Tax code · 2026/27

1257L means you can earn £12,570 a year before paying income tax

Tax code 1257L gives you a tax-free personal allowance of £12,570 for the 2026/27 tax year, which is £1,048 a month or £242 a week. Anything you earn above that is taxed at the England and Northern Ireland rates, starting at 20%. The number is simply your allowance with the last digit removed.

What does each part of 1257L mean?

The number 1257 is your allowance divided by 10: 1257 × 10 = £12,570. HMRC actually lets you earn up to £12,579 before tax because the last digit is dropped.
1257L is the standard code for 2026/27. Most people with one job and no benefits, deductions or untaxed income have it.
The L suffix means you are entitled to the standard tax-free personal allowance, with no marriage allowance adjustment.
There is no S or C prefix, so HMRC treats you as living in England or Northern Ireland.

How much tax do you pay with code 1257L?

The table shows income tax and take-home pay in 2026/27 for four salaries with code 1257L, compared with the standard code 1257L. National Insurance is not affected by your tax code.

Salary	Tax with 1257L	Tax on standard code	Take-home with 1257L	Per month
£25,000	£2,486	£2,486	£21,520	£1,793
£35,000	£4,486	£4,486	£28,720	£2,393
£50,000	£7,486	£7,486	£39,520	£3,293
£75,000	£17,432	£17,432	£54,057	£4,505

On £35,000 the effective rate with 1257L is 17.9%. Use the take-home pay calculator with your own salary, pension and student loan.

Frequently asked questions

Is tax code 1257L correct for me?

1257L is right if you have one job or pension, no taxable benefits, no untaxed income and no unpaid tax from earlier years. If any of those apply, HMRC should have adjusted the number. Check the breakdown in your Personal Tax Account.

How much tax do I pay on £35,000 with tax code 1257L?

On £35,000 with code 1257L income tax is £4,486 a year in 2026/27, leaving take-home pay of £28,720 (£2,393 a month) after National Insurance of £1,794.

How do I change tax code 1257L?

You cannot change it yourself; only HMRC can issue a new code. Update your details in your HMRC Personal Tax Account or call 0300 200 3300 with your National Insurance number and details of your income and benefits. HMRC sends the new code to your employer and any tax overpaid in the year is refunded through your pay.

What does the lack of a prefix mean?

No prefix means HMRC treats you as living in England or Northern Ireland. If you actually live in Scotland or Wales, tell HMRC so the correct regional code can be issued.