What this site is
PayoutMath is a free reference site providing UK earnings calculators and explanatory content for sellers, creators, and side-hustlers. It exists because the official sources (platform fee pages, HMRC guidance, etc.) are scattered and often hard to translate into “what does this mean for my situation”.
We synthesise information from official sources into calculators that estimate your take-home pay after fees and tax. Estimate is the operative word.
What this site isn’t
We are not:
- An accountant, an accountancy firm, or working under any accounting body’s supervision
- A solicitor or law firm
- A financial advisor regulated by the FCA
- A tax adviser certified by HMRC, the CIOT, or any professional tax body
- Affiliated with HMRC, GOV.UK, or any UK government department
- Affiliated with any platform whose fees we calculate (Etsy, eBay, Vinted, Spotify, etc.)
Specifically
The calculators on this site are simplified models. They cannot account for:
- Your full personal circumstances (other income, allowances, marital status, residency, domicile, prior-year losses, etc.)
- Edge cases in how HMRC actually applies a rule to your specific facts
- Platform-specific exceptions, promotions, or grandfathered fee structures
- Recent changes that may not yet be reflected on the site (we update monthly, but reality changes daily)
- Your VAT position, capital gains exposure, or interactions with corporation tax if you’re a limited company
- Whether your activity counts as “trading” for HMRC purposes (the badges of trade test is fact-specific and not something a calculator can determine)
When you should get real advice
If any of these apply, see a qualified UK accountant or tax adviser before making decisions:
- Your side-hustle income is approaching or above the VAT threshold (£90,000)
- You’re considering incorporating as a limited company
- You’re operating in multiple territories or have non-UK income
- HMRC has contacted you or opened an enquiry
- You’re behind on Self Assessment or owe back tax
- Your circumstances are non-standard — you’re a non-domiciled resident, recently moved to/from the UK, have property income across borders, etc.
- You’re making a decision where being wrong by even a few hundred pounds matters
Finding an accountant: the ICAEW and ACCA directories list qualified UK practitioners.
How to use this site responsibly
- Treat numbers as estimates, not facts
- Verify against your actual platform invoices and HMRC self-assessment software before filing or making decisions
- Read the “What this calculator doesn’t cover” section on every calc page — it’s there for a reason
- If a number seems wrong, email us with details and we’ll investigate
Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, PayoutMath and its operator accept no liability for losses, penalties, missed deadlines, incorrect tax filings, or any other consequence arising from your use of this site. You use it at your own risk.
This does not affect any rights you have under UK consumer law that cannot be excluded.
Changes
This disclaimer may be updated occasionally. The “Last updated” date reflects the most recent change.
Contact
Questions or corrections: hello@payoutmath.co.uk. The contact page lists all the ways to get in touch.