Meridian Solutions LtdUK Umbrella Payroll Introducer
How It Works
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Enter your assignment rate – daily or annual, we’ll break it down
See the full PAYE breakdown – employer costs, tax, NI, pension and net pay
Indicative figures only – final amounts depend on your umbrella’s specific terms
Free to use – no registration, no obligation, no data stored
Step 1 of 6 · Who Is This For?
Who are you using this estimator as?
This helps us tailor your estimate and match you with the most suitable compliant umbrella options.
Independent IntroducerMeridian Solutions Ltd is an independent introducer. We are not tied to a single umbrella provider.
Compliance-Aware GuidanceWe only introduce to umbrella companies that operate PAYE in line with HMRC guidance.
We Do Not Process PayrollMeridian Solutions Ltd does not employ contractors or sit in your payment flow. Your umbrella provider does that.
Takes about 60 seconds. No phone number required at this stage.
Step 2 of 6 · Your Contract Type
What best describes your current arrangement?
Your selection shapes the deductions we show and the compliant providers we suggest.
Step 3 of 6 · Your Assignment Details
Tell Us About the Assignment
This information helps us match you with compliant umbrella providers and generate accurate estimates.
Step 4 of 6 · Personalised Estimate Gate
Get Your Personalised Take-Home Estimate
Personalised results differ materially depending on umbrella provider compliance structures, assignment rate and deduction practices. We will email your breakdown so you can compare it later against any figures a provider quotes you — and flag it if those numbers diverge unexpectedly.
Why we ask before revealing your estimate
Two contractors on the same hourly rate can take home meaningfully different amounts depending on contract length, sector norms and the umbrella provider used. A compliance-aware breakdown is only useful if it is tied to a verifiable record — that is what your email anchors.
Meridian Solutions Ltd is an independent introducer. We do not operate PAYE or process payroll — your umbrella provider does that.
Step 5 of 6 · Preparing Your Estimate
Building your compliance-adjusted estimate…
1 Analysing assignment structure
2 Reviewing compliance-adjusted deductions
3 Calculating estimated take-home pay
Compliance-aware, not generic
We apply 2024/25 HMRC thresholds and the statutory employer costs a compliant PAYE umbrella is required to meet (Employer National Insurance, Apprenticeship Levy where applicable, and auto-enrolment pension baselines). If a provider later quotes you a materially higher take-home on the same rate, treat it as a flag — not a bargain.
Reminder: Meridian Solutions Ltd is an independent introducer. We do not operate PAYE or process payroll.
Step 6 of 6 · Your Personalised Estimate
Your Estimated Take-Home Breakdown
Based on the assignment details you provided. Figures are indicative and use 2024/25 HMRC thresholds.
Weekly Pay Breakdown
Weekly Assignment Rate
£0
Less Employer NI (13.8%)
-£0
Less Umbrella Margin
-£0
Less Employer Pension (3%)
-£0
Gross Pay
£0
Less Employee Pension (5%)
-£0
Less Income Tax
-£0
Less Employee NI
-£0
Estimated Weekly Take-Home
£0
Estimated Contract Value: £0
Your take-home pay may vary depending on umbrella provider structure and compliance models. The figures above reflect a compliant PAYE umbrella applying statutory employer costs to your assignment rate.
What each deduction actually means
Employer National Insurance (13.8%)
A statutory employer cost that HMRC requires umbrella companies to pay. It is funded from the assignment rate, not on top of it — which is why your headline rate and take-home look different.
Umbrella Margin
The fee retained by the umbrella provider for operating PAYE, running payroll, issuing payslips and handling employer obligations on your behalf. Typical UK range is £15–£30 per week.
Auto-enrolment contributions on qualifying earnings. Employee contributions receive tax relief, which reduces your taxable pay. Opt-out is possible within the first month of enrolment.
Income Tax & Employee NI
Standard PAYE deductions on your taxable pay using 2024/25 HMRC bands and thresholds.
A note on compliance: If an umbrella provider promises take-home pay significantly higher than the figure above on the same assignment rate, treat it with caution. Unusually high net pay often signals non-compliant schemes (including disguised remuneration) that can expose contractors to HMRC liability years later. Compliant PAYE umbrellas produce broadly similar net results on the same rate.
Independent introducer positioning
As an independent umbrella introducer, we can connect you with compliant PAYE umbrella providers suited to your assignment structure. We do not operate PAYE, employ contractors or sit in your payment flow — we help you choose the right provider, then step out of the way.
Your Next Step
Compliant providers vary in deductions, margin and payslip structure. The fastest way to act on this estimate is a targeted introduction or a sense-check from a specialist.
Compliance awareness matters: providers differ in how they apply statutory costs, pension structure and margin. A short conversation often prevents months of the wrong setup.
This estimate is for illustrative purposes only. Actual take-home pay may vary based on individual circumstances, student loan deductions, tax code, pension status and other factors. Meridian Solutions Ltd is an independent introducer and does not process payroll, employ contractors, or operate PAYE.
Final Step · Request Your Introduction
Get Matched With a Compliant Umbrella Provider
Share a little more so we can make the right introduction. We will only contact providers relevant to your sector and rate band.
For UK recruitment agencies
Take-home figures answer the contractor question. The placement question is different.
A clean rate breakdown is the start of the conversation, not the end of it. Recruiters use Meridian to route the same contractor to a vetted compliant umbrella so onboarding completes without escalations, drop-offs or chains the agency can't defend.