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Understanding PAYE Tax Codes
25 - 02 - 2022
What is a tax code?
A tax code is assigned to you by HMRC, and it is applied to your earnings under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) scheme. The tax code should reflect your personal allowances and allow HMRC to collect IncomeTax due for a tax year evenly over that tax year so that the take home pay is consistent over the tax year.
What does a tax code look like?
A tax code is usually made up of several numbers and a letter, for example: 543L or K497.
If the tax code is a number followed by a letter
Multiply the number in tax code by ten = the total amount of income you can earn in a year before paying tax.
For example: Tax code 1257L = 1257 X 10 = 12570 = personal allowance of tax-free income.
What does the letter represent?
The letter shows how the number should be adjusted following any changes to allowances announced by the Chancellor.
For example: at 06.04.21 following a budget announcement, all L codes were increased by 70. 1250L became1257L.
Please note that there is no increase in the personal allowance of £12,570 from 2021/2022 tax year to 2022/2023.
Letter |
Reason for use |
L |
For those eligible for the basic Personal Allowance - 1257L for the 2022/23 tax year. It can also used for 'emergency' tax codes. |
M |
Marriage Allowance: you’ve received a transfer of 10% of your partner’s Personal Allowance |
N |
Marriage Allowance: you’ve transferred 10% of your Personal Allowance to your partner |
S prefixed |
Your income or pension is taxed at the Scottish Rate of Income Tax |
C prefixed |
Your income or pension is taxed at the Welsh Rate of Income Tax |
T |
If there are any other items HMRC need to review in your tax code |
K |
When your total allowances are less than your total 'deductions' |
If your tax code has two letters but no number or is the letter 'D' followed by a zero or one, it is normally used where there are two or more sources of income and all of the allowances have been applied to the tax code and income from the main job or pension.
Other tax codes and what they mean:
Code |
Reason for use |
0T |
Your personal allowance has been used up, or you have started a new job and do not have a form P45, or you did not give your employer the details they need to give you a tax code |
BR |
Is used when all your income is taxed at the basic rate - currently 20% (most commonly used for a second job or pension that is paid through PAYE) |
D0 |
Is used when all your income is taxed at the higher rate of tax - currently 40% (most commonly used for a second job or pension that is paid through PAYE) |
D1 |
Is used when all your income is taxed at the additional rate of tax - currently 45% (most commonly used for a second job or pension that is paid through PAYE) |
NT |
Is used when no tax is to be taken from your income or pension |
If you have two jobs or pensions, the second income will be taxed at the basic or higher rate, because all of the allowances will have been used against the income from the main job or pension.
W1 = Week 1 and M1 = Month 1
An emergency tax code can be issued, and should be temporary in one of the following circumstances:
- A new job where your new tax code has not yet been issued but you need to be paid.
- Start working for an employer after being self-employed and your tax status for the whole year is unknown.
- You are receiving other income, for example pension or this is a second employment.
An emergency tax code means that there is no cumulative tax being calculated. All tax is calculated on your income above the personal allowance for that week or month.
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Whilst all due care and attention has been taken in the preparation of these notes no liability can be accepted for any omission or item contained therein.
Foremans LLP
February 2022