Decode your UK tax code.
Paste any tax code — 1257L, K475, BR, D0, NT, S1257L W1 — and we'll explain it in plain English, with your effective Personal Allowance.
Standard tax-free Personal Allowance of around £12,570. The "L" means you get the basic PA.
Related tools
What you might calculate next
How it works
The number × 10 is your PA
1257L means HMRC has given you a tax-free Personal Allowance of about £12,570 for the year (the number is shown without the last digit; PA = number × 10 + 9 in HMRC's rules).
The letter is the situation
L = standard PA. M = received Marriage Allowance from spouse (+10%). N = transferred it (-10%). T = under review. 0T = no PA. BR = all 20%. D0 = all 40%. D1 = all 45%. NT = no tax.
Prefixes S and C
An S prefix means Scottish income-tax rates apply. A C prefix means Welsh — though the Welsh rates currently match rUK, the prefix lets HMRC apportion tax correctly.
W1 / M1 / X — emergency
These mean your code is non-cumulative: tax is worked out each pay period in isolation, not against your year-to-date earnings. Common when you change jobs mid-year before HMRC has all your details.
K-codes mean negative PA
A code starting with K (e.g. K475) means there's no PA and an extra amount is added to your taxable pay (often for company-car benefits, state pension, or tax owed from prior years). Up to 50% of pay can be deducted via PAYE in any one period.
Where to check
HMRC sends a Coding Notice (form P2) explaining how your code was built. You can also check your code anytime in the HMRC app or via your Personal Tax Account on gov.uk.