Net bonus (take-home)
£11,638
Tax on bonus
£7,946
NI on bonus
£416
Marginal rate
4181.1%
Month 1 basis: If your bonus is paid in one month, payroll may deduct more initially (emergency tax). This is usually corrected in the next payslip or at year end.
Assumptions behind this estimate
- Tax year: 2025/26
- Tax region: UK (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
- Tax code: 1257L
- Base salary: £50,000 (for this example)
- No student loan deductions
Results are estimates. Use the full calculator for your exact salary and circumstances.
Key Insights
Your £20,000 bonus is taxed at a marginal rate of 4181.1% (3973.0% income tax + 208.1% NI). You take home £11,638.
Pension savings: If your employer allows bonus sacrifice into your pension, you could save up to £836,220 in tax and NI — because salary sacrifice avoids both. Learn about salary sacrifice.
Month 1 tax impact: If this bonus is paid in one month, payroll may temporarily over-deduct by around £946. This corrects in subsequent payslips or at year-end.
How is a bonus taxed?
Your bonus is added to your salary and taxed at your marginal rate. At £50k salary you are in the higher rate band (40% income tax, 2% NI above the upper limit). At lower salaries more of the bonus may be taxed at 20% and 8% NI. Student loan repayments (9% above the threshold) also apply if applicable.
You can often reduce tax by putting a bonus into your pension via salary sacrifice— your employer may allow a one-off bonus sacrifice.
What changes this result?
Your actual take-home depends on your salary (which band you are in), student loan plan, and whether the bonus is paid in one month (Month 1 basis). Check your tax code, use the full bonus calculator, and see salary sacrifice if you can pay the bonus into your pension.