£18,000 self-employed profit: estimated take-home £16,588
Estimate for a sole trader resident in England, Wales or Northern Ireland whose only income is £18,000 of self-employed profit: £1,086.00 Income Tax and £325.80 Class 4 National Insurance, leaving approximately £1,382.35 a month.
The breakdown
| Profit | £18,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Personal Allowance (tax-free) | £12,570.00 |
| Basic rate (20%) on £5,430.00 | - £1,086.00 |
| Class 4 National Insurance | - £325.80 |
| Take-home for the year | £16,588.20 |
| Per month | £1,382.35 |
| Per week | £319.00 |
What it means
All of this profit is taxed at the basic rate. Each extra £100 you earn costs about £26 in tax and National Insurance, leaving around £74.
Set aside about 8% of every payment (£1,412 over the year). Because the bill is over £1,000, HMRC will usually also ask for payments on account: roughly £706 on 31 January and again on 31 July towards next year.
In Scotland the same profit leaves £16,627.87 (£39.67 more), because Scottish Income Tax has its own bands. National Insurance is the same everywhere.
Try your own numbers
2026/27 tax year. Income from self-employment only: no salary, savings, dividends, student loan or pension contributions. An estimate for general information only.
£16,588.20
about £1,382.35 a month
How much tax is due on £18,000 of self-employed profit?
An estimated £1,086.00 Income Tax and £325.80 Class 4 National Insurance in 2026/27, £1,411.80 in total, if this is your only income and you live outside Scotland.
Is this profit or turnover?
Profit: what you invoiced minus allowable business expenses. If you invoiced more but had costs, enter both in the calculator above.
What if I also have a job?
Your salary uses up the Personal Allowance and basic-rate band first, so more of your self-employed profit is taxed at higher rates. This page assumes self-employment is your only income.
Watch your tax bill grow as you're paid.
Fenquist keeps a running estimate all year, so January is never a surprise. Free to start.