21 HMRC payslip codes that may mean you're owed around £3,000

Have you ever noticed the tax code on your payslip and wondered what it means? This combination of letters and numbers is crucial as it determines how much tax you pay on your income.

If it's incorrect, you could be due a refund worth thousands. While it's easy to ignore this code when your salary comes in, it's your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct tax code for your situation.

HMRC calculates each individual number based on 'your tax-free Personal Allowance and income you have not paid tax on', including untaxed interest and part-time savings. The value of benefits, such as a company car, is taken into account too.

Gov.uk advice explains that '1257L' is currently the code used for most people who have one job or a pension. The 'L' indicates that you're entitled to the standard tax-free Personal Allowance - the amount you can earn annually before tax.

Currently, this value is £12,570. Drawing to an example, the Government explains: "You're entitled to the standard tax-free Personal Allowance of £12,570, but you also get medical insurance from your employer. As this is a company benefit it lowers your Personal Allowance and changes your tax code.

"The medical insurance benefit of £1,570 is taken away from your personal allowance, leaving you with a tax-free Personal Allowance of £11,000. This would mean your tax code is 1100L."

A full list of HMRC tax codes are as follows:

• L: You’re entitled to the standard tax-free Personal Allowance
• M: Marriage Allowance: you’ve received a transfer of 10% of your partner’s Personal Allowance
• N: Marriage Allowance: you’ve transferred 10% of your Personal Allowance to your partner
• T: Your tax code includes other calculations to work out your Personal Allowance
• 0T: Your Personal Allowance has been used up, or you’ve started a new job and your employer does not have the details they need to give you a tax code
• BR: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the basic rate (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• D0: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the higher rate (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• D1: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the additional rate (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• NT: You’re not paying any tax on this income
• C: Your income or pension is taxed using the rates in Wales
• C0T: Your Personal Allowance (Wales) has been used up, or you’ve started a new job and your employer does not have the details they need to give you a tax code
• CBR: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the basic rate in Wales (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• CD0: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the higher rate in Wales (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• CD1: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the additional rate in Wales (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• S: Your income or pension is taxed using the rates in Scotland
• S0T: Your Personal Allowance (Scotland) has been used up, or you’ve started a new job and your employer does not have the details they need to give you a tax code
• SBR: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the basic rate in Scotland (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• SD0: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the intermediate rate in Scotland (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• SD1: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the higher rate in Scotland (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• SD2: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the advanced rate in Scotland (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)
• SD3: All your income from this job or pension is taxed at the top rate in Scotland (usually used if you’ve got more than one job or pension)

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The Government also adds that patterns with 'W1', 'M1', or 'X' at the end are emergency codes. These are generally issued after a change of circumstance like a new job or getting company benefits or a State Pension.

Meanwhile, tax codes with 'K' at the beginning signal that your income is being taxed in a different way. This often takes place if you're paying tax you owe from a previous year through your wages or pension, the Government explains.

If you believe you're paying too much tax and require a refund, you should visit the Government's website to fill out a form. According to RIFT, the average tax rebate amount in the UK is £3,000.