The problem (in my mind) with the UK tax is the huge steps in the progression and how quickly it hits 40% (in SWE salaries, at least). Go from 0% to 20% to 40%

The problem (in my mind) with the UK tax is the huge steps in the progression and how quickly it hits 40% (in SWE salaries, at least). Go from 0% to 20% to 40% which feels a bit "steep" but it is better than going from 0% to 10% to 12% to 22% to 24% to 32% to 35% to 37%. But since I was old enough to actually look at paycheck (paycheque?) calculators online, I've found that the UK tax rate for livable wages is actually fairly low. To compare NYC to UK, £66k/yr = $90k/yr. In the UK, you would be taxed £17k ($23k), but that same salary living in NYC would be taxed $26k (£19k). So NYC + Fed + NYS taxed together at a higher rate than the UK government (INCLUDING NI). And $90k in NYC feels like WAY less than £66k somewhere Zone 4-6 in London with a similar commute.