2026/27 tax codes
Tax code 1257L X explained
- 1257 means you can earn £12,570 a year before paying income tax.
- L means you get the standard tax-free Personal Allowance.
- W1, M1 or X is an emergency code: each payday is taxed on its own, so you get no refund for earlier overpayments until it is fixed.
How much tax 1257L X takes
| Salary | Tax a year on 1257L X | Tax a year on 1257L | Difference a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| £20,000 | £1,484 | £1,484 | Same |
| £30,000 | £3,484 | £3,484 | Same |
| £45,000 | £6,484 | £6,484 | Same |
| £60,000 | £11,428 | £11,428 | Same |
| £90,000 | £23,428 | £23,428 | Same |
Income tax through PAYE only, with no pension or benefits. Try your own salary with 1257L X.
Check another code
Common questions
What does tax code 1257L X mean?
1257 means you can earn £12,570 a year before paying income tax. L means you get the standard tax-free Personal Allowance. W1, M1 or X is an emergency code: each payday is taxed on its own, so you get no refund for earlier overpayments until it is fixed.
How much tax does 1257L X take on £30,000?
On a £30,000 salary, code 1257L X takes £3,484 of income tax a year through PAYE in 2026/27, compared with £3,484 on 1257L.
Is 1257L X the right tax code for me?
Check your code in the HMRC app or your Personal Tax Account. If it does not match your situation, tell HMRC: overpaid tax is refunded and underpaid tax is usually collected through next year's code.
Official sources
Every rate and threshold on this page is checked against these official pages. How we calculate
- Tax codes (GOV.UK)
- Emergency tax codes (GOV.UK)
- PAYE Manual (HMRC)
- Check your Income Tax for the current year (HMRC)
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