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Tax & Facts: All you need to know for 2025-2026

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Welcome to the 2025-26 tax year! Please see below for all the key info you will need in respect of employment tax for this year.

National Minimum Wage

Age GroupFrom April 25From April 24Rate rise
21+£12.21£11.447%
18-20£10.00£8.6116%
16-17£7.55£6.4018%
Apprentices under 19£7.55£6.4018%
Apprentices 19 and over year 1 of apprenticeship£7.55£6.4018%

Student loans

Loan type2025/26 earnings trigger2024-25 earnings triggerCollection rate (unchanged)
Plan 1 (pre 2012)£26,065£24,9909%
Plan 2 (post 2012)£28,470£27,2959%
Plan 4£32,745£31,3959%
Post graduate£21,000£21,0006%

Statutory payments

DescriptionFrom April 25From April 24Rate Rise
Weekly SMP/SPP/SHPP/SAP (lower rate)£187.18£184.032%
Weekly Bereavement Pay£187.18£184.032%
Weekly SSP£118.75£116.752%

England, Northern Ireland and Wales

PAYE tax rates and thresholds per annumFrom April 2025
Personal Allowance (PA)Up to £12,570
Basic rate tax 20%£12,571 to £50,270
Higher tax rate 40%£50,271 to £125,140
Additional tax rate45% on earnings above £125,140

Personal allowance is removed for income over £125,140

Scotland

PAYE tax rates and thresholds per annumFrom April 2025
Personal Allowance (PA)Up to £12,570
Starter tax rate 19%£12,571 to £15,397
Basic rate 20%£15,398 to £27,491
Intermediate tax rate 21%£27,492 to £43,662
Higher tax rate 42%£43,663 to £75,000
Advanced rate 45%£75,001 to £125,140
Top rate 48%£124,141

Personal allowance is removed for income over £125,140

NIC thresholds and rates (Table A) 

ThresholdsPer week 2025/26Per month 2025/26Per year 2025/26Rates
Lower earnings limit£125£542£6,5000%
Primary threshold (Ees)£242£1,04812,5708%
Secondary threshold (Ers)£96£417£5,00015%
Upper earnings limit Primary (Ees)£967£4,189£50,2702%

Director pay – key annual amounts

ThresholdAnnual payQualifying year for state pension*Employee tax or NI deductionsER NIC due before EA relief*Eligible for auto enrol pension
Secondary threshold  £5,000  No  No  No  No
Lower earnings limit  £6,500  Yes  No  £225  No
AE pension limit  £9,999  Yes  No  £750  No
Primary threshold  £12,570  Yes  No  £1136  Yes

*EA eligibility requires at least:

  • one employee (not a director) earning at least the Secondary threshold or
  • one director and one employee both earning at least the Secondary threshold or
  • two directors – each earning at least the Secondary threshold.

EA will relieve up to £10,500 of employer NIC liability in 2025-26.

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