Between £100,000 and £125,140 your effective marginal rate is 60%. Salary sacrifice escapes it entirely. How much you can save.
The Personal Allowance (£12,570 in 2026-27) is withdrawn at £1 per £2 earned above £100,000. By £125,140 it is zero. This withdrawal adds an effective 20p per pound on top of the 40p higher rate tax, creating a 60% effective marginal rate.
| Income Band | Effective Marginal Rate | Why |
|---|---|---|
| £50,271 to £100,000 | 40% | Higher rate income tax only |
| £100,001 to £125,140 | 60% | 40% tax + Personal Allowance withdrawal |
| Above £125,140 | 45% | Additional rate, PA already zero |
Salary sacrifice pension contributions reduce adjusted net income pound-for-pound. If you earn £110,000, sacrificing £10,000 brings adjusted net income to £100,000 — restoring £5,000 of Personal Allowance and saving approximately £3,500 in combined income tax and NI, while putting the full £10,000 into your pension.
| No Sacrifice | £10,000 Sacrifice | |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted income | £110,000 | £100,000 |
| Personal Allowance | £7,570 | £12,570 |
| Income Tax | £38,432 | £34,886 |
| NI | £3,946 | £3,146 |
| Net position | £65,557 take-home | £65,843 take-home + £10,000 pension |
The £100,000 threshold also triggers loss of 30 hours of free childcare. For parents in London, this alone is worth approximately £4,500/year. Combined with the tax trap, the effective marginal rate for affected parents can exceed 100% — earning £1 more can literally cost more than £1 in total tax and lost benefits.
What is the 60% tax trap?
Between £100,000 and £125,140, the Personal Allowance is withdrawn at £1 per £2 earned. Combined with 40% higher rate, effective marginal rate is 60%. You keep only 40p per extra pound.
How do I escape the 60% tax trap?
Salary sacrifice reduces adjusted net income. Sacrifice enough to bring income below £100,000 and your full Personal Allowance is restored — saving typically £2,000 to £6,000.
Does the trap apply in Scotland?
Yes. Scottish taxpayers face an effective marginal rate of 67.5% in this band due to higher income tax rates.
Does the 60% trap affect bonuses?
Yes. Any bonus that pushes adjusted net income above £100,000 is subject to the 60% effective marginal rate on the portion between £100,000 and £125,140. You can avoid this by asking your employer to pay the bonus into your pension via salary sacrifice, which removes it from adjusted net income entirely.
Can Gift Aid donations help reduce the 60% trap?
Yes. Gift Aid donations reduce your adjusted net income in the same way as pension contributions. A £1,000 donation (grossed up to £1,250 with basic rate relief) reduces adjusted net income by £1,250. This can restore Personal Allowance and provide effective 60% tax relief on donations made while your income is in the taper range.
Free, accurate, 2026-27 rates. Scotland and tax code supported.