Inside IR35
£74,423 annual cash
£121,848 cash-equivalent salary
UNDERSTAND YOUR NUMBERS
Day Rate vs Salary: The Whole Package
Compare annual cash and pension, allowing for benefits, paid leave and contract gaps.
Tax year 2026/27 · Last verified · Methodology · Official sources
Revenue is a starting point
Contractors invoice billable days; salary funds paid leave. Rate × weekdays overstates income if you cannot invoice every day.
Replace benefits
Include employer pension and benefits you would otherwise buy. Keep gross value and taxable benefit value distinct.
Break-even is a floor
Use package break-even, then a deliberate uncertainty uplift. This is a personal threshold, not proof of market price.
Use the relevant calculator
Worked example: £600/day
220 billable days give £132,000 revenue. These figures use the same engine as your comparison.
Outside IR35
£78,666 annual cash
£133,093 cash-equivalent salary
Make it yours
England, no loans or other income. Inside: assignment rate, no margin, levy or pension. Outside: £3,000 expenses, Personal Allowance salary, no pension or retained profit. Salary comparison: 5% employee and employer pension.
Compare with your salaryHow this calculation works
Revenue is day rate multiplied by billable days. The shared engine applies payroll taxes inside IR35 and company plus personal taxes outside IR35. Equivalent salary and rate solvers match cash, cash plus pension or economic value.
Important assumptions
Annual estimates, England by default, no other income or student loan. Illustrations use £3,000 company expenses, no opening reserves and a 12-month accounting period. Pension, gross benefits and retained profit are not spendable cash.
Revenue is a starting point
Contractors invoice billable days; salary funds paid leave. Rate × weekdays overstates income if you cannot invoice every day.
Replace benefits
Include employer pension and benefits you would otherwise buy. Keep gross value and taxable benefit value distinct.
Break-even is a floor
Use package break-even, then a deliberate uncertainty uplift. This is a personal threshold, not proof of market price.
Frequently asked questions
Is revenue the same as take-home?
No. Employment costs, expenses and taxes can apply before money reaches you. Pension and retained profit are separate.
Can this decide IR35 status?
ContractorMoney.co.uk does not determine IR35 employment status. We model financial consequences after you select a status.
Sources and review
Tax year 2026/27 · Last verified · Methodology · Official sources
- HMRC Income Tax, NI and student-loan thresholds
- HMRC dividend tax
- HMRC Corporation Tax and marginal relief
- HMRC pension tax relief
- HMRC off-payroll working guidance
- Government umbrella-company guidance
ContractorMoney.co.uk does not determine IR35 employment status. Use HMRC's official status guidance. Estimates only, not tax, financial, legal, accounting or investment advice. Read the limitations.