£30,000 profit self-employed: take-home 2026/27

A sole trader in England, Wales or Northern Ireland with £30,000 profit keeps £25,468.20 in 2026/27, or £2,122.35 a month. The bill is £3,486.00 Income Tax and £1,045.80 Class 4 National Insurance, about 15% of profit.

Breakdown at £30,000 profit

EnglandScotland
Profit£30,000.00£30,000.00
Income Tax£3,486.00£3,451.07
Class 4 National Insurance£1,045.80£1,045.80
Take-home per year£25,468.20£25,503.13
Take-home per month£2,122.35£2,125.26

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: £2,265.90 on 31 January and £2,265.90 on 31 July towards next year. In your first year of trading the January payment is the whole year's £4,531.80 plus the first payment on account, £6,797.70 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 £30,000 profit would leave you £24,403.45: £1,064.75 less than as a sole trader, after £3,095.96 corporation tax and £1,365.09 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 £30,000 self-employed profit?

£4,531.80 in 2026/27 with no other income: £3,486.00 Income Tax and £1,045.80 Class 4 NI. In Scotland it is £4,496.87.

How much should I put aside each month?

About £377.65 a month, or 15% 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.