£48,000 self-employed after tax

By The PocketSums team. Updated 30 September 2026. How we calculate

With £48,000 of profit you pay £9,212 in tax and National Insurance and keep £3,232 a month.

You keep
£38,788 a year
A month
£3,232
Set aside for tax
£768 a month
Effective rate
19.2%
£42,000 profit£44,000 profit£46,000 profit£50,000 profit
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You keep£3,232.35a month

£38,788.20 a year. Set aside £768 a month for your tax bill.

Profit £48,000.00
Income tax -£7,086.00
Class 4 National Insurance -£2,125.80
You keep £38,788.20

On £48,000 of self-employed profit you pay £7,086.00 income tax and £2,125.80 Class 4 National Insurance. You keep £38,788.20, which is £3,232.35 a month.

How the £9,212 bill is worked out

  1. The first £12,570 is tax free.
  2. £35,430 at the basic rate of 20%: £7,086.00.
  3. Class 4 National Insurance: 6% of profit between £12,570 and £48,000: £2,125.80.
Put aside £768 a month and your January tax bill will already be paid for.

£48,000: self-employed, employed or in Scotland

  1. Self-employed£38,788 a year
  2. Employed£38,080 a year
  3. Self-employed, Scotland£37,732 a year

Nearby profits

Contracting? £48,000 a year is about £225 a day over 220 days. Try your own figures in the self-employed tax calculator.

Questions people ask

How much tax do I pay on £48,000 self-employed?

£9,211.80 in total: £7,086.00 income tax and £2,125.80 Class 4 National Insurance, paid through self assessment. You keep £38,788.20.

How much should I save for tax on £48,000?

About £768 a month, or 19.2% of every pound of profit. Because the bill is over £1,000, your first year may also ask for a payment on account of £4,606 towards next year.

Do I keep more self-employed or employed on £48,000?

Self-employed you keep £38,788, employed £38,080, because Class 4 is 6% rather than 8%. Employees also get holiday pay and an employer pension contribution, which usually outweighs the difference.