Pick any two UK PAYE tax codes and we will line up the allowance, emergency status, region and approximate annual tax on a £30,000 salary so you can see exactly how they differ.
Last updated 2026-04-12
| Attribute | 1200L | 1257L-NI |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Standard | Standard |
| Region | rUK | NorthernIreland |
| Allowance | £12,000 | £12,570 |
| Emergency / non-cumulative | No | No |
| Approx. annual tax on £30k | £3,600 | £3,486 |
| In one sentence | Reduced allowance of £12,000 - usually because of benefits-in-kind, an underpayment, or a P11D adjustment. | Northern Ireland uses the same PAYE codes as England - there is no NI-specific prefix. |
Bottom line on £30k
On a £30,000 salary, 1200L deducts roughly £3,600 in income tax per year vs £3,486 for 1257L-NI. That is a difference of £114 per year - 1200L is more expensive.
Hand-picked side-by-sides that answer the most-searched UK tax-code questions.
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