Find your true net hourly rate after Income Tax, Class 4 NI, and platform fees — the only UK calculator that accounts for your day-job salary.
Calculate my true take-homeIncluded in Starter (£7/mo) and Pro (£12/mo) plans.
Income Tax
20% / 40% / 45% depending on total income including PAYE
Class 4 NI
6% on profits £12,570–£50,270; 2% above
Platform fees
Upwork, Fiverr, Etsy, Amazon, etc.
Payment processing
Stripe, PayPal typically 1.4–2.9%
Allowable expenses
Deducted before tax to reduce taxable profit
Illustrative output — graphic designer, PAYE salary £35,000, freelance rate £60/hr, 12 hrs/week.
That is 42.1% of your gross £60 rate. Confidence: HIGH. Sources: ITEPA 2003, SSCBA 1992 s15.
Side income is taxed as self-employment profit. It is added to your total income, which means it may be taxed at 40% if your combined PAYE and side income exceeds £50,270. You also pay Class 4 NI at 6% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270.
Yes, if your side income exceeds £1,000 per year (the trading allowance). You must register for Self Assessment and report the income on an annual tax return.
The trading allowance lets you earn up to £1,000 from self-employment without paying tax or filing a return. Above £1,000 you must either deduct the allowance or claim actual expenses — whichever is more beneficial.
HMRC taxes all income together. If your PAYE salary takes you to the basic-rate threshold, every pound of side income is taxed at the next rate (40% or 45%). FFCC's calculator uses your primary income to determine the correct marginal rate on your side profits.
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