Methodology

How Punt’s calculators and content work — assumptions, formulas, and what we don’t model.

Take-home pay calculator

The take-home calculator models a single PAYE employee in Ireland on Budget 2026 rates with standard tax credits.

PAYE

20% on the first €44,000 of gross income, 40% above that. Standard credits of €4,000 are applied (personal credit €1,875 + PAYE credit €1,875 + PRSI credit €250). The credit reduces the gross tax bill euro for euro.

USC (Universal Social Charge)

0.5% on the first €12,012, 2% from €12,013 to €27,382, 4% from €27,383 to €70,044, and 8% above that. Incomes of €13,000 or less are exempt entirely.

PRSI

4.1% on gross earnings. Class A PRSI (the standard employee class) with no upper ceiling.

Net take-home

Gross minus PAYE (after credits), USC, and PRSI.

Limitations

  • Assumes a single job (one employer). Multiple employments are taxed differently.
  • Does not account for benefit-in-kind (BIK), company cars, or non-standard credits.
  • USC surcharge (8%) for non-PAYE income above €100,000 is not modelled.
  • Figures are illustrative. Always verify with Revenue.ie or a tax professional.

Pension contribution calculator

Pension contributions reduce your income for PAYE purposes but not for USC or PRSI.

PAYE relief

Employee pension contributions are deducted from gross income before PAYE is calculated. The saving is the difference in PAYE with and without the contribution — effectively your marginal rate (20% or 40%) on the amount contributed.

USC and PRSI

USC and PRSI remain calculated on full gross salary regardless of pension contribution. This matches the Irish Revenue treatment of occupational pensions and PRSAs.

Age-banded relief limits

Revenue caps the amount that qualifies for relief as a percentage of net relevant earnings: 15% (under 30), 20% (30–39), 25% (40–49), 30% (50–54), 35% (55–59), 40% (60 and over). There is also an earnings ceiling of €115,000.

Auto-enrolment rates

Phase 1 (2025–27): employee 1.5%, employer 1.5%, state 0.5%. Phase 2 (2028–29): 3%/3%/1%. Phase 3 (2030–31): 4.5%/4.5%/1.5%. Phase 4 (2033+): 6%/6%/2%.

Limitations

  • True marginal relief depends on whether contributions cross the 20%/40% threshold. The calculator uses the actual PAYE difference, not an assumed rate.
  • Employer contributions are excluded from the employee relief cap but may have separate tax implications not modelled here.

Loan calculator

Monthly repayments and total cost of credit are calculated using the standard annuity formula.

Monthly repayment

P × r / (1 − (1 + r)^−n), where P is the principal, r is the monthly interest rate (APR / 12 / 100), and n is the number of monthly repayments.

Total cost of credit

Total repayments minus the original principal.

APR

Annual Percentage Rate as defined by the Central Bank of Ireland. The calculator uses APR directly — it does not model origination fees or other charges that some lenders include.

Limitations

  • Assumes fixed-rate repayment for the full term with no overpayments, early repayment, or default.
  • Variable-rate loans will differ from this estimate.
  • Does not include PPI, account fees, or other ancillary costs.

Mortgage calculator

Monthly repayments are calculated on a standard principal-and-interest (annuity) basis.

Monthly repayment

Same annuity formula as the loan calculator, applied to the mortgage amount and term.

LTV and LTI limits

The Central Bank of Ireland limits first-time buyers to a loan-to-income ratio of 4× gross income and a loan-to-value of 90% (10% deposit). Second-time buyers: 3.5× LTI, 80% LTV. The calculator applies these to indicate maximum borrowing power.

Limitations

  • Does not model interest-only periods, tracker rates, or split mortgages.
  • Stress-testing requirements and lender-specific criteria vary.
  • Always get a formal approval in principle from your lender.

All calculations are illustrative. Punt is not a tax or financial adviser. For personalised advice, contact MABS or an authorised financial adviser.

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