£120,000 profit self-employed: take-home 2026/27
Breakdown at £120,000 profit
| England | Scotland | |
|---|---|---|
| Profit | £120,000.00 | £120,000.00 |
| Income Tax | £39,432.00 | £44,232.05 |
| Class 4 National Insurance | £3,656.60 | £3,656.60 |
| Take-home per year | £76,911.40 | £72,111.35 |
| Take-home per month | £6,409.28 | £6,009.28 |
The England figures also apply in Wales and Northern Ireland. No Class 2 is due. Your profit is above the £7,105 threshold, so the year counts for your State Pension. Student loans add 9% of income above your plan threshold, for example Plan 2 above £29,385.
When you pay it
The bill is over £1,000, so payments on account apply: £21,544.30 on 31 January and £21,544.30 on 31 July towards next year. In your first year of trading the January payment is the whole year's £43,088.60 plus the first payment on account, £64,632.90 in one go. More in the payments on account guide.
As a limited company instead
Paying yourself £12,570 salary and the rest as dividends, a company with the same £120,000 profit would leave you £74,654.37: £2,257.03 less than as a sole trader, after £24,418.05 corporation tax and £19,792.08 dividend tax. Try other options in the limited company calculator.
Have a job as well, expenses to enter or a student loan? Use the self-employed tax calculator.
Other profit levels
Frequently asked questions
How much tax do I pay on £120,000 self-employed profit?
£43,088.60 in 2026/27 with no other income: £39,432.00 Income Tax and £3,656.60 Class 4 NI. In Scotland it is £47,888.65.
How much should I put aside each month?
About £3,590.72 a month, or 36% of every payment you receive.
Is this before or after expenses?
After. Profit is your income minus allowable business expenses. Tax is only charged on profit.
Calculated with 2026/27 HMRC rates: Personal Allowance £12,570, Class 4 at 6% and 2%, Scottish bands for Scottish taxpayers. Updated 2026-11-04. General information, not tax advice.