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 | K250 | 1200L |
|---|---|---|
| Category | KCode | Standard |
| Region | rUK | rUK |
| Allowance | £-2,500 | £12,000 |
| Emergency / non-cumulative | No | No |
| Approx. annual tax on £30k | £6,500 | £3,600 |
| In one sentence | Adds £2,500 to your taxable pay because untaxed income exceeds your allowance. | Reduced allowance of £12,000 - usually because of benefits-in-kind, an underpayment, or a P11D adjustment. |
Bottom line on £30k
On a £30,000 salary, K250 deducts roughly £6,500 in income tax per year vs £3,600 for 1200L. That is a difference of £2,900 per year - K250 is more expensive.
Hand-picked side-by-sides that answer the most-searched UK tax-code questions.
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