Payslip Checker UK 2026/27

Verify whether the tax and National Insurance on your payslip match what HMRC should be deducting. Enter your gross pay, tax code and pay frequency below.

Payslip Check Status
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Enter your details to verify your payslip
Tax year 2026/27
Tax and NI Comparison
Item
Expected
On Payslip
Status
Income Tax
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-
-
National Insurance
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-
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Total Deductions
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Calculation Breakdown
Gross pay this period -
Annualised gross -
Annual allowance (from code) -
Taxable income (annual) -
Expected annual tax -
Expected tax this period -
NI-able earnings this period -
Expected NI this period -
Enter the tax and NI amounts from your payslip to see if they match the expected deductions.
How PAYE Tax is Calculated

PAYE works by converting your period pay to an annual figure, calculating tax on the annualised amount, then dividing back by the number of pay periods. Your tax code determines your tax-free allowance: for example, 1257L gives £12,570 free per year.

England/Wales rates 2026/27: 20% on taxable income up to £37,700 (i.e. £12,571 to £50,270), 40% on £50,271 to £125,140, 45% above. Scottish taxpayers have different bands starting from 19%.

NI Category A: 8% on earnings between the Primary Threshold (£12,570/year) and Upper Earnings Limit (£50,270/year), then 2% above the UEL. Categories B, M and H have reduced or nil rates below the UEL. Category C pays no NI.

Small differences (up to £2 per period) can arise from rounding in your employer's payroll software. Larger differences may indicate an incorrect tax code, underpaid tax from a previous job, or benefits in kind.

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Payslip Checker FAQs 2026/27

How do I check if my payslip tax deduction is correct?
Enter your gross pay for the period, your tax code, pay frequency and NI category into this payslip checker. It calculates the expected PAYE tax and NI using HMRC's 2026/27 rates and compares them to the figures on your payslip, flagging any significant difference.
What does tax code 1257L mean on my payslip?
1257L is the standard UK tax code for 2026/27. The number 1257 multiplied by 10 gives your annual tax-free personal allowance of £12,570. The letter L confirms you receive the standard personal allowance. Most employees with no unusual deductions or benefits will have this code.
Why is my payslip tax higher than the calculator shows?
Several reasons can cause higher tax: you may have an emergency tax code (1257L W1/M1 or 0T) which taxes each period in isolation; underpaid tax from a previous employer carried into your code; benefits in kind increasing your tax liability; or a K code adding extra taxable income. If your payslip tax is consistently higher than expected, check your Personal Tax Account on HMRC's website or contact HMRC.
What is a K tax code on a payslip?
A K code (e.g. K350) means you have deductions or benefits that exceed your personal allowance, so HMRC adds extra income to your gross pay before calculating tax. The K number multiplied by 10 gives the amount added. For example K350 adds £3,500 to your taxable income each year. This often arises from untaxed benefits such as a company car or underpaid tax from previous years.
How is National Insurance calculated on my payslip?
For Category A employees, you pay 8% on earnings between the Primary Threshold (£12,570 per year) and the Upper Earnings Limit (£50,270 per year). Earnings above the UEL are charged at 2%. Category B (certain married women) pays a reduced rate. Category C (over state pension age) pays no employee NI. Categories M and H (young workers and apprentices) pay 0% up to the UEL.
What does the BR tax code mean?
BR means all income is taxed at the basic rate of 20% with no personal allowance applied. This code is typically used for a second job where your personal allowance is used up by your main employment. If you see BR on your main job payslip, contact HMRC as you may be overpaying tax.
Why might my calculated tax differ from my payslip by a few pence?
Small differences of a few pence or up to £1-2 are normal and result from rounding differences in payroll software. HMRC allows employers to round pence in different ways. This calculator flags differences larger than £2 as potentially worth investigating. Differences of exactly whole pounds or regular patterns may indicate a coding issue worth checking.

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For informational purposes only · Not financial advice · Tax rates shown are for 2026/27 · Always consult a qualified tax adviser for your personal situation