The UK money numbers that actually matter · 2026/27

Know the real number before you decide.

Calculators, guides and the key UK numbers for every stage of money life: studying, employed, self-employed or retired. Every figure sourced and dated, every tool honest about what it leaves out.

Nothing you type leaves your browser · No sign-up needed · Checked against gov.uk
3.75% base rate 2.6% inflation June 2026 data · checked daily The UK macro dashboard →

Your pay & tax

Saving & investing

Buying a home

Retirement

Key numbers & reference

Guides All guides, by life stage →

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What The Base Rate does

The Base Rate is a free set of UK calculators, guides and reference numbers built around one idea: know the real number before you decide. Take-home pay, tax on a bonus or dividends, mortgage repayments, ISA and pension growth, and the pot you need to retire, for every stage of money life. Every tool is free and runs entirely in your browser.

The figures are for the 2026/27 tax year and come from primary sources: HMRC and gov.uk for tax, the Bank of England for the base rate, the ONS for inflation and the PLSA for retirement living standards. Each calculator shows its working, so you can see how the answer is built rather than trusting a black box.

There is no account to create and nothing you type leaves your device. The tools are illustrative and not financial advice, but they are honest about their assumptions, and the guides next to each one explain the rules in plain English.

Why you can trust the numbers

Every assumption is shown

Each calculator lists the exact rates and thresholds it used, so you can check the working instead of trusting a black box.

Honest about the limits

Every calculator carries a "what this does not model" section, so you know where the number stops being reliable.

Built on published figures

HMRC, gov.uk, Bank of England and ONS figures for 2026/27, dated on the page and re-checked against the source.

Nothing you type is stored

Every calculation runs in your browser and your figures never reach a server. No sign-up needed for any tool; the newsletter is optional.

Popular questions

Are the calculators really free?
Yes. Every calculator on The Base Rate is free to use, with no account, no paywall and no sign-up needed. You can use them as often as you like.
Which tax year do the numbers use?
All the tax figures are for the 2026/27 UK tax year, including the £12,570 personal allowance, the National Insurance thresholds, the £20,000 ISA allowance and the £3,000 capital gains allowance. We update them when HMRC and the Treasury confirm changes.
Where do the figures come from?
The rates and thresholds come from primary sources: HMRC and gov.uk for tax, the Bank of England for the base rate, the Office for National Statistics for inflation, and the PLSA for retirement living standards. The base rate and inflation figures on the macro dashboard are pulled straight from the Bank of England and ONS.
Do the calculators work for Scotland?
The take-home pay and salary calculators let you switch to Scottish income tax bands, which differ from the rest of the UK. Taxes that are not devolved, such as National Insurance, dividend tax and capital gains tax, are the same wherever you live in the UK.
Do you store the numbers I enter?
No. Every calculation runs in your own browser, so the salary, savings and other figures you type are never sent to us or stored on a server. The net worth tracker saves its data only on your device, and you can clear it any time.
Is this financial advice?
No. The tools are for information and illustration only and do not take account of your personal circumstances. For a decision that matters, check the figure against your own paperwork or speak to a qualified, regulated adviser.
How often is the site updated?
The tax-year figures are reviewed at each Budget and at the start of every tax year. The base rate and inflation numbers on the UK macro dashboard update every morning from the Bank of England and ONS.
Which calculator should I start with?
Most people start with the take-home pay calculator to see their salary after tax and National Insurance. From there, the compound growth, mortgage and retirement number calculators are the most used.

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Illustrative tools only, not financial advice. Your capital is at risk. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified adviser. Sources: HMRC, gov.uk, PLSA.