How to check your tax code - and you could be owed HUNDREDS of pounds (2024)

YOU could be owed money back from the tax office after accidentally overpaying.

Workers can claim back this cash by checking you're paying the right amount of tax - here's how.

1

Brits who are due a refund will start to receive letters from HMRC confirming the repayment from April.

Some tax codes changed last year, so it's a good idea to get clued up on what they mean - otherwise you could be out of pocket.

If you've recently moved jobs, not given your new workplace your P45 or filled in a starter checklist form, you might find you've been put on the wrong code.

If this happens, the tax office will automatically place you on the emergency tax code until you contact them.

We explain how to check your tax code - and how to claim any money back that you're owed.

What is a tax code?

A tax code is a combination of numbers and letters used by employers and pension providers to work out how much income tax you should pay.

Your company will take the money from your pay check before it arrives in your account.

Most people are basic-rate taxpayers, earning less than £37,500 a year.

You can earn £12,570 between April 2021 and April 2022 before paying tax. This is calledyour personal allowance.

The standard tax codefor basic-rate taxpayers is 1257L - you can work out what your personal allowance is by multiplying this by 10.

So you can earn £12,570 without paying tax on it.

How do I check my tax code?

It's worth checking if your employer is using the right tax code or you could end up paying the wrong amount.

Brits will have letters arrive in the post from this month telling them what their tax code is for the 2021/22 tax year.

This year's tax year started April 6 2021 and runs until April 5 2022.

But if you didn't get a letter, or can't find where it is, there are a number of ways you can check what your tax code is for the current tax year.

Your tax code will be displayed on your payslip, usually listed near your National Insurance number.

Your company has to provide you with a payslip, so if you’re not sure how to access it, ask your employer for guidance.

You can also use thegovernment's online tax checker toolto view your tax code.

How do I find out if my tax code is wrong?

You can check if your tax code is correct by usingHMRC’s online toolorMoneySavingExpert’s free online tax calculator.

If it's wrong, contact HMRC to let it know on 0300 200 3300. If it's right, you don't need to do anything.

HMRC will write to you or email you if they change your tax code - and they will also write to your employer about any changes too.

Then, your updated tax code should show on your next pay slip.

How do I know if I’m owed a tax refund?

If you are due a tax rebate HMRC will let you know by sending you a letter called a P800 or a simple assessment letter.

P800 letters can also tell you that you haven't paid enough tax, and you'll have to repay it.

You will only get a P800 after the tax year has ended - and the letter will arrive between April and November.

This letter will tell you if you can claim online through thegovernment's website.

If you claim online the money will be sent to your account in about five days.

Or you can wait for 45 days and the government will send you a cheque in the post.

How much could I get?

How much you could get back depends what tax code you were put on, your salary, and how much tax you should have been charged.

But in some cases, you could be owed hundreds - or even thousands - of pounds.

You can ask for help from organisations from Citizens Advice or TaxAid if you're struggling to work out how much you could get back.

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How to check your tax code - and you could be owed HUNDREDS of pounds (2024)

FAQs

How do I find my tax code UK? ›

You can find your tax code:
  1. on a 'Tax Code Notice' letter from HMRC if you get one.
  2. on your payslip.
  3. on the HMRC app.
  4. by checking your tax code for the current year online - you'll need to sign in to or create a personal tax account.

What is code 1250L? ›

1250L is a cumulative tax code, which means that if you return to work after a break or if you start working part-way through the tax year, your tax-free personal allowance will have been building up and you may pay less tax for a while.

What is the difference between tax code 1257L and 1250L? ›

Tax code 1257L will be the most common tax code for the tax year 2021/22 and 2022/23. It is expected to be unchanged until 2026. It replaces tax code 1250L, which was the most popular tax code for the previous 2 tax years (2019/20 and 2020/21).

What is BR tax code UK? ›

The tax code BR stands for basic rate. It means that all of the income will be taxed at basic rate which in the tax year 2021/22 is 20%. Therefore you aren't receiving a personal allowance on this income. The personal allowance is the tax free amount you can earn before paying income tax. This is currently £12,570. (

How should I check my tax code? ›

An annual summary of your salary and the tax that's been deducted. Your employer is required to give you this at the end of each tax year. If you're receiving a private pension, the easiest place to find your code will be on any pension advice slip or on your P60 sent once a year.

Can I view my tax code? ›

This means to get your current tax code your most recent payslip from the current tax year is usually the best place to look. You can also check your tax code online by using your personal tax account or when you receive a form P2 notice of coding from HMRC through the post.

How much tax will I pay on 1257L? ›

A tax code of 1257L gives you an allowance of £12,570 per annum before you start paying tax. When you start earning over the personal allowance you will pay 20% tax on your taxable earnings up to a limit of £50270. The percentage of tax you pay then increases to 40% on earnings over £50271 up to £150,000.

Who is tax code 1257L for? ›

Tax code 1257L

The most common tax code for tax year 2022 to 2023 is 1257L. It's used for most people with one job and no untaxed income, unpaid tax or taxable benefits (for example a company car). 1257L is an emergency tax code only if followed by 'W1', 'M1' or 'X'.

Who gets tax code 1257L? ›

Your tax code is made up of numbers and letters. 1257L is the tax code currently used for most people who have one job or pension. HMRC will usually contact you to explain how they worked out your individual tax code if your tax code changes.

What does tax code K mean? ›

If your minus allowances are greater in value than your tax free personal allowance a K code is created. The tax code system means that your K code should not deduct more than half of your taxable income in that periods pay.

What does M1 mean on tax code? ›

W1 (week 1) and M1 (month 1) are emergency tax codes and appear at the end of an employee's tax code, for example '577L W1' or '577L M1'. Calculate your employee's tax only on what they are paid in the current pay period, not the whole year.

What does tax code BR C mean? ›

The BR code really means that you aren't getting your tax-free personal allowance on that income. If you've got more than one job, you only get the allowance on one of them. Keep in mind that, if your personal allowance is being applied to a low-paid job, you might not get the full benefit of it.

What does 1131N tax code mean? ›

1131N is a common tax code for people who have taken advantage of the Marriage Allowance for the 2022/23 tax year.

What does it mean if my tax code is M? ›

If you receive a benefit from Work and Income (other than a student allowance, NZ super or veteran's pension) it is treated as your highest source of income and you must use the “M” tax code for this income.

What does tax code 1288L mean? ›

If you're claiming this, your tax code goes up to 1288L, so you're paying no tax on the first £12,880 you earn in a year. These are called “flat-rate” tax reliefs - and because they're based on guesses about your actual expenses they can be a little tricky to deal with if you don't know HMRC's rules well.

How do I find my 5 digit tax code? ›

You do not register the PIN with the IRS before filing or need to contact the IRS to get it. The five-digit PIN can be any five digits except all zeros.
...
The amount can be located on:
  1. Form 1040 - Line 38.
  2. Form 1040A - Line 21.
  3. Form 1040EZ - Line 4.
Jun 1, 2019

What is the tax code number? ›

A tax code is a combination of numbers and letters given to you to show HMRC how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should be paying. A tax code shows the amount of tax-free income an employee should receive in a single tax year also known as their personal allowance.

What does 1275L tax code mean? ›

An emergency code of 1275L followed by W1, M1 or X means that your tax will be worked out using the standard personal allowance (£12,570 for 2021/22). But each time, the calculation is done as if this is the first week (or month or other pay period) in the tax year.

What does tax code 1271L mean? ›

Total £12,710

= Code number 1271L. The number part of Marcus's code is the £12,710 total allowances, with the last digit dropped off. The code of 1271L is shown on the coding notice which HMRC send to Marcus.

How much tax do I pay on 150k UK? ›

If you make £150,000 a year living in United Kingdom, you will be taxed £55,665. That means that your net pay will be £94,335 per year, or £7,861 per month. Your average tax rate is 37.1% and your marginal tax rate is 43.3%. This marginal tax rate means that your immediate additional income will be taxed at this rate.

What is tax code 1150L? ›

1150L is a cumulative tax code, which means that if you return to work after a break or if you start working part-way through the tax year, your tax-free personal allowance will have been building up and you may pay less tax for a while.

What does tax code S1257L mean? ›

Your tax code will be S1257L if you pay Scottish Income Tax and get the standard Personal Allowance of £12,570. If you fill in an online Self Assessment tax return, there's a box for you to tell HMRC that you pay Scottish Income Tax.

What does tax code 1256l M1 mean? ›

So, what if your tax code is 1250L-W1 or 1250L-M1? Having W1 or M1 attached to your code means it is a non-cumulative tax code. The tax due on each payment is therefore determined without taking into account any tax you've already paid this year, or how much of your tax-free personal allowance has been used.

How do I fix my tax code? ›

As soon as you realise there has been a mistake with your PAYE tax code you must get in touch with HMRC by email or phone (0300 200 3300). You should provide all the necessary, accurate information so they can work out your correct tax code.

What is the most common tax code UK? ›

The most common tax code for tax year 2022 to 2023 is 1257L. It's used for most people with one job and no untaxed income, unpaid tax or taxable benefits (for example a company car). 1257L is an emergency tax code only if followed by 'W1', 'M1' or 'X'.

What to do if tax code is wrong? ›

As soon as you realise there has been a mistake with your PAYE tax code you must get in touch with HMRC by email or phone (0300 200 3300). You should provide all the necessary, accurate information so they can work out your correct tax code.

Why is my tax code higher than normal? ›

Usually someone's tax code changes if their tax-free income (Personal Allowance) goes up or down. For example if they start or stop receiving a taxable benefit like a company car.

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