£1,250 a day: take-home inside and outside IR35 (2026/27)

On £1,250 a day for 220 days (£275,000 a year) a contractor in England keeps about £137,725 inside IR35 through an umbrella company and £139,301 outside IR35 through their own limited company. That is £1,577 a year more outside IR35.

Where the money goes at £1,250 a day

220 daysInsideOutside
Contract income£275,000£275,000
Umbrella margin£1,300£0
Employer NI and levy£36,081£1,136
Corporation tax£0£65,324
Income Tax and employee NI£99,895£2,514
Dividend tax£0£66,726
Take-home£137,725£139,301
Per month£11,477£11,608
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 £237,619. Outside IR35 the company pays you a £12,570 salary and the rest as dividends after corporation tax. In Scotland the figures are £129,165 inside and £139,341 outside.

By days worked

Days a yearInsideOutside
180£114,781£116,909
200£126,253£128,054
220£137,725£139,301
230£143,460£144,987

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 £1,250 a day inside IR35?

About £137,725 a year, or £11,477 a month, for 220 days through an umbrella company in England.

And outside IR35?

About £139,301 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.