£950 Per Day: Take-Home Pay Breakdown (2026/27)

Q: How much do I take home on £950 per day as a limited company?

At £950 per day (£209,000 pa, 220 days), a limited company director outside IR35 takes home approximately £122,682 in 2026/27 — an effective tax rate of 41.3%. This assumes a £12,570 salary with remaining profits paid as dividends.

Q: What is the difference between PAYE and a limited company at £950 per day?

On £950 per day, PAYE takes home £121,928 versus £115,434 for a limited company (outside IR35) — a difference of £6,494 per year. At this income level, the combined burden of Corporation Tax and dividend tax exceeds PAYE income tax and NI, making PAYE more efficient. The April 2026 dividend tax increase contributed to this crossover.

Contracting at £950 per day generates £209,000 per year (220 days). Here's how much you take home in 2026/27 under each working arrangement.

Structure	Gross	Income Tax	NI	Corp Tax	Take-Home	Eff. Rate
Limited Company Outside IR35	£209,000	£44,428	£0	£48,003	£115,434	44.2%
PAYE Employee / Umbrella	£209,000	£80,882	£6,191	—	£121,928	41.7%
Limited Company Inside IR35	£209,000	£64,818	£5,477	—	£103,009	45.7%
Sole Trader Most efficient	£209,000	£80,882	£5,437	—	£122,682	41.3%

Based on 220 working days (£209,000 annual gross). Ltd company uses £12,570 salary. 2026/27 HMRC rates. Rest-of-UK (non-Scottish) taxpayer. No pension contributions.

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Who earns £950 per day?

Is £950 per day a good rate?

£950 a day is a rate reserved for genuine scarcity — niche AI architecture, security leadership, and interim technology direction. Contracts at this level are almost always outside IR35 and won through networks. The premium reflects business-critical expertise that few people can supply.

Worked example

A programme director on £950 a day grosses around £209,000 a year. With income firmly in the additional-rate band, the table below shows the full corporation-tax and dividend-tax position for a limited company, alongside the PAYE comparison, all at 2026/27 rates.

Over 220 working days, £950 per day comes to £209,000 in gross fees. As a limited company outside IR35 that leaves roughly £115,434 in your pocket after Corporation Tax, dividend tax and National Insurance — an effective tax rate of around 44.2%. The same fees taken through an umbrella under PAYE would return about £121,928, while inside IR35 the figure falls to approximately £103,009. Your own result depends on your IR35 status, pension contributions and how many days you actually bill.

Limited Company (Outside IR35) — Detailed Breakdown

Annual fees (gross)

£209,000

£950/day × 220 days

Salary drawn

£12,570

At personal allowance

Dividends

£147,291

After corporation tax

Corporation tax

£48,003

On £195,295 profit

Dividend tax

£44,428

Personal tax on dividends

Take-home pay

£115,434

Per year after all taxes

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I take home on £950 per day as a limited company?

At £950 per day (£209,000 annual gross over 220 working days), a limited company director outside IR35 takes home approximately £122,682 in 2026/27. This assumes a £12,570 salary with remaining profits extracted as dividends, giving an effective tax rate of around 41.3%.

What is the difference between PAYE and a limited company at £950 per day?

On £950/day, PAYE takes home £121,928 versus £115,434 for a limited company (outside IR35) — a difference of £6,494 per year. At this income level, the combined burden of Corporation Tax and dividend tax exceeds PAYE income tax and NI, making PAYE the more tax-efficient structure. The April 2026 dividend tax increase contributed to this crossover.

Does IR35 affect my take-home pay at £950 per day?

Yes, significantly. Inside IR35 at £950/day, you take home approximately £103,009 — around £12,424 less than outside IR35. Inside IR35, your income is treated as deemed employment: employer NI is deducted first, then you pay income tax and employee NI on the remainder, with only a 5% flat expense allowance.

How many working days are used in this calculation?

This breakdown uses 220 working days per year, which is a common assumption for UK contractors (approximately 260 weekdays minus bank holidays and leave). Your actual earnings will vary based on how many days you work. You can adjust the figure using the interactive calculator.

Who typically charges £950 per day?

£950 a day is typically commanded by elite specialists and interim senior leadership, such as lead AI / ML architect, interim CTO (smaller organisations), principal security consultant and programme director. It is most common in AI strategy and delivery, cybersecurity leadership, fintech and regulated industries. £950 a day is a rate reserved for genuine scarcity — niche AI architecture, security leadership, and interim technology direction. Contracts at this level are almost always outside IR35 and won through networks. The premium reflects business-critical expertise that few people can supply.