Which Tax Year Do You Need?
Old vs New: What Changed Between Tax Years
| Tax year | Personal Allowance | Higher-rate threshold | Employee NI main rate | Notable change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | £12,570 | £50,270 | 11.5% (blended) | NI cut 12% → 10% from 6 January 2024 |
| 2024/25 | £12,570 | £50,270 | 8% | NI cut 10% → 8% from 6 April 2024 |
| 2025/26 | £12,570 | £50,270 | 8% | Rates held; Scottish thresholds uprated |
| 2026/27 (current) | £12,570 | £50,270 | 8% | Allowance freeze continues |
Because the Personal Allowance and higher-rate threshold have been frozen throughout, the take-home difference between these years at the same salary is driven almost entirely by the National Insurance rate — a salary of £35,000 kept noticeably less in 2023/24, when the blended employee NI rate was 11.5%, than it does now at 8%.
Why Check a Past Tax Year?
- Checking an old payslip or P60 for accuracy
- Working out backdated pay, pay-award arrears or a tribunal settlement
- Comparing your pay rise year-on-year in real take-home terms
- Verifying HMRC correspondence about a previous tax year
- Amending a prior-year Self Assessment return
How Historical Take-Home Pay Is Calculated
Each year uses the same deterministic method as the current calculator — gross salary, minus Income Tax across that year's bands, minus National Insurance at that year's rate. Only the rate constants change between years; the formula does not. Figures are basic pay only and exclude pension, student loan and benefits in kind.
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Need a Past Year's Figures Verified?
This calculator gives a reliable estimate using published rates — for a definitive check against your specific tax code, benefits-in-kind or multiple income sources, an accountant or HMRC's own tools are the authoritative source.
Check on gov.uk →