For UK therapists, counsellors and coaches · 2026/27 tax year
Therapist take-home pay calculator (UK, 2026/27)
👋 Hello!
Not quite sure what you actually earn each month? When money comes in bit by bit and costs pop up at different times, it’s easy to lose track.
This calculator clears that up. It shows your true take-home pay, after expenses, tax and National Insurance, based on tax rules in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has different income tax bands, so if you live there the tax part will be off.
Curious to explore how you could make more money? At the end, there’s a simulator where you can try out different changes and see how they could boost your pay.
Have fun!
Calculations use 2026/27 tax year rates (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027) and assume your practice profit is your only taxable income, you use the standard personal allowance, and you are below State Pension age. Rates from gov.uk, checked 15 September 2026. Everything is worked out in your browser. We also measure that a calculation happened, with the average session price and weekly session count, so we know the tool earns its keep. See our cookie policy for how analytics works.
Income
List how many sessions you have on a normal working week. If you have sessions with different prices, you can list up to ten different types.
(If it varies a lot, use your average from the last 3–5 weeks.)
| Type of session | Price (£) | How many in a week? |
|---|
Costs
List your HMRC-allowable running costs, e.g. room rent, insurance, software, marketing costs and eligible professional development. For mixed personal and business costs, enter only the business share.
Fill in the cost per month (as that’s usually how costs are priced).
| Cost type | £ / month |
|---|
Your time
Takes a few seconds. No sign-up needed.
Your result.
take-home pay per month, on average
That’s £0 per year.
This is what’s left after expenses, tax and NI. Your real, spendable money.
Before pension contributions, student loan or VAT, if those apply to you.
Right now your costs are higher than your income, so the numbers below are thin. Worth a look at the costs table, or at your prices.
Where it goes each year
| Practice income | £0 |
| Running costs | −£0 |
| Income tax | −£0 |
| Class 4 National Insurance | −£0 |
| Yours to keep | £0 |
Class 2 National Insurance is treated as paid (£0) when profits are £7,105 or more, which protects your State Pension record. Below that you can pay it voluntarily at £3.65 a week. This calculator assumes you are below State Pension age; different NI rules apply after that.
Your real hourly rate
*If each unpaid hour instead held a session at your average price, after tax and NI on the extra income. Real weeks are messier than that, but it shows the size of the prize. Session maths assumes a session takes about an hour.
The Simulator
Your income, reimagined.
Spend 1 hour less on admin per week and see a client instead.
£0 more in your pocket per month.**
👉 What if you did more sessions?
£
To achieve that pay, you would need to do around 0 more sessions per week on average.
👉 What if you charged more?
Your new take-home pay would be £0 per month, after taxes and expenses. That is £0 more than today.
👉 What if you cut the unpaid admin?
Shrinking that admin pile is the whole reason Joy exists, so if you would rather spend those hours on clients (or on your evenings), have a look at Joy.
Important to keep in mind:
This calculator gives you a clearer picture and helps you explore different scenarios, but it’s an estimate, not financial or tax advice. It assumes you are a self-employed sole trader, that your practice profit is your only taxable income, that you use the standard personal allowance and actual allowable expenses rather than the trading allowance, that you are below State Pension age, and that you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Every situation is different, and there may be details this tool doesn’t account for, like other income, pension contributions, student loan repayments or VAT. If you’re making big decisions or want personalised guidance, speak to a qualified accountant or adviser.
**Assumes that with the saved admin hour, you do one extra session at your average price, every week you work. Tax and NI on the extra income are deducted, so this is money in your pocket.
Quick answers
How much do therapists take home in the UK?
There is no single number that would not be misleading: it depends on your fees, how many sessions you hold, your costs and your time off. The mechanics are the same for everyone though. HMRC taxes your profit (income minus allowable costs), the first £12,570 is tax free for most people (the personal allowance), and above that you pay income tax plus Class 4 National Insurance. This calculator runs the 2026/27 rules on your own numbers, which beats any average.
What counts as a business expense in private practice?
HMRC’s allowable expenses include office costs, travel, staff costs, financial costs such as insurance or bank charges, costs of your business premises, advertising or marketing, and training courses related to your business. For a therapy practice that typically means room hire, professional indemnity insurance, membership fees, supervision, software and marketing. The full list is on gov.uk, and an accountant can tell you what applies to your practice.
Do I pay National Insurance on private practice income?
For the sole trader below State Pension age assumed here, profit over £12,570 attracts Class 4 National Insurance through Self Assessment: 6% on profit between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that (2026/27 rates). Class 2 no longer has to be paid: if your profit is at least £7,105 it is treated as paid and protects your State Pension record, and below that you can pay it voluntarily at £3.65 a week.
Does this calculator work if I live in Scotland?
Not fully. Scotland sets its own income tax bands and rates, so the income tax part will be off. National Insurance is the same across the UK. If you are in Scotland, treat the result as a rough sketch rather than an estimate.
What if my practice is not my only income?
Then your real tax bill will differ from this estimate. The calculator assumes your practice profit is your only taxable income, but an employed salary or other income uses up your personal allowance and tax bands first, so your practice profit can be taxed at higher rates than shown here. An accountant or your HMRC Self Assessment calculation will give you the full picture.
Originally built by Lina, co-founder at Joy. Updated for the 2026/27 tax year.
Rates checked 15 September 2026 against gov.uk: Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances · Income over £100,000 · Self-employed National Insurance rates · Rates and allowances: National Insurance contributions · Expenses if you’re self-employed.
This page is an estimate tool for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is not financial or tax advice, and it is not affiliated with HMRC. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at hello@joy.day and we will fix it.