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 | 1250L | K400 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Historical | KCode |
| Region | rUK | rUK |
| Allowance | £12,500 | £-4,000 |
| Emergency / non-cumulative | No | No |
| Approx. annual tax on £30k | £3,500 | £6,800 |
| In one sentence | Standard allowance for tax year 2019/20: £12,500. | Adds £4,000 to your taxable pay because untaxed income exceeds your allowance. |
Bottom line on £30k
On a £30,000 salary, 1250L deducts roughly £3,500 in income tax per year vs £6,800 for K400. That is a difference of £3,300 per year - 1250L is less expensive.
Hand-picked side-by-sides that answer the most-searched UK tax-code questions.
Upload your payslip and we will tell you whether the code being applied is correct for the pay you actually received.
Check My Payslip