Tax & Income
Enter any UK tax code to get a plain-English explanation, your effective personal allowance, and an estimated tax comparison.
Found on your payslip or P60. Examples: 1257L, BR, D0, K500, S1257L, 1257L W1
Common codes
Tax code
1257L
Standard personal allowance (£12,570/year) — as expected for most employees
Tax code 1257L gives you a personal allowance of £12,570 per year. The L suffix means you are entitled to the standard personal allowance.
On a salary of £35,000 · 2026/27 England/Wales rates · income tax only
Your tax code tells your employer how much income to treat as tax-free each pay period. For a standard code like 1257L, the number (1257) multiplied by 10 gives your annual personal allowance (£12,570). The letter tells your employer about your circumstances — L is the most common and simply confirms you get the standard allowance.
Emergency codes (W1/M1), D0, or 0T codes can cause you to overpay tax during the year. HMRC's cumulative PAYE system usually corrects overpayments automatically at year end, but you can also claim a refund through your Personal Tax Account or by calling HMRC. If you have been on an emergency code for more than a couple of pay periods, it is worth contacting HMRC directly to resolve it — particularly if you have provided your P45 to your employer.
You can check and update your tax code online through your HMRC Personal Tax Account (gov.uk). Changes you make online are usually reflected in your next payslip. For complex situations — K codes, multiple income sources, or high-income adjustments — it is worth speaking to HMRC directly or consulting a tax professional.