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 | K150 | K500 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | KCode | KCode |
| Region | rUK | rUK |
| Allowance | £-1,500 | £-5,000 |
| Emergency / non-cumulative | No | No |
| Approx. annual tax on £30k | £6,300 | £7,000 |
| In one sentence | Adds £1,500 to your taxable pay because untaxed income exceeds your allowance. | Adds £5,000 to your taxable pay because untaxed income exceeds your allowance. |
Bottom line on £30k
On a £30,000 salary, K150 deducts roughly £6,300 in income tax per year vs £7,000 for K500. That is a difference of £700 per year - K150 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