£900 Day Rate — Inside vs Outside IR35
The figures above assume PAYE employment (or inside IR35). If you're outside IR35 working through a limited company, you can optimise your tax by taking a small salary plus dividends, potentially saving thousands. Use our IR35 calculator to compare.
Working at £900/Day
A day rate of £900 translates to approximately £198,000/year based on 220 working days (allowing for holidays and gaps between contracts). However, as a contractor you bear costs that permanent employees do not — professional indemnity insurance, accountancy fees, unpaid holidays, and pension contributions must come from your day rate.
Permanent Salary Equivalent
When comparing a £900/day contract to permanent employment, the general rule of thumb is that a day rate needs to be roughly 40-50% higher than the permanent equivalent to account for contractor costs and risks. A £900/day contractor earns roughly the equivalent of a £128,700 permanent salary once you factor in employer pension contributions, paid holidays, sick pay, and employment benefits that permanent staff receive. This is a premium contractor rate commanded by senior specialists, architects, and programme directors. At this level, tax planning through limited company structures becomes particularly important.
Tax Considerations for Contractors
How you are taxed depends on your working arrangement. Inside IR35 contracts are taxed similarly to employment (PAYE), typically through an umbrella company. Outside IR35 contracts allow you to operate through your own limited company, potentially paying yourself through a combination of salary and dividends for greater tax efficiency. The IR35 status of your contract significantly affects your take home pay. See our umbrella company calculator for inside-IR35 estimates and contractor vs permanent calculator for detailed comparisons.
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