Welsh Tax Rates (2026/27)
Wales has the same income tax rates as England for 2026/27, but your tax code starts with C (e.g. C1257L). Welsh AfC pay scales are set separately by the Welsh Government under Pay Circular AfC(W) 02/2026 — every band in Wales is higher than the equivalent England figure for 2026/27.
Wales-specific: C-prefix tax code, Welsh AfC pay scales from AfC(W) 02/2026 (higher than England at every band), 6-tier NHS pension, cumulative PAYE.
NHS Wales Take Home Pay Calculator
Welsh AfC pay scales (3.3% award) · WRIT same rates as England · C-prefix tax codes · 6-tier pension · Employer 23.7%. All 2026/27 rates.
| England/Wales 6-Tier — NHS Employers March 2026 | ||
| Tier 1 | Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| Tier 2 | £13,260-£28,854 | 6.5% |
| Tier 3 | £28,855-£35,155 | 8.3% |
| Tier 4 | £35,156-£52,778 | 9.8% |
| Tier 5 | £52,779-£67,668 | 10.7% |
| Tier 6 | £67,669+ | 12.5% |
What Changed in 2026/27 for NHS Wales Staff
3.3% Consolidated Pay Award
Confirmed for all AfC staff in Wales, backdated to 1 April 2026. The Welsh Government accepted the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation on 12 February 2026. The award is consolidated — it becomes part of your base salary and affects future pension calculations.
Welsh Pay Scales Higher Than England at Every Band
Pay Circular AfC(W) 02/2026 sets Welsh AfC salaries above England’s equivalent figures at every band entry point. Bands 2 and 3 are lifted to £26,300 by the Living Wage floor.
Pension Restructured f
From 1 April 2026, the NHS pension moved tiers become 6 . If you are in Band 5, your rate increased from 7.0% to 8.3%.
Welsh Income Tax Rates Unchanged for 2026/27
The Welsh Government has chosen to match England’s income tax rates for 2026/27: 20% basic, 40% higher, 45% additional. The Welsh Government can change these independently in future years.
Plan 2 Threshold: £27,295 → £29,385
Plan 2 increased from £27,295 to £29,385. Welsh students on Plan 2 earning around Band 5 entry may now pay significantly less — or nothing at all.
Plan 1 Threshold: £24,990 → £26,900
Plan 1 increased from £24,990 to £26,900 for 2026/27. Welsh students with Plan 1 loans now have a higher threshold before repayments begin.
Wales vs England, How Do Pay Scales Compare?
Welsh AfC pay scales are set by the Welsh Government under their own annual circular. For 2026/27, every band entry point in Wales is higher than England — confirmed from Pay Circular AfC(W) 02/2026.
Wales: 37.5 hours · C1257L · Welsh pay scales AfC(W) 02/2026 England: 37.5 hours · 1257L · England pay scales. Take-home shown after pension income tax relief.
| Band | Wales Salary | Wales Take-Home | England Salary | England Take-Home | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £26,300 | £1,757 | £25,272 | £1,700 | +£57 |
| Band 3 | £26,300 | £1,757 | £25,760 | £1,727 | +£30 |
| Band 4 | £28,819 | £1,898 | £28,392 | £1,874 | +£24 |
| Band 5 | £32,557 | £2,067 | £32,073 | £2,040 | +£27 |
| Band 6 | £40,559 | £2,462 | £39,959 | £2,430 | +£32 |
| Band 7 | £50,129 | £2,974 | £49,387 | £2,934 | +£40 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | £3,389 | £57,528 | £3,353 | +£36 |
Welsh Income Tax, Same Rates, Different Prefixes
For 2026/27, Welsh income tax rates are identical to England’s:
| Band | Annual Income Range | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 – £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 – £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Above £125,140 | 45% |
1. Your tax code starts with C
If you live in Wales, HMRC assigns you a code beginning with C — for example C1257L. This tells your employer to apply Welsh Rates of Income Tax (WRIT) through PAYE.
2. Welsh Rates of Income Tax (WRIT)
Since 2019, the Welsh Government has set its own income tax rates. For 2026/27 they match England exactly. The Welsh Government can change these independently in future years.
Welsh NHS Pay Scales 2026/27
Source: Pay Circular AfC(W) 02/2026, Welsh Government, effective 1 April 2026. All figures assume 37.5 hours per week, C1257L, no student loan, pension on. Take-home shown after pension income tax relief.
| Band | Salary | Monthly Gross | Pension Tier | Pension % | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £26,300 | £2,192 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,757 |
| Band 3 | £26,300 | £2,192 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,757 |
| Band 4 | £28,819 | £2,402 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,898 |
| Band 5 | £32,557 | £2,713 | Tier 3 | 8.3% | £2,067 |
| Band 6 | £40,559 | £3,380 | Tier 4 | 9.8% | £2,462 |
| Band 7 | £50,129 | £4,177 | Tier 4 | 9.8% | £2,974 |
| Band 8a | £58,379 | £4,865 | Tier 5 | 10.7% | £3,389 |
| Band 8b | £67,583 | £5,632 | Tier 5 | 10.7% | £3,785 |
| Band 8c | £80,698 | £6,725 | Tier 6 | 12.5% | £4,276 |
| Band 8d | £95,773 | £7,981 | Tier 6 | 12.5% | £4,910 |
| Band 9 | £114,475 | £9,540 | Tier 6 | 12.5% | £5,697 |
- All salaries from Pay Circular AfC(W) 02/2026, Welsh Government
- Bands 2 and 3 reflect the Real Living Wage floor (effective uplift 3.8–5.9%)
- Bands 4–9 reflect Wales’s own circular base, which is higher than England at every band
- Monitor NHS Wales (nhs.wales) for any in-year updates
Your Tax Code Starts with C, Here’s Why
If you live in Wales and work for the NHS, your HMRC tax code starts with C; for example C1257L.
What the C-prefix means
- Tells your employer to apply Welsh Rates of Income Tax (WRIT)
- For 2026/27, the effective rate is identical to England’s (20%/40%/45%)
- Your personal allowance remains £12,570
- National Insurance is unaffected; UK rates apply
Common Welsh NHS tax codes
- C1257L — Standard Welsh code, most NHS staff
- CBR — Basic rate only, no personal allowance (often a second job)
- CD0 — Higher rate only, no personal allowance
- C0T — No personal allowance, used when HMRC needs to collect tax quickly
- CK — K code, untaxed income or benefits exceed personal allowance
Part-Time Take-Home in Wales
22.5 hours per week (0.60 WTE, 22.5 ÷ 37.5), C1257L, no student loan, pension on. Pro rata salaries based on Welsh AfC(W) 02/2026 full-time figures. Take-home shown after pension income and tax relief.
| Band | Pro-Rata Salary | Pension Tier | Pension % | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £15,780 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,172 |
| Band 3 | £15,780 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,172 |
| Band 4 | £17,291 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,256 |
| Band 5 | £19,534 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,381 |
| Band 6 | £24,335 | Tier 2 | 6.5% | £1,648 |
| Band 7 | £30,077 | Tier 3 | 8.3% | £1,931 |
| Band 8a | £35,027 | Tier 3 | 8.3% | £2,201 |
💡 Why part-time can mean a lower pension tier
A full-time Band 5 in Wales pays pension at 8.3% (Tier 3). At 22.5 hours, pro-rata salary is £19,534 which falls into Tier 2 at 6.5% — a real saving on top of the pro-rata reduction. All pro-rata figures use Welsh AfC(W) 02/2026 full-time salaries as the base, giving higher pro-rata pay than England at every band.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about NHS Wales take-home pay, C-prefix tax codes, Welsh AfC pay scales, and the 2026/27 changes.
Approximately £2,067 per month after tax, NI, and pension, based on the 2026/27 Welsh salary of £32,557 from AfC(W) 02/2026, C1257L, pension on, no student loan. This is £27/month more than the equivalent Band 5 in England (£2,040). Use the calculator above for your exact circumstances.
For 2026/27, Welsh income tax rates are identical to England’s: 20% basic, 40% higher, 45% additional. The difference is administrative — your tax code starts with C (e.g. C1257L).
No. Every band in Wales is higher than England for 2026/27 under Pay Circular AfC(W) 02/2026. Bands 2 and 3 are significantly higher (both £26,300) due to the Living Wage floor. Band 4 is £28,819 vs England’s £28,392. Band 5 is £32,557 vs £32,073. The gap grows to over £1,693 at Band 9.
Yes. If you live in Wales, your HMRC tax code must start with C (e.g. C1257L). The calculator auto-applies the C-prefix when Wales is selected.
Very accurate. It uses the official 2026/27 Welsh AfC pay scales from Pay Circular AfC(W) 02/2026, correct C-prefix tax treatment, the 6-tier NHS pension structure, and cumulative PAYE accurate for any month of the tax year.
WRIT is the devolved component of income tax set by the Welsh Government. For 2026/27 it matches England: 20% basic, 40% higher, 45% additional. The Welsh Government can change these independently in future years.
For 2026/27 there is no difference in income tax. The rates are identical. The only difference is your C-prefix tax code and the potential for divergence in future years.
Approximately £2,974 per month, based on the Welsh salary of £50,129 (vs England’s £49,387). That is £40/month more than the equivalent Band 7 in England (£2,934).
Yes. We show your WTE to two decimal places, apply all deductions correctly, including pension tier adjustment, and use Welsh AfC(W) 02/2026 salaries as the base for all pro-rata calculations.
Plan 1 £26,900 · Plan 2 £29,385 · Plan 4 £33,795 · Plan 5 £25,000 · Postgrad £21,000. Welsh students typically have Plan 1 or Plan 2. The calculator applies these thresholds automatically.
No. NI is not devolved. Welsh taxpayers pay 8% on earnings between £1,047.50 and £4,189 per month and 2% above £4,189, identical to England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Potentially yes. The Welsh Government has the power to set its own income tax rates. For 2026/27 they match England. This calculator will be updated if Welsh rates change.
Related Calculators
NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator
Default UK rates, all regions
→ ScotlandNHS Scotland Take-Home Pay Calculator
Scottish tax bands (S-prefix)
→ N. IrelandNHS Northern Ireland Pay Calculator
HSC pay scales
→ Part-TimeNHS Part-Time Pay Calculator
Pro-rata with WTE at two decimal places
→ DoctorsNHS Doctor Take-Home Pay Calculator
BMA scales, IR35, LTFT
→ Pay RiseNHS Pay Rise Calculator
See your new take-home after the 3.3% award
→ PensionNHS Pension Calculator
See your employer’s 23.7% contribution
→ MaternityNHS Maternity Pay Calculator
52-week breakdown with correct SMP rules
→Updated April 2026 | Verified against Pay Circular AfC(W) 02/2026, Welsh Government | Take-home after pension income tax relief | Cumulative PAYE accurate for any month of the tax year