UK Tax Tools

P60 Final tax code — Tax code at 5 April

The PAYE tax code that was applied to your pay as at the tax year end — e.g. 1257L, K475, BR, S1257L, D0, NT.

At a glance

Entry
Tax code at 5 April
Feeds to
Carried forward to the new tax year unless HMRC issues a new code before 6 April.
Check against
Your most recent payslip's tax code (should match unless it changed in March/early April).

What this means

This is the tax code your employer used for your last pay period in the tax year. Common code formats: the standard code (full personal allowance, L suffix), K-prefix (negative allowance — deductions like company car exceed your allowance), BR (20% flat — usually a second job), S-prefix (Scottish taxpayer), D0/D1 (40%/45% flat), NT (no tax — you're tax-exempt for this income source).

The numeric part represents your personal allowance divided by 10 (e.g. a code of 1257 = £12,570 of tax-free income). The letter encodes qualifiers (L = standard, M/N = Marriage Allowance given/given up, T = more calculation required, emergency codes are W1/M1 suffixed).

Implications for your tax

  • Carried forward to 2026/27 unless HMRC issues a new code — usually arrives in a P9T coding notice in February/March.
  • If it's wrong, you'll either overpay (refund via P800) or underpay (HMRC bills you or collects via next year's code).
  • A K code signals HMRC thinks your benefits in kind exceed your allowance — worth verifying the underlying P11D figure is correct.

Common pitfalls

  • Emergency codes (1257L W1/M1) should get resolved mid-year — if you finish the year on one, HMRC will typically issue a P800 for you.
  • BR codes on a main job are a common cause of overpayment — happens when you start a new job without handing over a P45.
  • If you're Scottish and your code doesn't start with S, your employer may be taxing you at England/Wales/NI rates — fix via HMRC online (ask for Scottish taxpayer status).

For 2025-26 (tax year 6 April to 5 April)

Standard tax code
1257L (England / Wales / NI) · S1257L (Scotland) · C1257L (Wales)
The numeric part is your personal allowance ÷ 10 (£12,570 ÷ 10 = 1257). The L suffix indicates the standard code with no adjustments.
Personal Allowance
£12,570
Tapered away above £100,000 adjusted net income (loses £1 for every £2 over). Additional-rate threshold frozen at £125,140 under ITA 2007 s10(5A).

Values sourced from central tax-year config at build time — update automatically on FY rollover.

FAQ

What does the P60 Final tax code mean?
The PAYE tax code that was applied to your pay as at the tax year end — e.g. 1257L, K475, BR, S1257L, D0, NT. This is the tax code your employer used for your last pay period in the tax year. Common code formats: the standard code (full personal allowance, L suffix), K-prefix (negative allowance — deductions like company car exceed your allowance), BR (20% flat — usually a second job), S-prefix (Scottish taxpayer), D0/D1 (40%/45% flat), NT (no tax — you're tax-exempt for this income source).
Where does P60 Final tax code go on my tax return?
Carried forward to the new tax year unless HMRC issues a new code before 6 April.
What does a code like 1257L mean?
The numeric part × 10 equals your personal allowance (e.g. 1257 → £12,570); the L suffix indicates the standard code with no adjustments. Income above your allowance is taxed at basic rate, then higher, etc. The year-notes block below shows the current-year standard code.
What does a K code on my P60 mean?
A K code means your untaxed income (usually taxable benefits like a company car, or tax underpayments from earlier years) exceeds your personal allowance. HMRC treats the excess as income and collects tax on it via PAYE.

Related P60 entries

Tax deducted — Total income tax deducted in the year

Total income tax withheld from you via PAYE across this employer (and any previous employer in the same tax year).

Pay: In this employment — Pay in this employment (current job)

Your total taxable pay in this employment for the tax year (6 April to 5 April). If you started this job mid-year, it covers only what this employer paid you.

Pay: In previous employment(s) — Pay from previous employer(s) this year

Your taxable pay from any earlier employer in the same tax year, as transferred to this employer via your P45 Parts 2 and 3.

Pay: Total for year — Total pay for the tax year

The sum of current and previous employment pay — the headline figure HMRC uses for your annual income tax calculation.

Leaving a job instead? The equivalent leaver's figures are on your P45 — see the P45 Box Guide.

Reconciling your pay? Use the take-home pay calculator to verify PAYE and NI on any salary for 2025/26 or 2026/27, and the tax code checker to decode your final tax code.

Sources

P60 structure per HMRC PAYE forms guidance. Thresholds and rates current for 2025/26 (tax year 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026); 2026/27 figures included where published.

Related Calculators

UK Tax Brackets & Bands Reference

Every income tax band and rate for England/Wales/NI and Scotland, both tax years.

Reverse Salary Calculator

Enter your target take-home pay and get the gross salary you need to earn.

Budget Planner

50/30/20 rule or a custom income and expenditure form, with a monthly surplus/deficit figure.