Tax code · 2026/27

1286L means you can earn £12,860 a year before paying income tax

Tax code 1286L gives you a tax-free personal allowance of £12,860 for the 2026/27 tax year, which is £1,072 a month or £247 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 1286L mean?

The number 1286 is your allowance divided by 10: 1286 × 10 = £12,860. HMRC actually lets you earn up to £12,869 before tax because the last digit is dropped.
This allowance is £290 higher than the standard £12,570, usually because of job expenses, professional subscriptions, Marriage Allowance received, Blind Person's Allowance or a refund of tax overpaid in an earlier year.
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 1286L?

The table shows income tax and take-home pay in 2026/27 for four salaries with code 1286L, compared with the standard code 1257L. National Insurance is not affected by your tax code.

Salary	Tax with 1286L	Tax on standard code	Take-home with 1286L	Per month
£25,000	£2,428	£2,486	£21,578	£1,798
£35,000	£4,428	£4,486	£28,778	£2,398
£50,000	£7,428	£7,486	£39,578	£3,298
£75,000	£17,316	£17,432	£54,173	£4,514

On £35,000 the effective rate with 1286L is 17.8%, against 17.9% on the standard code, a difference of £58 a year. Use the take-home pay calculator with your own salary, pension and student loan.

Frequently asked questions

Is tax code 1286L correct for me?

Compare 1286L with the standard code 1257L. The difference should match an adjustment you recognise, such as a company benefit, job expenses, Marriage Allowance or an underpayment from an earlier year. If it does not, ask HMRC to review it.

How much tax do I pay on £35,000 with tax code 1286L?

On £35,000 with code 1286L income tax is £4,428 a year in 2026/27, leaving take-home pay of £28,778 (£2,398 a month) after National Insurance of £1,794. On the standard code it would be £4,486.

How do I change tax code 1286L?

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.