Tax facts
What you need to know about this year's rates and allowances
Important information: The following tax facts should be viewed as an indication of the rates and allowances available and relate to the current tax year (2025/26) unless stated otherwise. Tax law is notoriously complex and we cannot replicate every rule, nuance or exemption here. Therefore, you should not make, or refrain from making, any decisions based on this information alone. If you are in any doubt as to the suitable course of action, we recommend you seek tax advice. Remember tax rules can change and how they affect you may depend on your personal circumstances. Information believed to be correct as at 27/03/2025.
Shortcuts
Income tax allowances and bands
Please note it is taxable income which applies in this assessment, including earnings, pensions in payment, cash interest, fixed interest income, dividends and rent. ISA income is not included.
Income tax - main personal allowances
| Allowance | 2025/26 |
|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | £12,570 |
| Transferable tax allowance for married couples/civil partners | £1,260 |
| Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) |
£1,000 for Basic-rate taxpayers £500 for Higher-rate taxpayers Not available for Additional-rate taxpayers |
| Dividend Allowance | £500 |
A Married Couple’s allowance (born pre 6 April 1935) or Blind Person’s allowance may also apply.
The transferrable tax allowance only applies where neither individual is a higher or additional rate tax-payer. The maximum tax reduction available is £252.
The personal allowance reduces by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000. The personal allowance is lost if taxable income exceeds £125,140 (2025/26).
The dividend and personal savings allowances apply after the personal allowance and the personal savings allowance is calculated using UK, not Scottish, rates. Anything within these allowances still counts towards the basic and/or higher rate tax bands.
Income tax - bands
UK excluding Scottish Earned or Pension Income
| Tax Band | Taxable income | Tax rate | Dividend tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance (tax free) | £0-£12,570 | 0% | N/A |
| Basic rate | £12,571 - £50,270 | 20% | 8.75% |
| Higher Rate | £50,271 - £125,140 | 40% | 33.75% |
| Additional Rate | Over £125,140 | 45% | 39.35% |
Non-savings income uses up the starting rate for savings.
Scotland only
Scottish tax bands only apply to earned and pension income. The rates above apply to savings and dividend income.
| Tax Band | Taxable income | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance (tax free) | £0 - £12,570 | 0% |
| Starter Rate | £12,571 - £15,397 | 19% |
| Basic rate | £15,398 - £27,491 | 20% |
| Intermediate Rate | £27,492 - £43,662 | 21% |
| Higher Rate | £43,663 - £75,000 | 42% |
| Advanced Rate | £75,001 - £125,140 | 45% |
| Top Rate | Over £125,140 | 48% |
Learn more about ISAs
Find out how you could save tax with this year's ISA and make more of your existing ISAs.
Capital gains tax (CGT)
CGT is charged on any profits (the 'gains') you make when you sell (or transfer) shares and unit trusts, or other assets such as a second home. If the total of any gains realised in the year, minus any losses, exceeds your annual allowance the excess is liable to CGT.
CGT has a different tax rate depending upon whether it applies to business assets or non-business assets.
Annual capital gains tax allowance: £3,000 (2025/26)
2025/26 Capital gains tax rates (non-business assets)
| Capital gains | Tax rate |
|---|---|
| Gains which when added to taxable income fall in the UK basic rate tax band | 18% |
| Gains which when added to taxable income fall in the UK higher or UK additional rate tax band | 24% |
Capital gains on residential property which is not a main residence are also taxed at 18% and 24%.
Business Asset Disposal Relief
Business assets are generally a share (or interest) in the company or firm you work for. Business Asset Disposal Relief is subject to meeting certain criteria - Please visit the Gov website for more information
Inheritance tax (IHT)
| Value of estate | Tax rate |
|---|---|
| £1 - £325,000 (known as IHT threshold or nil rate band) | 0% |
| Over £325,000 | 40% |
| Tax year | Residence nil rate band |
|---|---|
| 2017/18 | £100,000 |
| 2018/19 | £125,000 |
| 2019/20 | £150,000 |
| 2020/21 | £175,000 |
| 2021/22 | £175,000 |
| 2022/23 | £175,000 |
| 2023/24 | £175,000 |
| 2024/25 | £175,000 |
| 2025/26 | £175,000 |
Stamp duty
Stamp duty reserve tax (SDRT)
0.5% rounded up to the nearest penny when you buy shares that settle via an electronic paperless system.
Standard stamp duty
When you buy shares worth over £1,000 that settle via a paper system the tax charge is 0.5% rounded up to the nearest £5. There is no charge if the shares are worth less than £1,000.
Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) - residential
Charged when you buy residential land or property.
| Purchase price or value |
Tax rate paid on portion of purchase price |
Tax rate paid on second and subsequent houses |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% | 5% |
| £125,001 to £250,000 | 2% | 7% |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | 5% | 10% |
| £925,001 - £1,500,000 | 10% | 15% |
| £1,500,000+ | 12% | 17% |
| Tax | Tax rate |
|---|---|
| Capital gains tax allowance | £1,500 (divided by the number of trusts settled subject to a minimum of £300 per trust) |
| Capital gains tax rate | 24% |
| Inheritance tax (transfers into discretionary trusts) | 20% |
| De minimis amount £500* |
0% |
| Income tax rate (on all income, not just the income above the de minimis amount, where the amount is exceeded) |
45% |
| Dividend tax rate (on all income, not just the amount above the de minimis amount, where the amount is exceeded) | 39.35% |
*Divided by the number of trusts settled subject to a minimum of £100
State Pension
State Pension age
Historically the State Pension age was 60 for women and 65 for men. This has changed.
It’s now 66 for everyone.
The State Pension age is due to increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028 and to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
Visit the government's website for more information
Basic State Pension rate
For those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, the maximum in 2025/26 is £176.45 per week.
In addition, there may be entitlement to earnings related State Second Pension (S2P) formerly State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS).
You needed 30 qualifying years for a full basic State Pension. A qualifying year is one where either sufficient National Insurance was paid or was deemed to have been paid.
Visit the government's website for more information
New State Pension rate
For those who reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, the maximum in 2025/26 is £230.25 per week.
This figure will be reduced for those who have contracted out of the State Second Pension (S2P), formerly State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS), before 6 April 2016.
35 qualifying years are needed to receive the full New State Pension. A qualifying year is one where either sufficient National Insurance has been paid (on earnings above a lower limit of £6,500 for this tax year) or deemed to have been paid.
Transitional rules apply for those who accrued State Pension before 6 April 2016.
Visit the government's website for more information Get a State Pension statement
Pensions
Tax relief on pension contributions
| Tax status | Tax relief 2025/26* | Net cost of £1,000 gross contribution 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Non-taxpayer (including children) and Scottish Starter rate | 20% | £800 |
| Scottish intermediate rate | 21%* | £790 |
| Scottish higher rate | 42%* | £580 |
| Scottish advanced rate | 45%* | £550 |
| Scottish top rate | 48%* | £520 |
| Basic-rate taxpayer | 20% | £800 |
| Higher-rate taxpayer | 40%* | £600 |
| Additional-rate taxpayer | 45%* | £550 |
* Any tax relief above basic rate is restricted to the amount of tax paid at that rate. This assumes no other taxable income.
Pension contribution limits
| Relevant UK earnings (usually earnings from employment or self-employment) | Maximum personal or employee contribution for tax relief |
|---|---|
| £0 - £3,600 | £3,600 |
| £3,601 and over | 100% of earnings |
Annual allowance: £60,000. A £10,000 money purchase annual allowance will apply for those who have flexibly accessed their pensions. Download our annual allowance factsheet to learn more.
Tapered annual allowance: If your threshold income is over £200,000 then your annual allowance will be reduced by £1 for every £2 that your adjusted income is over £260,000; to a minimum annual allowance of £10,000.
Threshold income is, broadly, all taxable income plus salary sacrificed for pension contributions on or after 9 July 2015 minus personal or employee (not via salary sacrifice) pension contributions.
Adjusted income is, broadly, all taxable income plus employer pension contributions (including via salary sacrifice) plus some benefit accrual in defined benefit, e.g. final salary, pension schemes.
Learn more about SIPPs
Our straightforward guide gives you a run-down on SIPPs and why they are transforming the way people are saving for retirement.
National Insurance contributions
Class 1 employed (2025/26)
| Earnings per week | Employee rate |
|---|---|
| £0 to £242 | Nil |
| £242 to £967 | 8% |
| £967 and over | 2% |
| Earnings per week | Employer rate |
|---|---|
| £0 to £96 | Nil |
| £96 and over | 15% |
National Insurance applies to most earned income or benefits in kind. National Insurance rates may be different for certain employees, e.g. if employee is over the State Pension age. No National Insurance paid by employers up to £967 for employees under 21 or apprentices under 25.
Self-employed and voluntary
| Type of National Insurance contribution | Tax rate 2025/26 |
|---|---|
| Class 2 self-employed | £3.50 per week (voluntary) |
| Class 2 small profits threshold | £6,845 per annum |
| Class 3 voluntary | £17.75 per week |
| Class 4 lower profits limit | £12,570 per annum |
| Class 4 upper profits limit | £50,270 per year |
| Class 4 rate between lower profits limit and upper profits limit | 6% |
| Class 4 rate above upper profits limit | 2% |