Estimate what a bonus may actually feel like after deductions.
Use this focused bonus route to avoid comparing the gross bonus with what actually reaches you after PAYE, NI and other deduction pressure.
Calculator
Enter details. Read the result.
One-off pay impact
See how much of a bonus may actually be kept
This tool is designed to show why one-off bonus money can feel much smaller than the headline figure after deductions.
Best use
Bonus take-home estimate
Best next step
Compare with salary growth
Step 1
Enter salary and bonus
Use your main salary and the bonus amount to see a practical net-impact estimate.
Why bonus money feels different
A bonus is one-off money, and the deduction pressure can feel sharper because users compare the gross figure emotionally, not just mathematically.
Step 2
Read the bonus impact clearly
This is designed to show what the bonus may feel like after deductions, not just what it says on paper.
Interpretation
This bonus should retain a relatively strong share after deductions
From a bonus of £5,000, the retained amount should still feel fairly visible. The gross number will not fully translate into take-home, but the deduction drag is not especially heavy here.
Gross bonus
£5,000
Estimated net bonus
£3,600
Lost to deductions
£1,400
Keep rate
72%
This is the rough share of the bonus estimated to remain after deductions in this setup.
Bonus reading
This bonus should retain a relatively strong share after deductions
From a bonus of £5,000, the retained amount should still feel fairly visible. The gross number will not fully translate into take-home, but the deduction drag is not especially heavy here.
What to do next
If the bonus looks weaker than expected, compare it against a permanent pay rise or inspect the broader salary route to understand whether recurring income would feel stronger.
Compare against a salary rise
Useful when you want to judge whether permanent pay would feel stronger than one-off bonus money.
Open salary calculator
Go back to the broader salary route to understand total take-home context.
Read the raise guide
Useful when the real decision is one-off reward versus permanent salary growth.
2026/27
Current UK tax year
HMRC / GOV.UK
Reference sources
Estimate
Matches 2026/27 UK deduction reference rules with HMRC/GOV.UK guidance points.
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