£400 a day: take-home pay 2026/27
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What a £400 day rate actually pays in 2026/27, worked both ways: inside an umbrella company and outside via your own limited company. Figures assume 220 chargeable days a year, the standard 46-week umbrella model and a £12,570 salary under LTD. Computed live from the same verified tax engine that powers the take-home calculator — never typed in by hand.
| Umbrella | Limited company | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross assignment (220 days) | £88,000 | £88,000 |
| Annual take-home | £53,709 | £55,152 |
| Monthly take-home | £4,476 | £4,596 |
| Effective take-home rate | 61% | 63% |
How the £400 rate breaks down
Umbrella route: income tax £17,192, employee NI £3,499, employer NI £12,450 and the umbrella margin come off the top before your take-home. LTD route: corporation tax £18,558 on profits, dividend tax £11,955, plus salary £12,570 and accountancy costs.
Is £400 a good day rate?
Check tonight's live percentiles for your role: project manager · business analyst · software engineer · all roles. At £400 you're comparing against the middle quartile of most professional categories.
Illustration only — assumptions and the full methodology are on the 2026/27 tax page. Not tax advice; verify at gov.uk.
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