PAYE vs Self-Employed Calculator

Compare your take-home

Same money earned as a salary (PAYE) vs as self-employed profit. Updates live.

£

Income tax is the same either way - the difference is National Insurance.

Self-employed take-home advantage

PAYE (employee)

take-home

Self-employed

take-home

Income tax (both)
PAYE - Class 1 NI
Self-employed - Class 4 + 2 NI

Take-home isn't the whole story

Employees get

  • Employer pension contributions
  • Paid holiday & sick pay
  • Maternity/paternity pay
  • Income stability

Self-employed get

  • Lower National Insurance
  • Claim business expenses
  • Flexibility & control
  • But fund your own pension/cover

Powered by TaxFly - free UK tax calculators