£1,200 a day: take-home inside and outside IR35 (2026/27)

On £1,200 a day for 220 days (£264,000 a year) a contractor in England keeps about £132,677 inside IR35 through an umbrella company and £134,297 outside IR35 through their own limited company. That is £1,621 a year more outside IR35.

Where the money goes at £1,200 a day

220 daysInsideOutside
Contract income£264,000£264,000
Umbrella margin£1,300£0
Employer NI and levy£34,605£1,136
Corporation tax£0£62,574
Income Tax and employee NI£95,418£2,514
Dividend tax£0£63,479
Take-home£132,677£134,297
Per month£11,056£11,191
Share of income50%51%

Inside IR35 the umbrella pays 15% employer NI above £5,000 and the 0.5% apprenticeship levy from the assignment rate, then runs PAYE on gross pay of £228,095. Outside IR35 the company pays you a £12,570 salary and the rest as dividends after corporation tax. In Scotland the figures are £124,403 inside and £134,337 outside.

By days worked

Days a yearInsideOutside
180£110,651£112,897
200£121,664£123,596
220£132,677£134,297
230£138,183£139,756

Assumptions: umbrella margin of £25 a week, no business expenses, no pension contributions, no student loan and no other income. Change any of them in the IR35 calculator.

Other day rates

Frequently asked questions

How much do I take home on £1,200 a day inside IR35?

About £132,677 a year, or £11,056 a month, for 220 days through an umbrella company in England.

And outside IR35?

About £134,297 a year through your own limited company with a £12,570 salary and dividends, before accountancy and other company costs.

Who decides whether I am inside IR35?

A medium or large client decides and should give you a status determination statement. For a small private client, your own company decides.

Calculated with 2026/27 rates: employer NI 15% above £5,000, apprenticeship levy 0.5%, Income Tax and NI bands, corporation tax 19% to 25% with marginal relief, dividend tax 10.75% and 35.75%. Updated 2026-11-04. General information, not tax advice.