About us
UK tax made simple.
For everyone.
TaxHelper is a free, independent UK tax calculator and guide site. We exist to help ordinary workers understand their pay, check their tax code, and keep more of what they earn - without needing an accountant.
250,000+
Calculations run every month
5
Tax regions supported
6
Student loan plans covered
2021
Year we launched
Our mission
The UK tax system is one of the most complicated in the world. Even a straightforward salaried worker deals with income tax bands, National Insurance categories, student loan repayment plans, pension modes, and a tax code that can change without warning. Most people have no idea whether their payslip is right - and have no easy way to check.
We think that is wrong. Your pay is your money. You should be able to understand exactly where it goes.
TaxHelper was built to fix that. We publish free calculators that match HMRC's published rates exactly - not rounded estimates or last year's numbers - alongside plain-English guides that explain the rules in terms anyone can understand. Every calculation is transparent: we show the breakdown line by line, with the methodology behind it.
We also believe that transparency builds trust. If you spot an error in our calculations, we want to hear about it. Use the contact link below - we take accuracy seriously and act quickly on reports.
What we stand for
Always accurate
Every rate, threshold and band in our tools comes from a database we maintain each April when HMRC publishes new figures. We do not hardcode numbers - so when rules change, the calculators update automatically.
Built for real people
Most tax sites are written for accountants. We write for employees, freelancers and anyone trying to understand a payslip. Plain English, real examples, no jargon.
Private by design
We do not sell your data or run targeted ads. Your salary and tax figures stay in your browser unless you choose to save them to an account. We never share personal information with third parties.
Genuinely free
Every tool, guide and calculator on TaxHelper is free to use with no paywall, no credit card and no limit on the number of calculations you run. We keep the lights on through optional accounts and sponsorships.
HMRC-aligned
Our calculations follow published HMRC methodology: cumulative PAYE, correct NI thresholds, salary sacrifice and relief-at-source pension modes, and all six student loan plans. We show our working.
Fast and open
No log-in required. Results appear instantly. We support URL sharing so you can bookmark or send a calculation to a colleague or financial adviser with one link.
How we stay free
TaxHelper is free to use, and we intend to keep it that way. We cover our costs through:
- Optional accounts - a free account lets you save calculations and track changes over time. We may introduce premium features for power users in the future.
- Contextual recommendations - we occasionally recommend relevant financial products (pension providers, tax advisers, savings accounts) when they are genuinely useful. We clearly label these.
- Advertising - we may show relevant display ads to help keep the service free. We only work with advertisers whose products are relevant to personal finance and tax, and we never sell your personal data.
We will never put the core calculators or guides behind a paywall. If something is free today, it stays free.
Important: this is not financial advice
TaxHelper provides information, not regulated financial or tax advice. Our calculators produce estimates based on published HMRC rates and standard assumptions. They cannot account for every individual circumstance - for example, complex benefit-in-kind arrangements, trusts, foreign income, or specific HMRC agreements.
For decisions involving significant sums of money, a material life change (divorce, inheritance, starting a business), or any situation where you are unsure, please consult a qualified professional:
- A chartered accountant (ICAEW or ICAS member) for tax and financial matters
- A regulated financial adviser (FCA-registered) for investment and pension decisions
- HMRC directly via your Personal Tax Account or by calling 0300 200 3300
Tax rules change every year. While we update our tools as quickly as possible when HMRC publishes new figures, always verify important calculations against official HMRC guidance.
Get started
Try our salary calculator, explore the guides, or get in touch if you have a question or spot an error.