£500 a day: take-home inside and outside IR35 (2026/27)

On £500 a day for 220 days (£110,000 a year) a contractor in England keeps about £65,519 inside IR35 through an umbrella company and £69,932 outside IR35 through their own limited company. That is £4,413 a year more outside IR35.

Where the money goes at £500 a day

220 daysInsideOutside
Contract income£110,000£110,000
Umbrella margin£1,300£0
Employer NI and levy£13,938£1,136
Corporation tax£0£21,768
Income Tax and employee NI£29,243£0
Dividend tax£0£17,164
Take-home£65,519£69,932
Per month£5,460£5,828
Share of income60%64%

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 £94,762. Outside IR35 the company pays you a £12,570 salary and the rest as dividends after corporation tax. In Scotland the figures are £62,481 inside and £69,932 outside.

By days worked

Days a yearInsideOutside
180£55,476£60,487
200£60,498£65,210
220£65,519£69,932
230£68,030£72,293

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 £500 a day inside IR35?

About £65,519 a year, or £5,460 a month, for 220 days through an umbrella company in England.

And outside IR35?

About £69,932 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.