SMP calculations - what will my take-home be after tax?

[Nope2024]

Please could someone help me work out how much I'll take home during the 13 weeks of SMP after I tax and NI?

None of the online calculators fit because the first six weeks at 90% pay doesn't apply to me (my employer essentially tops it up).

I get 6 months at full pay (20 June - 20 Dec), then 13 weeks of the £187 SMP.

Salary: £37850
Monthly pension: 6.5%
No student loan, no benefits.

Statutory Maternity Pay ( SMP ) is paid for up to 39 weeks. You get: 90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first 6 weeks. £187.18 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks.

Your earning work out as 655.11 per week from what I can see. So you will 187.18 per week after your full pay for 6months. I’m not sure how much tax etc you will pay on that.

At the standard rate I think you'll be below the threshold for tax/NI though you'll probably be credited with the latter.

Can payroll help?

@Housequery1 Thanks - it's a bit different where I work; I get the first 26 weeks of SMP + work pays whatever's needed to take me up to full pay for those 26 weeks, and then the last 13 weeks are at the £187 rate. So you can see where it gets confusing!

@Bromptotoo Payroll isn't getting back to me, so got desperate and posted here! I'd be at 9 months of the year on full pay so over the tax/NI threshold, surely?

@Nope2024 The way PAYE works means your tax free allowance is added up cumulatively over the year. For most people that means you get 1/12th applied in each month.

If you're only getting SMP that will less than the £1k or thereabouts per month 'free pay' so no tax. As the start point for NI is now aligned with tax you shouldn't have that taken either but you may be credited with contributions - cannot remember the floor level for that.

What is your tax code? And are you paid monthly or weekly?

@Nope2024 its always difficult to work this out because it’s part of a tax year and tax is based on the whole year. Effectively the personal allowance of £12,570 is divided into 12 so £1,047 per month.

My understanding is for the 13 weeks you will not pay NI nor Tax and in fact may get a tax rebate. So you will get 4 or 5 x £187 each month depending on how many whole weeks are in that month.