What is the 60% tax trap?
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In short: The effective marginal tax rate between £100,000 and £125,140 of adjusted net income, caused by the Personal Allowance being withdrawn at £1 for every £2 earned.
Above £100,000 your £12,570 Personal Allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income, disappearing completely at £125,140. Combined with 40% Income Tax on the extra earnings plus 2% NI, this creates an effective marginal rate of roughly 60% (62% with NI) in that band.
Pension contributions and Gift Aid donations reduce adjusted net income £-for-£, which can pull you back below the £100,000 threshold and restore your Personal Allowance.
Salary sacrifice into a pension is particularly effective because it also avoids the 2% employee NI. Many higher earners use a combination of bonus sacrifice and Gift Aid to manage their income through this band.
Primary source: gov.uk/income-tax-rates/income-over-100000