Tax Receipt£40,000 salary with a student loan
On £40,000 a Plan 2 graduate repays £955 a year (£80 a month) on top of £7,680 income tax and National Insurance, and takes home £31,365, or £2,614 a month.
Repayments and take-home pay on £40,000, by plan
| Plan | Repays a year | A month | Take-home a year | A month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No student loan | £0 | £0 | £32,320 | £2,693 |
| Plan 1 England or Wales courses started before September 2012, or Northern Ireland | £1,179 | £98 | £31,141 | £2,595 |
| Plan 2 England or Wales courses started between September 2012 and July 2023 | £955 | £80 | £31,365 | £2,614 |
| Plan 5 England courses started on or after 1 August 2023 | £1,350 | £113 | £30,970 | £2,581 |
| Plan 4 Scotland (Scottish income tax) | £558 | £47 | £31,697 | £2,641 |
| Postgraduate loan only Master's and doctoral loans | £1,140 | £95 | £31,180 | £2,598 |
| Plan 2 and postgraduate Both repaid at once | £2,095 | £175 | £30,225 | £2,519 |
| Plan 5 and postgraduate Both repaid at once | £2,490 | £208 | £29,830 | £2,486 |
Tax code 1257L (S1257L for Plan 4), no pension contributions. You repay 9% of income over your plan's threshold, or 6% over £21,000 for a postgraduate loan, rounded down to the pound.
Worked example: Plan 2 on £40,000
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Salary | £40,000.00 |
| Plan 2 threshold | £29,385.00 |
| Income over the threshold | £10,615.00 |
| 9%, rounded down to the pound | £955.00 |
| Income tax and National Insurance | £7,680.40 |
| Take-home pay | £31,364.60 |
Payroll works the repayment out each pay period against the monthly or weekly threshold, so payslips can differ by a few pounds over the year. Repayments are not tax and are left out of where your £7,680 of tax goes.
Other salaries with a student loan
Thresholds and every plan explained: student loan repayments by salary. Without a loan: £40,000 after tax, or in Scotland.
Frequently asked questions
How much student loan do I repay on £40,000?
In 2026/27: £1,179 a year on Plan 1, £955 a year on Plan 2, £558 a year on Plan 4, £1,350 a year on Plan 5. A postgraduate loan adds £1,140.
What is the take-home pay on £40,000 with a Plan 2 loan?
£31,364.60 a year, or £2,613.72 a month, after £7,680.40 income tax and National Insurance and £955.00 of Plan 2 repayments, in England or Wales with tax code 1257L.
Does the amount I owe change the repayment?
No. Repayments depend only on your income above the plan's threshold, not on your balance or the interest. Any balance left at the end of the loan term is written off.