Tax · PAYE
How to check your tax code (and get money back if it's wrong)
Your tax code tells your employer how much tax to take from your pay. If it's wrong, you could be overpaying every month without knowing.
Where to find it
It's on your payslip, your P60 and in the HMRC app or your personal tax account online.
What it means
The most common code is 1257L. The number is your tax-free allowance divided by ten (£12,570) and the L means you get the standard Personal Allowance. In Scotland it starts with S, and in Wales with C.
| 1257L | Standard, usually right |
| BR | All pay taxed at 20%, often a second job |
| 0T | No tax-free allowance |
| W1, M1 or X | Emergency code, often after a new job |
| K (e.g. K475) | Extra tax to collect, e.g. company car |
Common reasons it's wrong
- You started a new job without a P45, so you're on an emergency code
- HMRC thinks you still have a benefit, like a company car, that has ended
- Your allowance is split wrongly between two jobs
- You've claimed Marriage Allowance or expenses that aren't reflected
How to fix it
Update your details in the HMRC app or your online account, or call HMRC. Once corrected, overpaid tax for the current year usually comes back through your pay. For earlier years, HMRC can refund you directly, and you can claim back up to four years.
Check what your take-home pay should be on the standard code.
Use the take-home calculator