Check your Plan 1 payslip deduction for 2026/27 and see when the loan ends.
2026/27 Plan 1 thresholds: £26,900 a year, £2,241.66 a month, £517.30 a week. Employers take 9% of pay above the threshold and round down to the whole pound. The projection keeps the threshold and interest rate fixed, so it is an estimate.
Plan 1 is the oldest type of student loan still being repaid, and it has the lowest threshold of the undergraduate plans apart from Plan 5. This student loan Plan 1 calculator checks the exact deduction on your payslip using the HMRC student loan deduction tables for 2026 to 2027, then projects how long you have left to pay and whether your balance will be cleared or written off.
Quick answer: A student loan Plan 1 calculator applies the 2026/27 threshold of £26,900 a year, or £2,241.66 a month. Your employer takes 9% of pay above the period threshold and rounds down to the nearest pound, so £2,750 a month gives a £45 deduction. Plan 1 loans are written off 25 years after the April you were first due to repay.
In This Guide
What Is a Plan 1 Student Loan?
You are on Plan 1 if you lived in England or Wales and started an undergraduate course before 1 September 2012, or if you applied as a student from Northern Ireland. For 2026/27 the threshold is £26,900 a year, which works out at £2,241.66 a month or £517.30 a week in payroll.
Each pay period, your employer works out (pay minus period threshold) × 9% and rounds the answer down to the nearest pound. On £2,750 a month, the excess is £508.34, 9% of that is £45.75, so £45 comes off your pay. Plan 1 loans are written off 25 years after the April you were first due to repay, or at 65 if your first loan was paid before 1 September 2006.
How Do You Use the Student Loan Plan 1 Calculator?
Step 1: Enter Your Pay for the Period
You choose monthly, weekly or yearly and type your gross pay for that period, using the gross figure printed on your payslip. Choose monthly, weekly or yearly, then type your gross pay for that period. To check a payslip, use the gross figure printed on it, because overtime and bonuses raise the deduction in that month.
Step 2: Add Your Balance
Enter the balance from your online account and the current interest rate. If your hours vary, the overtime calculator helps you estimate a typical month of pay, so the yearly projection stays realistic.
Step 3: Set Your Dates
Enter the first April you were due to repay and an expected pay rise. Tick the 2006 box if your first loan was paid before 1 September 2006, then add your age, because those loans end at 65.
Step 4: Check the Results
You will see the deduction for each pay period, the yearly total, the write off year and a projected total repaid. If the projection shows you will clear the loan anyway, the savings interest calculator lets you compare overpaying with saving the same money, which is often the better choice on Plan 1.
How Much Is Deducted for Plan 1 on Your Payslip?
| Gross pay | Above threshold | Deduction |
|---|---|---|
| £2,000 a month | £0.00 | £0 |
| £2,500 a month | £258.34 | £23 |
| £3,000 a month | £758.34 | £68 |
| £4,000 a month | £1,758.34 | £158 |
| £565 a week | £47.70 | £4 |
In 2026/27, Plan 1 takes £23 from £2,500 a month, £68 from £3,000 and £158 from £4,000, while £2,000 a month has no deduction. Because deductions are worked out per pay period, a one off bonus can trigger a deduction even if your annual pay is below £26,900. In that case you can ask for a refund, and the GOV.UK refund guidance explains how to claim it back from the Student Loans Company once the tax year has ended.
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How we checked this tool: the Tools Veria Editorial Team built this tool by hand, checked it against the official rules or published standards where they apply, and tested it against worked examples. Results are estimates for planning, not personal financial or tax advice. Read our editorial policy and disclaimer, or report an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Plan 1 threshold for 2026/27?
The Plan 1 threshold is £26,900 a year, £2,241.66 a month or £517.30 a week from 6 April 2026.
How much is the Plan 1 repayment?
You repay 9% of your pay above the threshold. Employers round each deduction down to the nearest pound.
Who is on Plan 1?
Students from England or Wales who started before 1 September 2012, and students from Northern Ireland, are usually on Plan 1.
When is a Plan 1 loan written off?
25 years after the April you were first due to repay. If your first loan was paid before 1 September 2006, it is written off when you are 65.
Why did I pay Plan 1 in a month with a bonus?
Deductions are based on each pay period, not your yearly pay. If your yearly income ends up below £26,900, you can ask for a refund.
Should I overpay my Plan 1 loan?
Only if you expect to clear it before write off. If the balance would be cancelled anyway, overpaying can mean paying more in total.