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Check Your UK Tax Code Online

Enter your HMRC tax code below to decode your Personal Allowance and tax rules for the 2026/27 tax year.

Tax Region
England / Northern Ireland
Personal Allowance
£12,570.00
Suffix / Type
L
Tax Calculation
Standard tiered bands
Frequency Rule
Cumulative (Standard)

Where to find your tax code

Your tax code is usually found on your payslip, P45 (if you left a job), P60 (end-of-year summary), or by logging into your HMRC Personal Tax Account online. HMRC sends a "Coding Notice" (P2) if your code changes.

How the number determines your Personal Allowance

For most people, the numbers in the tax code represent the amount of tax-free income you receive. For example, 1257 means you have a £12,570 Personal Allowance. HMRC takes the allowance, removes the last digit, and adds the suffix.

L, M, N, T and K codes

  • L: The standard tax code for most people entitled to the full Personal Allowance.
  • M: Marriage Allowance — you have received 10% of your partner's allowance.
  • N: Marriage Allowance — you have transferred 10% of your allowance to your partner.
  • T: Used if HMRC needs to review your code or there are other items in the calculation.
  • K: You have income that isn't being taxed another way (e.g. state pension or company benefits) that is greater than your allowance. K codes effectively add notional income to your salary for tax purposes.

Flat Rate and Emergency Codes

England & NI

  • BR: Basic Rate (20%)
  • D0: Higher Rate (40%)
  • D1: Additional Rate (45%)
  • NT: No Tax

Scotland (S)

  • SBR: Basic (20%)
  • SD0: Intermediate (21%)
  • SD1: Higher (42%)
  • SD2: Advanced (45%)
  • SD3: Top (48%)

Wales (C)

  • CBR: Basic (20%)
  • CD0: Higher (40%)
  • CD1: Additional (45%)

Wrong tax code?

If you think your tax code is incorrect (e.g. you've changed jobs, started receiving benefits, or your income has crossed £100k), you should notify HMRC. You can do this via the HMRC app, your Personal Tax Account, or by calling HMRC. Our main salary calculator can help you estimate if the tax being deducted matches your actual income.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 1257L tax code?

It is the most common tax code in the UK for 2026/27, giving you the standard £12,570 tax-free Personal Allowance.

What does W1, M1 or X mean?

These are "emergency" markers. They mean your tax is calculated only on the current pay period's income, rather than taking your whole year-to-date earnings into account. This often happens if you start a new job without a P45.

Is 1257L the same in Scotland?

Yes, the 1257L numeric allowance is the same, but you will see an "S" prefix (S1257L) to indicate that Scottish tax bands apply to your income.