# Locum Tax Calculator

> Locum tax calculator for 2026/27: hourly or day rate to take-home as PAYE, umbrella (inside IR35) or limited company. For locum doctors, pharmacists and vets.

## Key facts

- A locum on £45/hour working 40-hour weeks for 44 weeks takes home about £50,153 through an umbrella inside IR35 in 2026/27, 63.3% of the £79,200 gross.
- At the same £45/hour rate, direct PAYE or bank engagement pays about £56,493, roughly £6,340 more than the umbrella route, because no employer NI is funded from the rate.
- Inside IR35 through an umbrella, about 15% employer NI plus the 0.5% apprenticeship levy come out of a locum's assignment rate before income tax is even calculated.

## Key pages

- [Locum tax calculator: what do your shifts pay after tax?](https://locumtaxcalculator.co.uk/): the main tool, answer above the fold.
- [IR35 for NHS locums: why trust shifts are taxed inside](https://locumtaxcalculator.co.uk/nhs-locum-ir35/): Almost all NHS trust locum work is inside IR35: the trust determines status and PAYE applies. What that means for a £45/hour locum, with 2026/27 figures.
- [Locum doctor tax: PAYE, umbrella and limited company compared](https://locumtaxcalculator.co.uk/locum-doctor-tax/): How locum doctors are taxed in 2026/27: agency PAYE, umbrella inside IR35 or a limited company outside. At £45/hour the gap is about £5,234 a year, worked examples.
- [Locum pharmacist tax: employment status and take-home explained](https://locumtaxcalculator.co.uk/locum-pharmacist-tax/): HMRC treats most community pharmacy locums as employees for tax. What locum pharmacists can and cannot do on status, expenses and take-home in 2026/27.
- [Locum tax deductions: what you can claim in each structure](https://locumtaxcalculator.co.uk/locum-tax-deductions/): GMC and GPhC fees, indemnity, subscriptions, travel and training: which locum expenses are deductible under PAYE, umbrella and limited company rules in 2026/27.
- [Locum take-home by hourly rate: PAYE vs umbrella vs limited company, 2026/27](https://locumtaxcalculator.co.uk/#data): original data table, updated 2026-08-15.
- [Full site content as markdown](https://locumtaxcalculator.co.uk/llms-full.txt)

## Data

- Locum take-home by hourly rate: PAYE vs umbrella vs limited company, 2026/27. Methodology: Computed from published HMRC 2026/27 rates: PAYE with £12,570 tapered allowance, 20/40/45% bands and 8%/2% employee NI; umbrella mode deducts a £25/week margin, 15% employer NI above £5,000 and the 0.5% levy before PAYE; limited company mode uses £12,570 salary plus £1,135.50 employer NI, corporation tax at 19%/26.5% marginal/25%, and full distribution taxed at 10.75%/35.75%/39.35% after the £500 dividend allowance. No pension contributions.
- Last updated: 2026-08-15. Every figure cites its source inline.
- Source: gov.uk. Income Tax rates and personal allowance: https://www.gov.uk/income-tax-rates
- Source: gov.uk. National Insurance rates and categories: https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-rates-letters
- Source: gov.uk. Working through an umbrella company: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-through-an-umbrella-company
- Source: gov.uk. Understanding off-payroll working (IR35): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-off-payroll-working-ir35
- Source: gov.uk. Corporation Tax rates and marginal relief: https://www.gov.uk/corporation-tax-rates
- Source: gov.uk. Tax on dividends: https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-dividends
- Source: gov.uk. Claim tax relief for your job expenses: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees
- Source: NHSBSA. NHS Pensions: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-pensions

## Citation

Cite as: "Locum take-home by hourly rate: PAYE vs umbrella vs limited company, 2026/27", Locum Tax Calculator, https://locumtaxcalculator.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-15).

## About

- Locum Tax Calculator is an information site. It is not affiliated with HMRC, the NHS, NHSBSA or any professional body, and nothing here is tax, accounting or financial advice. Figures are estimates built on stated assumptions; confirm your own position with an accountant before making decisions.
- Operated by locumtaxcalculator.co.uk. Contact: enquiries@locumtaxcalculator.co.uk