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Pension tax relief calculator
Compare relief at source, net pay and salary sacrifice for the same percentage contribution.
Illustrative result
The same percentage does not produce the same pay or the same pot
2026 to 2027 · England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Relief at source take-home
- £41,758.00
- Relief at source pot
- £6,000.00
- Extra relief outside the pot
- £1,200.00
- Net pay take-home
- £41,758.00
- Net pay pot
- £6,000.00
- Salary sacrifice take-home
- £41,878.00
- Salary sacrifice pot
- £6,000.00
- Annual allowance for context
- £60,000.00
| Method | Take-home | Added to pension |
|---|---|---|
| Relief at source | £41,758.00 | £6,000.00 |
| Net pay | £41,758.00 | £6,000.00 |
| Salary sacrifice | £41,878.00 | £6,000.00 |
Assumptions
- Relief at source: you pay 80% of the gross contribution, basic-rate relief is added to the pot, and extra higher-rate relief reduces tax without being added again.
- The annual allowance is shown as context. Carry forward and the money purchase annual allowance are not calculated.
- Annual allowance taper is not applied here. If your income is near the taper, check the pension annual allowance rules before relying on the contribution.
Questions
Why can the pot and the tax relief differ by method?
Sacrifice and net pay give relief by reducing taxable pay. Relief at source puts basic-rate relief in the pot and gives further relief through the tax calculation.
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Estimates only. Tax and repayment rules can change, and this is not financial, tax or pension advice.
Live resultThe same percentage does not produce the same pay or the same potSee breakdown