Tax code decoder · 2026 to 2027
What is your tax code actually saying?
Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · How Tax Letters checks its facts
Type the code from your payslip, P2 notice or pension statement. Every letter and number explained, with the GOV.UK page to read if it looks wrong.
Decode a tax code
Every code, one page each
- 1257LThe standard code, read part by part
- Letter LThe letter L and the allowance it stands for
- Letter MMarriage Allowance received
- Letter NMarriage Allowance transferred
- Letter TOther allowance calculations
- 0TNo Personal Allowance applied
- BRAll income at the basic rate
- D0All income at the higher rate
- D1All income at the additional rate
- NTNo tax on this income
- K codesIncome added before tax is worked out
- Scottish codesScottish rates and the S codes
- Welsh codesWelsh rates and the C codes
- Emergency tax codesW1, M1, X and NONCUM
How a code is read
GOV.UK says you can find your tax code by checking it online (you need to sign in or create an online account), in the HMRC app, on your payslip, or on a Tax Code Notice letter from HMRC if you get one.
The numbers in your tax code tell your employer or pension provider how much tax-free income you get from them in that tax year.
GOV.UK's guidance for employers says you usually multiply the number in a tax code by 10 to get the total amount of income that can be earned before being taxed. Its example: with the code 1257L, an employee can earn £12,570 before being taxed.
Letters in a tax code refer to your situation, and how it affects your tax-free Personal Allowance and the rates of tax you pay.
A tax code is made up of numbers and letters. GOV.UK says 1257L is the tax code currently used for most people who have one job or pension.
The decoder reads the shape of the code you type and prints GOV.UK's own sentences for each part. It does not know your pay, your employer or your records, so it cannot say whether a code is right for you. Information, not advice.
- GOV.UK: Tax codes, what your tax code means (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Understanding your employees' tax codes, what the numbers mean (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Understanding your employees' tax codes, what the letters mean (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Marriage Allowance (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Tax codes, if you have a K in your tax code (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Income Tax in Scotland, who pays (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Income Tax in Wales (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Income Tax in Scotland (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Tax codes, emergency tax codes (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Tax codes, if you think your tax code is wrong (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Income Tax: enquiries (checked 7 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Income Tax in Scotland, if you move to or from Scotland (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Marriage Allowance, how to apply (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Check your Income Tax for the current year (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Check what your tax code means (checked 10 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Tax codes (checked 10 Oct 2026)