Pension Contribution Calculator UK 2026/27

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Auto-Enrolment Pension Rules 2026/27

Rule	Value
Qualifying earnings band	£6,240 – £50,270
Earnings trigger for auto-enrolment	£10,000/year
Minimum total contribution	8% of qualifying earnings
Typical split	5% employee / 3% employer

Under a "net pay arrangement" (the most common workplace pension setup), your contribution is deducted before tax, so you automatically get tax relief at your marginal rate — a higher-rate taxpayer effectively pays less out of pocket for the same pension contribution.

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The figure above is an estimate of what you're entitled to or what it costs you — deciding what to actually do with it (invest, overpay debt, top up a pension) is a bigger decision worth getting right.

Received a redundancy payout: understand tax-free thresholds and how to make a lump sum work for you long-term.
Planning parental leave: budget around the drop from full pay to statutory rate, and check what protections apply.
Deciding whether to overpay a student loan: for many people investing the surplus outperforms early repayment — but it depends on your plan type and income trajectory.
Reviewing pension contributions: small percentage changes compound significantly over a career.

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Transparency & Methodology

Pension Contribution Calculator

Independent, Open-Source Estimator

An independent calculator applying published HMRC/gov.scot/DWP rates deterministically — no AI estimate, no official affiliation.

Methodology & Sources

Figures are public HMRC/gov.scot/DWP rates. For your exact position, use gov.uk/estimate-income-tax.

Not Tax or Legal Advice

Information only. Consult the Chartered Institute of Taxation or an adviser via the FCA Register.

Open Source

Formulas are public. Inspect on GitHub.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum pension contribution under auto-enrolment?

8% of qualifying earnings (between £6,240 and £50,270) in total, typically split as 5% from the employee and 3% from the employer, though the split can vary as long as the employer pays at least 3%.

How does pension tax relief work?

Under a net pay arrangement, your contribution is deducted from salary before Income Tax is calculated, so you automatically get relief at your marginal rate (20%, 40% or 45%) — a £100 contribution costs a higher-rate taxpayer only £60 out of take-home pay.

Can I contribute more than the auto-enrolment minimum?

Yes — many people increase contributions, especially higher earners using salary sacrifice to also reduce National Insurance, or to make use of the higher-rate tax relief before hitting the £60,000 annual allowance.

What is salary sacrifice?

An arrangement where you give up part of your salary in exchange for an equivalent employer pension contribution — this can also reduce your National Insurance bill, not just Income Tax, making it more tax-efficient than a standard net pay contribution.