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 | 1257Y | SBR W1 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Standard | Emergency |
| Region | rUK | Scotland |
| Allowance | £12,570 | £0 |
| Emergency / non-cumulative | No | Yes |
| Approx. annual tax on £30k | £3,486 | £6,000 |
| In one sentence | You were born before 6 April 1938 - historical age-related allowance marker. | Scottish taxpayer version of BR - same allowance logic, but Scottish income-tax rates apply. on a non-cumulative (W1) basis. |
Bottom line on £30k
On a £30,000 salary, 1257Y deducts roughly £3,486 in income tax per year vs £6,000 for SBR W1. That is a difference of £2,514 per year - 1257Y is less expensive.
Hand-picked side-by-sides that answer the most-searched UK tax-code questions.
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