The UK government spends £20,029 per person per year. Enter your household details to find out whether you contribute more than you consume — and what happens when the real population is higher than the official count.
Total Managed Expenditure (TME) in 2025-26 is about £1,368 billion — that’s everything: NHS, pensions, defence, welfare, debt interest, local government, education. Divided by the official UK population of 68.3 million, that’s £20,029 per person per year. To be a “net contributor” your household’s total tax payments need to exceed the per-capita cost of services for everyone in your household.
Income tax: Calculated using current HMRC rates. England/Wales/NI: 20% basic, 40% higher, 45% additional. Scotland: 19% starter, 20% basic, 21% intermediate, 42% higher, 45% advanced, 48% top. Personal allowance £12,570 with taper above £100k.
National Insurance: Employee NICs at 8% on £12,570–£50,270 and 2% above. Employer NICs at 15% above £5,000 (April 2025 rates) included as a cost of your employment that funds public spending.
VAT: Estimated at 11.5% of post-tax income, based on ONS household expenditure data. Council tax: £2,171 England Band D average (£1,418 Scotland, £1,879 Wales, £1,300 Northern Ireland).
Per-capita spending: TME 2025-26 of £1,368bn divided by official UK population of 68.3m = £20,029 per head. Sources: HMRC rates · OBR fiscal tables · ONS population estimates. Reviewed August 2026.