Head-to-head · Tax Calculators
GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator vs HMRC Income Tax Estimate
GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator leads on 0 checks, HMRC Income Tax Estimate on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreGOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator · 8.5/10
- Free planboth
GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator scores higher on our rubric for tax calculators: 8.5 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.
On tax jurisdictions, HMRC Income Tax Estimate gives you Multiple where GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator offers Federal.
GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator is the better fit for UK self-employed people with mixed income. HMRC Income Tax Estimate is the better fit for UK employees estimating tax and take-home pay.
- GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator fits best
UK self-employed people with mixed income
- HMRC Income Tax Estimate fits best
UK employees estimating tax and take-home pay
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.
Side by side
| Feature | GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator 8.5/10 Visit ↗ | HMRC Income Tax Estimate 8.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Ranking | #5 in Tax Calculators | #6 in Tax Calculators |
| Best for | UK self-employed people with mixed income | UK employees estimating tax and take-home pay |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Docs | Docs |
| Built for | Solo | Solo |
| Specs | ||
| Calculator types | Income Tax; Class 4 National Insurance | Income Tax and National Insurance estimate; take-home pay estimate |
| Tax jurisdictions | Federal | Multiple |
| Income sources | self-employment profits; property rental income; State or occupational pension; paid employment | Employment income; does not estimate when state benefits are the only income |
| Filing statuses | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Tax years | 2025 to 2026 | 2026–2027 |
| Platforms | web | web; iOS; Android |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Our verdict | GOV.UK’s Self Assessment Tax Calculator is a free web tool from HM Revenue & Customs for estimating Income Tax for the 2025 to 2026 tax year. For self-employed users, it also estimates Class 4 National Insurance. It is aimed at people who… Read the review → |
HMRC Income Tax Estimate is a free calculator for employees who pay tax through an employer. It estimates Income Tax and National Insurance for the current UK tax year, then shows estimated take-home pay. Employees can include pension… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator — where it wins
- Estimates Income Tax for the 2025 to 2026 tax year
- Includes Class 4 National Insurance for self-employed users
- Combines self-employment, rental, pension, and employment income
Where it doesn't
- Assumes the standard Personal Allowance
- Does not account for savings and investment income
- Excludes the High Income Child Benefit Charge and amounts already paid
HMRC Income Tax Estimate — where it wins
- Estimates Income Tax, National Insurance and take-home pay
- Includes pension contributions and student loan repayments
- Available on web, iOS and Android
Where it doesn't
- Designed for employment income rather than all income types
- State benefits as the only income are not supported
- Multiple jobs require a separate estimate for each job
- GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator8.5/10 · Free plan
A free web calculator for estimating 2025–26 tax across several income sources.
Visit GOV.UKFull verdict → - HMRC Income Tax Estimate8.4/10 · Free plan
A free HMRC estimator for employment tax and take-home pay.
Visit HMRCFull verdict →
More comparisons
- Federal Income Tax Calculator by SmartAsset vs GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator
- Federal Income Tax Calculator by SmartAsset vs HMRC Income Tax Estimate
- SmartAsset Paycheck Calculator vs GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator
- SmartAsset Paycheck Calculator vs HMRC Income Tax Estimate
- Take-Home-Paycheck Calculator vs GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator
- Take-Home-Paycheck Calculator vs HMRC Income Tax Estimate
- IRS Tax Withholding Estimator vs GOV.UK Self Assessment Tax Calculator
- IRS Tax Withholding Estimator vs HMRC Income Tax Estimate
All tax calculators comparisons → · Full ranking →
Guides on tax calculators
- How to Build a U.S. Tax Calculator That Cites the LawOct 2026
- How to Generate a PDF Report from a Web-Based Tax CalculatorOct 2026
- Best Tax Calculator Plugins for WordPress in 2026: Choose by Use CaseSep 2026
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update