Why Adjusted Net Income Matters
Adjusted net income is used by HMRC to determine your personal allowance taper, child benefit charge, and pension annual allowance taper. It is your total taxable income minus pension contributions (gross) and Gift Aid donations (grossed up).
If your adjusted net income exceeds £100,000, your personal allowance starts to reduce. Above £60,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge applies. For pension annual allowance tapering, the threshold is £260,000 adjusted income.
Pension contributions and charitable donations are powerful planning tools for high earners. By reducing your adjusted net income below key thresholds, you restore allowances that would otherwise be lost. Calculate your position using our salary calculator.
How Adjusted Net Income Works in Practice
Adjusted net income is the figure HMRC uses to determine whether your Personal Allowance should be tapered. It is calculated as: total taxable income minus personal pension contributions (gross) and Gift Aid donations (gross). This figure is critical for anyone earning near or above £100,000, as it determines whether they lose some or all of their £12,570 Personal Allowance.
Practical Tips
If your total income is £105,000 and you make £6,000 in pension contributions (grossed up from £4,800 net), your adjusted net income is £99,000. Because this is below £100,000, your full Personal Allowance is restored, saving you approximately £2,514 in additional tax compared to not making the pension contribution. This combination of pension tax relief and Personal Allowance restoration makes pension contributions at this income level extraordinarily tax-efficient.
Related Topics
Adjusted net income also affects child benefit (High Income Child Benefit Charge applies from £60,000) and marriage allowance eligibility. See Personal Allowance taper.
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