Salary Sacrifice Pension Calculator (UK 2026/27)

Salary Sacrifice Pension Guide

How Salary Sacrifice Works

Salary sacrifice is an arrangement where you agree to a lower gross salary in exchange for an employer benefit (typically pension contribution). Because you never receive the sacrificed amount as salary, you don't pay income tax or National Insurance on it. Compared to standard pension contributions: standard contribution: pay tax + NI on full salary, then contribute to pension (with tax relief at marginal rate added back). Salary sacrifice: lower official salary → less tax AND less NI paid. Pen

The Numbers in Practice

Example: £50,000 salary, sacrificing extra 5% (£2,500): Without salary sacrifice — standard contribution: gross £50,000. Take home approx £37,500. Pension contribution from take-home £2,500 (with 20% basic tax relief, £3,125 reaches pension). With salary sacrifice — new gross £47,500. Pay 12% NI saving on £2,500 = £300 saved. Take home approx £37,800. Pension receives £2,500 (no tax/NI relief layer — gross goes straight in). Net result: take home £300 higher AND pension same level OR pension hig

Things to Watch Out For

Reduces 'reference salary' for other benefits: pension calculations elsewhere (final salary scheme accrual). Mortgage applications (banks may use 'notional' rather than sacrificed salary). Death-in-service multiples (some employers use reduced salary). Maternity/paternity pay calculations. Statutory sick pay. Income protection insurance. National Minimum Wage: cannot sacrifice below NMW (£11.44/hr or £22,308/year full-time 2026/27). Lower-income employees may have limited scope. Annual Allowance

Asking Your Employer

Salary sacrifice requires employer agreement. Most large employers (especially listed companies, large professional services firms) already offer it. Smaller employers may not. To request: write to HR/payroll. Highlight: zero cost to employer (or marginally negative if they share their NI saving). Improves employee retention. Reduces employer NI bill — typically 13.8% saving on sacrificed amount. Some employers share NI savings: pass back some/all of their 13.8% NI saving to your pension. Double