£550 a day: take-home pay 2026/27
Last updated:
What a £550 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) | £121,000 | £121,000 |
| Annual take-home | £69,733 | £71,549 |
| Monthly take-home | £5,811 | £5,962 |
| Effective take-home rate | 58% | 59% |
How the £550 rate breaks down
Umbrella route: income tax £28,657, employee NI £4,060, employer NI £17,400 and the umbrella margin come off the top before your take-home. LTD route: corporation tax £26,808 on profits, dividend tax £20,308, plus salary £12,570 and accountancy costs.
Is £550 a good day rate?
Check tonight's live percentiles for your role: project manager · business analyst · software engineer · all roles. At £550 you're comparing against the upper-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.
Email me outside-IR35 roles at £550+ a day
Free vs Pro alerts — instant Telegram on Pro.
Nearby rates: £300/day · £350/day · £400/day · £450/day · £500/day · £600/day · £700/day · £800/day · £900/day · £1,000/day