Ask PayslipIQ · Last reviewed 2026-05-08
What does 1257L mean on my payslip?
1257L is the standard UK personal allowance tax code for the 2026/27 tax year. The 1257 means you can earn £12,570 tax-free this year. The L means you are entitled to the standard tax-free personal allowance.
PayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, payroll, accounting, pension, benefits or employment advice. Always verify your payslip, tax code, deductions and take-home pay with your employer's payroll department, HMRC, your pension provider, a qualified accountant, tax adviser or another appropriately qualified professional.
If you have one job and no unusual circumstances, 1257L is what HMRC will most commonly issue.
If your code is different, it usually reflects one of: a benefit-in-kind (private medical, company car), a previous underpayment HMRC is recovering through PAYE, a second income source that uses part of your allowance, or marriage allowance if you transfer 10% of your allowance to a spouse.
The number is your allowance divided by 10. So 1257L is £12,570 tax-free. 1100L would be £11,000 tax-free. K codes work the opposite way and add deemed income to your taxable pay.
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Reviewed by PayslipIQ Editorial. Sources cited where applicable.
PayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, payroll, accounting, pension, benefits or employment advice. Always verify your payslip, tax code, deductions and take-home pay with your employer's payroll department, HMRC, your pension provider, a qualified accountant, tax adviser or another appropriately qualified professional.