Exposed: What You Actually Pay in Tax

Let's say you earn £100,000 per year.

It sounds like a lot, but it isn't - I wanted to know how much you are truly left with after-tax.

Buckle up, the answer will shock you.

#1. Initial income taxes

On that income, your income tax would be £27,432.

Your national insurance would be £5,878.84.

That leaves you with £66,689.16 from your initial £100,000.

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#2. Housing

Next, you mortgage a £300,000 home to live in. You'll pay an additional tax called 'stamp duty' which equates to £2,500.

Your council tax to live in that house, in that county will be around £3,000 per year, if not more.

That now leaves you with £61,189.16

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#3. Commuting

You lease a car for £300 per month. But car leases are subject to VAT (value-added tax) so the government will take another £720 for themselves.

You drive that car to work, your road tax for the right to drive that car is £140 per year on average. Straight to the government.

Fuel is then taxed at a current rate of 60%. So if you fill one tank per week at an average of £60 per tank - that means the government is collecting £1,872 per year in tax from your fill-ups.

That leaves you with £58,457.16

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#4. Bills

You then pay around £1,000 per month on mortgage and bills - but VAT is added to your energy bills (not your mortgage).

That's another tax of £720 per year.

The average weekly shop is around £200 per month. The government will take 20% VAT on all of that, which works out to another £480 a year for them.

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#5. Luxuries

Then you spend on:

• Treats

• Meals & nights out

• Holidays

• Day trips

• Birthday presents

• Christmas presents

• Cinema tickets

• New furniture

• New clothes

• Home improvements

• Kids food, toys, childcare, etc

• Pet food, toys & treatments

• Unexpected costs

There's VAT on all of that.

Let's say that all adds up to £30,000 per year. The government will have £6,000 of it.

That only leaves you with £51,257.16 of non-taxable income.

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The Results

That's almost half (48.7%) of your original £100,000 income, in just tax. Did you realise it was that much?

That's without getting into the inflated cigarette, alcohol, capital gains, and inheritance taxes - which don't apply to everyone.