What are tax codes?
Tax codes are part of the PAYE system and tell an individual’s employer or pension provider how much tax-free income they’ll receive in that tax year. So, when a company hires staff, for example, they use that employee’s P45 to determine their tax code. A full list of current UK tax codes and their meanings is available on the Gov.uk website.
Tax codes can change when HMRC updates them, which can happen for a variety of reasons. These range from an individual starting a new job or changes in their taxable benefits to them owing tax from a previous year.
Things to know
- Tax codes are used by an employer to determine the tax-free income an employee is entitled to
- They are generally alphanumeric but can include letters, numbers or both
- Tax codes don’t determine an employee’s National Insurance Contributions (NIC), these are calculated on earnings above specific thresholds, regardless of the employee’s tax-free allowance
- The fully self-employed non-PAYE workers don’t have a tax code, although other tax rules apply
- An incorrect tax code can mean a worker paying too much or too little tax and might lead to financial penalties for the employer
FAQs
What are tax codes?
Tax codes are provided by HMRC to help employers determine the tax-free income their employees receive.
What issues arise if a tax code is incorrect?
Incorrect tax codes might mean an employee pays too much or too little tax.
Who is responsible for ensuring a tax code is right?
The employee is responsible for making sure their tax code is correct. They can log into the HMRC online system to check and update their details, or contact their employer’s payroll department for assistance if needed.
Where can a worker find their tax code?
An employee’s tax code can be found clearly indicated on their wage slip but it can also be found on their most recent P45 or P60.
When are emergency tax codes used?
When a worker’s circumstances change through, say, starting a new job, HMRC can take time updating their tax code. In this case, an emergency tax code is applied temporarily until the correct tax code is provided.
