Bonus Tax Calculator (UK)
Work out how much of your bonus you actually keep after income tax and National Insurance for 2026/27. A bonus is taxed like normal pay at your marginal rate — model your salary + bonus in our calculator.
How Much of a Bonus You Keep
Taxed at your marginal rate, with employee NI on top.
| Bonus | Basic rate kept | Higher rate kept |
|---|---|---|
| £1,000 | ≈ £720 | ≈ £580 |
| £5,000 | ≈ £3,600 | ≈ £2,900 |
| £10,000 | ≈ £7,200 | ≈ £5,800 |
Keep More of Your Bonus
- Pension salary sacrifice: divert bonus to pension to avoid tax and NI.
- Cycle-to-work / EV schemes: also salary-sacrifice and lower taxable pay.
- Timing: if near a threshold, delaying or bringing forward can change the rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do I pay on a bonus?
A bonus is added to your salary and taxed at your marginal Income Tax rate (20%, 40% or 45%), plus employee National Insurance. There is no separate bonus tax rate — it's taxed like ordinary pay.
How much of a £5,000 bonus do I keep?
At the basic rate you keep about £3,600 (£5,000 − 20% tax − 8% NI). At the higher rate (40%) you keep about £2,900. The calculator models your exact salary and bonus together.
Can I reduce bonus tax with pension salary sacrifice?
Yes. Sacrificing part of a bonus into your pension avoids Income Tax and employee NI on that portion, which is especially valuable above £50,270. Use the calculator to compare net bonus with and without sacrifice.