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 | 1257L W1 | K700 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Emergency | KCode |
| Region | rUK | rUK |
| Allowance | £12,570 | £-7,000 |
| Emergency / non-cumulative | Yes | No |
| Approx. annual tax on £30k | £3,486 | £7,400 |
| In one sentence | Standard personal allowance of £12,570 for England, Wales and NI. on a non-cumulative (W1) basis. | Adds £7,000 to your taxable pay because untaxed income exceeds your allowance. |
Bottom line on £30k
On a £30,000 salary, 1257L W1 deducts roughly £3,486 in income tax per year vs £7,400 for K700. That is a difference of £3,914 per year - 1257L W1 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