Income Tax: How Much Can You Earn Before Paying?

Everyone hates taxes, it’s fine it’s not a secret or a surprise. In almost every country on earth, individuals have to pay taxes on the money they earn, which is known as income tax.

However, in most cases, there’s a minimum amount a person can make that goes untaxed, meaning you are only eligible to pay taxes if you earn over the specified untaxable income.

If you are looking to boost your income, Prograd's algorithm is designed to help you find the perfect side-hustle. Simply fill in our 30-second form to get started today.

Currently, the income tax personal allowance in the UK is £12,570, meaning those earning below this threshold will not have to pay tax. Any earnings above this are subject to taxation.

What Is Income Tax?

Income tax is the tax paid on money earned. Depending on how much your income is, you will need to pay different rates. With taxes, the government is able to function and fund public services. Now everyone can have an argument on how effectively that’s being done, but that’s not why we’re here right now.

For some people, there is no need to pay income tax. For example, if you earn below a certain threshold, you will not need to pay taxes. This value is known as a personal allowance. Not to be confused with the allowance you were given as a kid.

What Is The Personal Allowance Threshold?

The Budget states that the personal allowance is £12,570 and will stay at this number until April 2028.

Do I Earn Enough To Pay Tax?

If you earn more than the personal allowance threshold, you will need to pay tax on your income according to your relevant tax bracket.

However, you will also need to pay tax if you:

• Run a business, as you will need to pay tax on the profits
• Have savings and investments, as you will need to pay tax on interest and dividends
• Are a landlord, as you will need to pay tax on the rent you receive

In almost every financial aspect of your life, there’s some form of tax just waiting around the corner ready to get you.

How Much Income Tax Do I Have To Pay?

How much you earn determines the amount of tax that you pay. This is calculated using salary bands, meaning that you will pay more tax if your income is higher.

The salary bands for the tax year 2023/2024 are:

• £0 - £12,570: Earnings between £0 and £12,570 do not require any income tax to be paid. This is the tax-free personal allowance. Don’t use this as an incentive to not earn more than £12,570, as it is very difficult to survive on such a small amount of income.
• £12,571 - £50,270: The basic rate for income tax is 20%, and this applies to any earnings between £12,571 and £50,270.
• £50,271 - £125,140: The higher rate is 40%, affecting earnings between £50,271 and £125,140.
• £125,140+: For earnings over £125,140, individuals need to pay an income tax of 45%.

However, in the most recent Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt froze the threshold at which people need to pay higher tax rates.

Am I Eligible For Any Income Tax Allowances?

Usually, you don’t pay Income tax on all income due to allowances - an amount of taxable income that you can earn each year without having to pay tax.

For example, there is a marriage allowance, where one partner can transfer some of their unused personal allowances to a spouse. Additionally, there are certain allowances for personal savings and dividends.

If you are a higher earner, it is unlikely that you will be eligible for any personal allowance. For incomes of over £125,140, individuals have to pay tax on all their earnings as soon as they make their first pound.

For those earning over £100,000, they still have a personal allowance, but it reduces by £1 for every £2 of income.

It might seem rather complicated, and in truth, it somewhat is. Taxes are more intricate when you consider every avenue of income you have and all the benefits you might be able to take advantage of. Nothing better than the deductions, though, so it’s worth scouring over to get your money's worth.

How Do I Calculate Income Tax?

You do not need to pay income tax on all of your income - just the rate of tax on your income in the bracket.

For example, if you earn £51,000 annually, you will need to pay:

No tax on the first £12,570 (rate of 0%)

Then, 20% tax on the amount of income between £12,571 and £50,270 (in this case, £37,700)

And 40% on the final £730 (£51,000 - £50,270)

You can use income tax calculators to gain a better understanding of how much tax you might owe in a given year.

Conclusion

In summary, the amount you can earn before paying tax in the UK is £12,570 until 2028. If you are earning below this amount, you do not need to worry about paying anything.

Of course, if you’re earning more than the personal allowance, then you will be liable to pay a portion of your earnings above this, depending on which salary band you fit into. In order to calculate this, it’s worth using online tools and calculators to generate an estimated amount.

Want to improve your financial literacy and work towards your savings goals? Get started with Prograd today.