£12.71 Per Hour After Tax (2026/27)
£12.71 per hour is the UK National Living Wage from April 2026, paid to all workers aged 21 and over. Here is exactly what you take home after income tax and National Insurance at every common hours pattern.
At a glance — £12.71/hr, 40 hrs/week
Weekly Gross
£508.40
Monthly Gross
£2,203
Annual Gross
£26,437
Annual Tax + NI
£3,882
Monthly Take-Home
£1,880
Annual Take-Home
£22,555
Tax code 1257L · No pension · England/Wales/NI · 2026/27
Adjust your hours
Annual Take-Home
£22,555
Weekly Gross
£508.40
Annual Gross
£26,437
Monthly Take-Home
£1,880
Income Tax
£2,773
Employee NI
£1,109
Tax code 1257L · No pension · England/Wales/NI · 2026/27
£12.71/hr Take-Home by Hours Worked
| Hours/Week | Weekly Gross | Annual Gross | Income Tax | Employee NI | Monthly Net | Annual Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 hrs | £203.36 | £10,575 | £0 | £0 | £881 | £10,575 |
| 20 hrs | £254.20 | £13,218 | £130 | £52 | £1,053 | £13,036 |
| 25 hrs | £317.75 | £16,523 | £791 | £316 | £1,285 | £15,416 |
| 30 hrs | £381.30 | £19,828 | £1,452 | £581 | £1,483 | £17,795 |
| 35 hrs | £444.85 | £23,132 | £2,112 | £845 | £1,681 | £20,175 |
| 37.5 hrs | £476.63 | £24,784 | £2,443 | £977 | £1,780 | £21,364 |
| 40 hrs | £508.40 | £26,437 | £2,773 | £1,109 | £1,880 | £22,555 |
| 45 hrs | £571.95 | £29,741 | £3,434 | £1,374 | £2,078 | £24,933 |
| 48 hrs | £610.08 | £31,724 | £3,831 | £1,532 | £2,197 | £26,361 |
Net = gross minus income tax and employee NI. Tax code 1257L assumed. Annual gross below £12,570 attracts no tax or NI. Figures rounded to nearest £1.
What is £12.71 per hour?
£12.71 per hour is the UK National Living Wage from 1 April 2026, set by the government following the Low Pay Commission's recommendation. It applies to all workers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland aged 21 and over, regardless of sector or employer size.
The rate rose from £11.44/hr in 2024/25 to £12.21/hr in 2025/26 and then to £12.71/hr in April 2026 — an increase of 6.7% year-on-year, the largest cash increase in the Living Wage's history at the time.
| Year | Rate (21+) | Annual (40hr/wk) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | £10.42/hr | £21,673 |
| 2024/25 | £11.44/hr | £23,795 |
| 2025/26 | £12.21/hr | £25,397 |
| 2026/27 | £12.71/hr | £26,437 |
How income tax and NI are calculated at £12.71/hr
Working 40 hours a week at £12.71/hr gives a gross annual salary of £26,437. Here is how tax and National Insurance are worked out in 2026/27:
Worked example — 40 hrs/wk (England/Wales/NI)
- Annual gross: £26,437
- Personal Allowance: £12,570 (tax-free)
- Taxable income: £26,437 − £12,570 = £13,867
- Income tax at 20%: £13,867 × 20% = £2,773
- Employee NI (8% on £12,570–£50,270): £13,867 × 8% = £1,109
- Annual take-home: £26,437 − £2,773 − £1,109 = £22,555
- Monthly take-home: £22,555 ÷ 12 = £1,880
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