UK tax, in plain English

A tax office building. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Canary Wharf tube station in London — Canary Wharf tube station, London. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

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Income Tax, National Insurance, Self Assessment, tax codes, allowances, pensions, and refunds — the UK tax system touches almost everyone, but it is rarely explained in plain English. Which tax band are you in? What does your tax code mean? Do you need to file a tax return, and when is it due? What can you claim, and what happens if you overpay? This site answers those questions with figures from GOV.UK and HMRC, and links to check them yourself.

Start here, in five minutes

If you have never thought about tax before, start with how UK income tax works and then the 2026/27 rates and allowances. If your payslip looks wrong, read PAYE and your tax code. If you are self-employed, go straight to Self Assessment. If you think you overpaid, read tax refunds and overpayments.

All eleven guides

How the system works

How UK income tax works — HMRC, the tax year, PAYE and Self Assessment. Rates and allowances 2026/27 — the £12,570 Personal Allowance, the 20%, 40% and 45% bands, and the £100,000 taper. PAYE and tax codes — 1257L, emergency codes, and how to check yours.

What you pay

National Insurance — Class 1, Class 2 and Class 4 rates for 2026/27. Savings and dividend tax — the Personal Savings Allowance, the starting rate, and dividend rates. Capital gains tax basics — the £3,000 allowance, the 18% and 24% rates, and the 60-day rule.

Claims, reliefs and deadlines

Self Assessment — who must file, the deadlines, and the penalties. Allowances — Marriage Allowance, Blind Person’s Allowance, and Married Couple’s Allowance. Pension tax relief — how relief works and the £60,000 annual allowance. Refunds and overpayments — the P800, how to claim, and scams to avoid. Deadlines and records — every key date and what to keep.

What this site will not do

This site will not tell you what tax you owe, whether you should make a pension contribution, or what to do about your own tax position. It will not recommend any product, pension, or investment. It is not affiliated with HMRC or the UK government. What it will do is explain how the system works, what the rates are, and where to check your own position on GOV.UK — clearly enough that you can deal with HMRC with confidence.

Sources: GOV.UK; HMRC; Budget 2026 Annex A: rates and allowances.

General information only. This page explains how UK tax works in plain English. It is not tax advice, and it cannot tell you what you owe or what you should do about your own tax. Always confirm the current rates, rules, and your own position on GOV.UK or with HMRC before you act, and get professional advice for anything complicated. Contact: hello [at] tapetoolhq.com.