Tax Calculators
Income tax, capital gains, payroll tax & refund calculators.
What Are Tax Calculators?
Tax calculators help individuals, self-employed workers, and businesses estimate their tax liability across a range of taxes — income tax, capital gains tax, corporate tax, VAT, GST, payroll tax, and more. They replace complex rate tables and manual bracket calculations with instant, accurate estimates that help you plan cash flow, evaluate financial decisions, and prepare for filing.
Income tax is typically calculated on a progressive, tiered basis: different portions of income are taxed at different rates as income rises. A common misconception is that moving into a higher tax bracket means all income is taxed at the higher rate — in reality, only the portion above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate. Tax calculators handle this bracket arithmetic precisely and display the effective (average) tax rate alongside the marginal rate.
Capital gains tax (CGT) applies to the profit made on the sale of assets such as property, shares, or business assets. The calculation depends on the holding period (short-term vs long-term rates in many jurisdictions), the cost basis of the asset, any allowable reliefs, and the individual's income in the year of disposal. Our CGT calculator supports the key variables for the most common scenarios.
Business taxes — including VAT, GST, corporate tax, and payroll tax — are calculated on different bases and at different rates. VAT and GST are consumption taxes collected at each stage of the supply chain; corporate tax is applied to business profits; payroll tax covers employer contributions to social insurance and pension schemes. Accurate calculation is essential for compliance and for understanding the true cost of business activities.
All tax calculators on BrainyCalculators use the published standard rates and thresholds. Results are estimates for planning purposes — actual tax liability depends on individual circumstances, available reliefs and allowances, and any legislative changes. Always confirm your final figures with a qualified tax adviser or with HMRC/IRS directly before filing.
All Tax Calculators (10)
Income Tax Calculator
Estimate your income tax liability based on taxable income and filing status.
Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Calculate short-term and long-term capital gains tax on investments and property.
Payroll Tax Calculator
Calculate payroll taxes including Social Security, Medicare, and federal withholding.
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
Calculate self-employment tax (SE tax) for freelancers, contractors, and sole proprietors.
Corporate Tax Calculator
Calculate corporate income tax liability based on taxable income and applicable rates.
Tax Refund Calculator
Estimate your tax refund or amount owed based on income, deductions, and withholding.
Tax Withholding Calculator
Calculate the correct federal tax withholding from each paycheck based on W-4 information.
Property Transfer Tax Calculator
Calculate property transfer tax when buying or selling real estate.
Inheritance Tax Calculator
Estimate inheritance tax on assets received from an estate based on your state and relationship.
Estate Tax Calculator
Calculate federal and state estate tax on the value of a deceased person's taxable estate.
Tax Calculator Guides
Income Tax
Progressive income tax works in bands. In the UK, for example: Personal Allowance (0% up to £12,570); Basic Rate (20% on £12,571–£50,270); Higher Rate (40% on £50,271–£125,140); Additional Rate (45% above £125,140) for 2024/25. The effective tax rate is the total tax paid as a percentage of total income — always lower than the marginal rate because lower bands are taxed at lower rates.
Tax-free allowances, reliefs, and deductions reduce taxable income before rates are applied. Pension contributions, gift aid donations, professional expenses, and capital allowances all reduce your tax bill. Our income tax calculator lets you model the impact of common reliefs on your estimated liability.
Capital Gains & Investment Tax
Capital gains tax is calculated on the gain (selling price minus cost basis minus allowable costs). In the UK there is an annual CGT exemption (£3,000 for 2024/25) — gains below this are tax-free. Gains above this are taxed at 10% (basic rate taxpayer) or 20% (higher/additional rate) for most assets, and at 18% or 24% for residential property. In the US, long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20%) depend on your taxable income.
Dividend tax, inheritance tax, and estate tax calculators cover additional investment and wealth transfer scenarios. These are some of the most complex areas of personal tax — use calculators for planning estimates and always verify with a tax specialist for the final calculation.
Business & Payroll Tax
VAT and GST are consumption taxes charged on the value added at each stage of production or distribution. For businesses, output VAT (charged to customers) minus input VAT (paid to suppliers) equals the net VAT liability payable to the tax authority. Our VAT calculator handles both directions: adding VAT to a net price and extracting it from a gross price.
Payroll tax covers employer National Insurance contributions (UK), FICA taxes (US), and equivalent levies in other jurisdictions. These add a significant cost above the gross salary — typically 10–15% of payroll. Our payroll tax and employee cost calculators show the true total cost of employment so you can budget accurately for hiring decisions.
Top Tax Calculators
Income Tax Calculator
Estimate income tax liability across progressive tax bands with effective and marginal rate display.
Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Calculate CGT on shares, property, and other assets with exemption and rate adjustments for holding period.
GST Calculator
Add or extract GST/VAT at any rate — with net, tax, and gross displayed separately for invoicing.
Payroll Tax Calculator
Calculate employer and employee payroll tax contributions including National Insurance and FICA.
VAT Calculator
Add or remove VAT at standard, reduced, or custom rates — instant results for invoicing and procurement.
Key Formulas & References
Income Tax (progressive)
Tax = Σ (band rate × income within band)
Sum of tax across each bracket; effective rate = total tax ÷ total income
Capital Gains Tax
CGT = (Sale Price − Cost Basis − Costs) × Rate
After deducting annual CGT exemption where applicable
VAT Add
Gross = Net × (1 + Rate ÷ 100)
Reverse: Net = Gross ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100)
Self-Employment Tax (US)
SET = Net Earnings × 0.9235 × 0.153
0.9235 accounts for the deductible portion; 15.3% = Social Security + Medicare
Frequently Asked Questions About Tax Calculators
Progressive tax means different portions of income are taxed at different rates. Only the income above each threshold is taxed at the higher rate — not all income. For example, in the UK (2024/25), the first £12,570 is tax-free, income between £12,571 and £50,270 is taxed at 20%, and income above £50,270 is taxed at 40% — but only the portion above each boundary.
Marginal tax rate is the rate applied to the last pound or dollar of income earned — it determines how much of any additional income will be taken in tax. Effective (or average) tax rate is total tax paid divided by total income. The effective rate is always lower than the marginal rate because lower portions of income are taxed at lower rates.
Capital gains tax is calculated on the net gain: selling price minus original cost basis minus allowable expenses (e.g., legal fees, improvements). An annual exemption may apply. The rate depends on the asset type, the size of the gain relative to income, and your overall taxable income for the year. Our CGT calculator covers the most common scenarios.
To add VAT to a net price: Gross = Net × (1 + Rate ÷ 100). To extract VAT from a gross price: Net = Gross ÷ (1 + Rate ÷ 100); VAT = Gross − Net. For example, at 20% VAT: a net price of £100 gives a gross of £120; a gross of £120 gives a net of £100 and VAT of £20.
Yes. We update tax calculators at the start of each new tax year when thresholds, rates, and allowances change. Each calculator displays the tax year it applies to. For changes announced mid-year, we aim to update within 5 working days of official confirmation.
Tax calculators are planning and estimation tools. They are useful for understanding your likely liability and checking your own calculations, but they are not HMRC- or IRS-approved software for filing. Results should be verified with a qualified tax adviser before submission, especially if your situation involves multiple income sources, reliefs, or cross-border considerations.
Self-employment tax (US) covers Social Security and Medicare contributions that employed workers share with their employer. Self-employed individuals pay both halves: 15.3% on net self-employment earnings up to the Social Security wage base, and 2.9% on all earnings above that. However, half of the self-employment tax is deductible from income tax. In the UK, the equivalent is Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance contributions.
Corporate tax is applied to a company's taxable profits: revenue minus allowable business expenses, capital allowances, and any other permitted deductions. In the UK the current rate is 25% for profits over £250,000 (with marginal relief between £50,000 and £250,000). In the US the federal corporate tax rate is 21%. Our corporate tax calculator handles the UK banding structure and the US flat rate.
BrainyCalculators Editorial Team
Our Tax calculators are researched, built, and reviewed by the BrainyCalculators editorial team using industry-standard formulas and validated against authoritative references. Results are updated whenever underlying standards, rates, or guidelines change. All calculators are free, require no account, and run entirely in your browser.