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Head-to-head · Tax Calculators

HMRC Income Tax Estimate vs HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score HMRC Income Tax Estimate #6 in Tax Calculators 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan Visit HMRC
HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator #7 in Tax Calculators 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan Visit HMRC

HMRC Income Tax Estimate leads on 0 checks, HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator 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 scoreHMRC Income Tax Estimate · 8.4/10
  • Free planboth

HMRC Income Tax Estimate scores higher on our rubric for tax calculators: 8.4 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

On tax jurisdictions, HMRC Income Tax Estimate gives you Multiple where HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator offers Federal.

HMRC Income Tax Estimate is the better fit for UK employees estimating tax and take-home pay. HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator is the better fit for UK employers checking employee PAYE by pay period.

  • HMRC Income Tax Estimate fits best

    UK employees estimating tax and take-home pay

  • HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator fits best

    UK employers checking employee PAYE by pay period

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 HMRC Income Tax Estimate 8.4/10 Visit ↗ HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.4 8.3
Ranking #6 in Tax Calculators #7 in Tax Calculators
Best for UK employees estimating tax and take-home pay UK employers checking employee PAYE by pay period
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Support Docs Docs
Built for Solo Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Specs
Calculator types Income Tax and National Insurance estimate; take-home pay estimate PAYE employee Income Tax per pay period
Tax jurisdictions Multiple Federal
Income sources Employment income; does not estimate when state benefits are the only income Employee pay
Filing statuses Not checked yet Not checked yet
Tax years 2026–2027 2026 to 2027 (current tax year)
Platforms web; iOS; Android web
Our review
Pros
  • Estimates Income Tax, National Insurance and take-home pay
  • Includes pension contributions and student loan repayments
  • Available on web, iOS and Android
  • Calculates employee Income Tax for the current tax year
  • Supports weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly pay periods
  • Can account for previous-period gross pay and tax due
Cons
  • 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
  • Focused on employee PAYE Income Tax, not annual tax estimates
  • Requires the employee’s tax code, payment date and gross pay
  • Previous-period gross pay and tax due may also be needed
Our verdict

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 →

HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator is a free web tool for employers checking an employee’s Income Tax for a pay period in the current tax year. It is aimed at UK payroll checks, using the employee’s tax code, payment date, pay frequency and pay…

Read the review →
  1. HMRC Income Tax EstimateTax Calculators 8.4Free plan
  2. HMRC PAYE Tax CalculatorTax Calculators 8.3Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator — where it wins

    • Calculates employee Income Tax for the current tax year
    • Supports weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly pay periods
    • Can account for previous-period gross pay and tax due

    Where it doesn't

    • Focused on employee PAYE Income Tax, not annual tax estimates
    • Requires the employee’s tax code, payment date and gross pay
    • Previous-period gross pay and tax due may also be needed
  • HMRC Income Tax Estimate8.4/10 · Free plan

    A free HMRC estimator for employment tax and take-home pay.

    Visit HMRCFull verdict →
  • HMRC PAYE Tax Calculator8.3/10 · Free plan

    A free web calculator for employers checking UK employee PAYE by pay period.

    Visit HMRCFull verdict →

More comparisons

All tax calculators comparisons → · Full ranking →

Guides on tax calculators

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update