£15,000 self-employed is £14,368 after tax
On £15,000 of trading profit you pay £486 in income tax and £146 in Class 4 National Insurance. That is £632 in total, leaving £14,368 — an effective rate of 4%, well below the headline band rate because the first £12,570 is untaxed. Figures for 2026/27, checked 28 August 2026.
| Trading profit | £15,000.00 |
| Income tax | −£486.00 |
| Class 4 NI (6% on £12,570–£50,270) | −£145.80 |
| Take-home | £14,368.20 |
| Per month | £1,197.35 |
Against £15,000 as a salary
Income tax is the same either way — £486 — because it does not care how you earned the money. National Insurance is where they part. An employee on £15,000 pays £194 in Class 1; you pay £146 in Class 4, which is £49 less. That gap is the whole of the tax advantage, and it buys you no holiday pay, no sick pay and no employer pension contribution — which are worth considerably more than £49 to most people.
No payments on account at this level. They begin once the bill passes £1,000, and yours is £632. You pay the balance by 31 January and nothing towards next year.
Put your own figure in with the self-employed tax calculator. See what £15,000 looks like as a salary if you are weighing a job against it. Contracting through a company instead is priced by the outside IR35 calculator.
Nearby profits
How much tax will I pay on £15,000 self-employed?
£632 in total — £486 income tax plus £146 Class 4 National Insurance. That leaves £14,368, an effective rate of 4%.
Is £15,000 self-employed better or worse than the same salary?
Better, on National Insurance. An employee on £15,000 pays £194 in Class 1, against £146 in Class 4 here — £49 less. Income tax is identical at £486, because it does not care how the money was earned. What self-employment does not buy you is holiday pay, sick pay or an employer pension contribution.
Do I have to make payments on account on £15,000?
No. Payments on account start once your bill passes £1,000, and at £15,000 it is £632. You pay the balance by 31 January and nothing towards next year.
Is this profit or turnover?
Profit — turnover minus allowable expenses. If your turnover is under £1,000 you may not need to report it at all, and above that you can deduct the £1,000 trading allowance instead of expenses if that comes to more.
Rates for 2026/27 from gov.uk, checked 28 August 2026. Last updated 28 September 2026. Not tax advice.