Tax code checker 2026/27
Your tax code tells your employer how much tax-free pay you get. Enter your code to see what it means, how much Personal Allowance it gives you, and whether you might be on the wrong code and due a refund.
Check your tax code →Common tax codes explained
The standard code for 2026/27 is 1257L — the full £12,570 Personal Allowance. The numbers show your tax-free amount (×10); the letters modify how it is applied. BR taxes everything at 20% (typical for second jobs), D0 at 40%, K codes mean deductions exceed your allowance, and W1/M1 suffixes are emergency codes calculated per-payslip rather than cumulatively. An S prefix means Scottish rates apply.
Frequently asked questions
What does tax code 1257L mean?
1257L is the standard code for 2026/27: a tax-free Personal Allowance of £12,570 spread across the year, with income above it taxed through the normal bands.
Why is my tax code BR?
BR taxes all income from that job at 20% with no tax-free allowance — normal for second jobs, but wrong if it is your only job, in which case you are overpaying and should contact HMRC.
How do I fix a wrong tax code?
Check your code against your circumstances, then contact HMRC or use your Personal Tax Account online. If you have overpaid, HMRC refunds it through your payslip or a repayment.