Income tax is a tax you pay on your income. In the UK, it pays for public services like the NHS, education, and welfare.
How it works
Most employees pay tax directly through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. Your employer automatically deducts it from your wages before it hits your bank account.
Tax bands overview
You pay different rates of tax on different parts of your earnings above your Personal Allowance (standard £12,570). As income increases, the rate applied to that upper band of income increases (20%, 40%, and 45%).
National Insurance
Alongside income tax, most workers pay National Insurance (NI) to qualify for certain benefits including the State Pension. This is calculated differently but also usually withdrawn automatically from your pay.