Daily Junction.mobi portalIncome tax has three bands: 0% on first £12,570 (personal allowance), 20% on £12,571-£50,270 (basic rate), 40% on £50,271-£125,140 (higher rate), 45% above £125,140. National Insurance is 8% on earnings £12,570-£50,270, then 2% above £50,270, effectively adding to your tax burden. The average UK worker earning £35,000 pays £4,486 in income tax and £2,195 in NI (total £6,681, or 19% effective rate). The personal allowance is withdrawn for high earners — those earning £100,000-£125,140 face a 60% marginal rate due to allowance taper. Total UK tax revenue is £1.1 trillion per year (2024-25), with income tax (£250bn), NI (£170bn), and VAT (£170bn) the biggest sources. The UK tax system is complex, but the basics are simple: you pay income tax and NI on your earnings, with higher earners paying more. Use pension contributions, ISAs, and salary sacrifice to reduce your tax bill legally. Check your tax code, keep records, and file your tax return on time. The tax system funds the NHS, schools, pensions, and everything else the government does. It is not perfect, but it is how we pay for the society we want.