Emergency tax codes

Posted on 25th July 2023 by Streets Employment & Payroll


Image to represent Emergency tax codes

The letters in an employee’s tax code signify their entitlement (or not) to the annual tax free personal allowance. The tax codes are updated annually and help employer’s work out how much tax to deduct from an employee’s pay packet. 

The basic personal allowance for the tax year starting 6 April 2023 is £12,570 and the tax code for an employee entitled to the standard tax-free Personal Allowance 1257L. This is the most common tax code and is used for most people with one job and no untaxed income, unpaid tax or taxable benefits (for example a company car).

Emergency tax codes can be used if HMRC does not receive a taxpayer’s income details in time after a change in circumstances such as:

  • a new job
  • working for an employer after being self-employed
  • getting company benefits or the State Pension

Employees on an emergency tax code will see one of the following codes on their payslip:

  • 1257L W1
  • 1257L M1
  • 1257L X

These codes mean that an employee’s tax calculation is based only on what they are paid in the current pay period. The emergency tax codes are temporary and will usually be updated once the necessary details about previous income or pension payments are sent to HMRC.


No Advice

The content produced and presented by Streets is for general guidance and informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial or other advice. Furthermore, it should not be considered a recommendation or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities or other form of financial asset. The information provided by Streets is of a general nature and is not specific for any individual or entity. Appropriate and tailored advice or independent research should be obtained before making any such decisions. Streets does not accept any liability for any loss or damage which is incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of obtaining Streets' visual or audible content.

Information

The content used by Streets has been obtained from or is based on sources that we believe to be accurate and reliable. Although reasonable care has been taken in gathering the necessary information, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information we publish and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions in material. You should always seek specific advice prior to making any investment, legal or tax decisions.


Expert insight and news straight
to your inbox

Related Articles


Redundancy pay and tax

There is a tax-free limit of £30,000 for redundancy pay regardless of whether it is your statutory redundancy payment or a higher payment from your employer. If you have been employed for two years or more and are made redundant, you are usually


Employing an apprentice

There are special rules to observe when employing an apprentice in the UK. Basically, an apprentice takes part in a structured training program that combines working with studying. Apprentices gain practical experience while earning a wage and


Claim tax deduction for working from home

Employees who are working from home may be eligible to claim a tax deduction on certain work-related bills. If their employer does not cover these expenses or allowances, they can claim tax relief directly from HMRC. You can claim tax relief if you

You might also be interested in...