personal Allowance, which PAYE doesn't take from the bonus: that tax is due later.
Questions people ask
How much tax do I pay on a bonus in the UK?+
The same as on your salary: your top income tax rate plus National Insurance. On £35,000, a £2,000 bonus costs £516 (you keep £1,484); on £60,000 it costs £840 (you keep £1,160).
Why was so much tax taken from my bonus?+
PAYE looks at your pay so far this tax year. A big bonus can push that month into the 40% band even if your yearly pay stays in the 20% band. The extra comes back automatically in your later payslips before April.
Is National Insurance on a bonus refunded?+
No. NI is worked out on each pay period on its own and never adjusted at the end of the year. In a big bonus month you pay 8% only up to about £4,189 and 2% above it.
Can I avoid tax on my bonus?+
You can ask to swap it for a pension contribution (bonus sacrifice). That saves income tax and NI, and is especially worth it if the bonus takes you over £100,000.