20 Hours a Week at £14.00/hr After Tax 2025-26
Zero hours contract · Weekly gross: £280 · Annual gross: £14,560
Your earnings exceed the £12,570 Personal Allowance — Income Tax and NI apply on the excess.
20% Income Tax and 8% NI on earnings above £12,570/year.
Tax breakdown — 20 hrs/week at £14.00/hr 2025-26
| Item | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross earnings | £14,560 | £1,213 | £280 |
| Personal Allowance (tax-free) | £12,570 | £1,048 | £242 |
| Income Tax | −£398 | −£33 | −£8 |
| National Insurance | −£159 | −£13 | −£3 |
| Net take-home | £14,003 | £1,167 | £269 |
How PAYE works on a zero hours contract
PAYE tax on zero hours contracts is calculated each pay period based on that period's earnings, annualised using your tax code. If you work irregular hours, your PAYE deductions may vary significantly week to week. The figures above assume a consistent 20 hours/week throughout the year. Weeks where you earn more than £242 will attract NI; weeks below will not.
Frequently asked questions
Do zero hours workers pay Income Tax?
Yes. At 20 hours/week at £14.00/hr, your annualised gross is £14,560, which exceeds the £12,570 Personal Allowance. Income Tax of £398/year is deducted through PAYE at 20% on earnings above £12,570.
Do zero hours workers pay National Insurance?
Yes. National Insurance applies on weekly earnings above £242 (£12,570/year). On £14,560/year, you pay £159 in NI at 8% on earnings above the threshold.
How much do I take home on a zero hours contract at £14.00/hr?
Working 20 hours/week at £14.00/hr gives a weekly gross of £280 and an annual gross of £14,560 (based on 52 weeks). After Income Tax of £398 and NI of £159, you take home £14,003/year — £1,167/month or £269/week. Effective tax rate: 3.83%.
Are zero hours workers taxed the same as regular employees?
Yes. Zero hours contract workers are treated as employees for tax purposes. Your employer deducts Income Tax and National Insurance through PAYE exactly as they would for a fixed-hours employee. The same Personal Allowance (£12,570) applies, and the same tax rates: 20% basic rate Income Tax and 8% employee NI on earnings above the thresholds.