Free tool
UK vs US Take-Home Comparator
Thinking about a move across the Atlantic? Compare what you would actually keep in the UK versus a US state, once income tax, National Insurance, federal tax, FICA and state tax are taken out.
Enter it in pounds. We convert to dollars at about $1.27 for the US side.
Married filing jointly treats this as the couple's only income.
UK 2026/27 income tax and NI; US 2026 federal brackets after the standard deduction, FICA and an approximate state rate. Ignores itemised deductions, credits, the UK-US treaty and double-tax relief. Fixed $1.27 rate.
United Kingdom
Take-home per year
£76,157
36.5% total tax + NI/FICA
California
Take-home per year
£79,731
33.6% total tax + NI/FICA
The difference
£3,574 / yr more in the US
UK deductions
- Income tax
- £39,432
- National Insurance
- £4,411
US deductions (in £)
- Federal tax
- £19,929
- FICA
- £9,180
- State tax
- £11,160
- On these figures you would keep about £3,574 more per year in California than in the UK, before any treaty relief.
- Crucially, a cross-border move rarely means paying one system or the other. As a US person you file US returns wherever you live, and the UK-US treaty plus foreign tax credits decide who taxes what. This tool ignores all of that.
- Indicative only, using 2026/27 UK and 2026 US federal figures after the standard deduction, a single filer, an approximate state rate and a fixed $1.27 rate. Get advice before you rely on it.
Email me my full breakdown + what it means for me
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Reading the comparison
The headline difference between the UK and the US often comes down to the state. Florida and Texas levy no state income tax, so a high earner can keep noticeably more than in the UK; California and New York claw much of that back. But take-home pay is only part of the picture: healthcare, property taxes, and the cost of living all move the real number.
The bigger point this tool cannot show is the cross-border reality. A US citizen or green card holder is taxed on worldwide income wherever they live, so a move is rarely a clean switch from one system to the other. The UK-US treaty and foreign tax credits decide who taxes what, and getting the arrival or departure year right is where the real money is won or lost. That is the work we do with you.
The real number is cross-border
A take-home figure is a starting point. The treaty, the credits and the timing of your move are what decide your actual position. Jordan Onraet-Wells, CTA, leads the UK and cross-border position. Your US return (Form 1040, the FBAR and Form 8938) is prepared by a US partner, an Enrolled Agent or CPA, whom we brief and coordinate, or by your existing US preparer if you prefer. We do not prepare or sign US returns. Fees are fixed and agreed upfront. Book a free clarity call.