Tax code D1 — additional-rate flat 45%, no personal allowance
If your payslip shows tax code D1, HMRC has told this employer or pension provider to deduct 45% on every pound with no personal allowance. D1 is the additional-rate sibling of BR and D0 — used when HMRC believes your other PAYE income has already crossed the £125,140 threshold so this whole source is in the additional-rate band.
What this code means
Per gov.uk's tax-code guidance, the “D1” prefix tells payroll to apply the additional rate of UK income tax (45% for 2026/27) to every pound, with no allowance. It is the highest of the three “D” series of flat-rate codes — BR (20%), D0 (40%) and D1 (45%). The choice between them is driven by HMRC's view of your projected total income across all PAYE sources.
For 2026/27 the additional-rate threshold remains £125,140 — the point at which the personal allowance fully tapers away and the 45% rate kicks in. D1 exists so a second income source falling entirely above that line can be collected at the correct marginal rate without waiting for year-end reconciliation.
Who gets tax code D1
Per HMRC, D1 is reserved for high-income scenarios where the additional rate is the correct marginal rate on every pound of the second PAYE source. The most common reasons quoted on coding notices (form P2) are below.
- Main job already takes pay above £125,140
- Per gov.uk's tax-code guidance, when HMRC believes your other PAYE income has crossed £125,140 — exhausting the personal allowance, the basic-rate band and the entire higher-rate band — any second income source is moved straight to the additional rate (45%). D1 is the code that mechanises this on payroll.
- Large pension or annuity drawdown alongside a six-figure salary
- Drawing a sizeable pension while also earning above £125,140 from employment is the classic D1 pattern. HMRC leaves the salary on a low-numbered or T-suffix code and runs the pension at 45% flat.
- Director or consultancy second income on top of a main job
- Directors taking a second salary or fee income on a separate PAYE reference often see D1 when their total income is well into additional-rate territory. The mechanism is the same as a regular second job.
- Bonus or long-term-incentive payment running through a separate PAYE
- Where a deferred bonus or LTIP is paid through a different payroll than the main employment, and HMRC has flagged the recipient as an additional-rate taxpayer, the secondary payroll picks up D1.
- After a code change when income climbed past £125,140
- If you were previously on D0 and your projected total income has risen past £125,140 — for example after a substantial raise or bonus crystallisation — HMRC will normally re-issue D1 mid-year.
Worked example — £20,000 second income on D1
Main job pays £130,000 on a fully tapered T-suffix code. Second source pays £20,000 on D1.
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross secondary pay | £20,000 |
| Personal allowance applied here | £0 |
| Taxable pay | £20,000 |
| PAYE at 45% (D1) | £9,000 |
| Net second-source pay | £11,000 |
That £9,000 PAYE is exactly the additional-rate tax due on a £20,000 slice sitting above £125,140. If your true total income ends up below £125,140 — for example because the main job ended mid-year — the over-deduction will be refunded once HMRC reconciles or after a P800 in the autumn.
Common mistakes & red flags
- D1 on your only income source. Almost certainly wrong unless that single source pays over £125,140.
- D1 after a main job ended. Total income may now be below £125,140 or £50,270 — ask HMRC to swap to D0 or BR.
- D1 W1/M1 stuck. The non-cumulative version after a job change can over-deduct sharply on lumpy second income; chase a cumulative code.
- D1 on a one-off payment. Lump-sum bonuses paid through a separate PAYE reference are often D1 by default. Reconciliation may refund some of it.
What to ask payroll
- “Which HMRC coding notice put me on D1?”
- “Is the D1 cumulative or W1/M1?”
- “What estimated annual income did HMRC use?”
- “If a new code arrives mid-year, will the in-year refund process via this payroll?”
- “Are deferred bonus or LTIP amounts being run through this PAYE reference?”
How to fix it if D1 is wrong
- Confirm all PAYE sources and total income. Sign in to your HMRC personal tax account.
- Update your income estimate. Use “Tell HMRC about a change of income” if your projected total is now below £125,140.
- Wait for re-issued codes. HMRC swaps D1 to D0 or BR electronically.
- Refund through payroll. Once cumulative codes apply, the over-deducted tax refunds in the next pay run.
Frequently asked questions
- What does tax code D1 mean?
- Per gov.uk, tax code D1 means every pound paid through this PAYE source is taxed at the additional rate of 45% with no personal allowance. It is used when HMRC believes your other PAYE income has already used the personal allowance, the £37,700 basic-rate band, and the £75,000 higher-rate band — so this income is all in the additional-rate band above £125,140.
- Why have I been put on D1?
- You have at least one other PAYE source where HMRC has decided the additional-rate threshold of £125,140 is already exceeded. A second job, pension, or large bonus payment then comes through on D1 so the 45% tax is collected at source rather than chased afterwards through self-assessment or a P800.
- Is D1 always correct?
- D1 is correct only if your total projected income exceeds £125,140 and the secondary source is therefore in pure additional-rate territory. If your other income has fallen below that threshold (a bonus did not repeat, a job ended) HMRC should be told so D1 can be replaced with D0 or BR.
- How much tax does D1 take on £20,000?
- D1 deducts 45% on every pound. On £20,000 of secondary income that is £9,000 of PAYE. Compared with D0 at the same figure (£8,000) or BR (£4,000), D1 is the highest of the no-allowance flat-rate codes — by design, because it is supposed to collect additional-rate tax.
- How do I challenge D1 if it is wrong?
- Sign in to the HMRC personal tax account and update your income estimates. If the additional-rate threshold no longer applies, HMRC will normally re-issue D0 (still above £50,270) or BR (back inside basic rate) within a few days. Or call HMRC PAYE on 0300 200 3300 with your NI number and the employer reference.
Related reading
- Tax code D0 — higher rate 40%
The higher-rate sibling of D1.
- Tax code BR — flat 20%
The basic-rate sibling of D1.
- Tax code 0T — no allowance, full bands
Common companion code at additional-rate income.
- Every UK tax code, explained one page at a time
The full tax-code index hub.
- Wrong tax code checker
Run a guided check.
Last reviewed
Last reviewed:
Next review:
Reviewed each tax year and sooner if HMRC changes the additional-rate threshold.
Educational guidance only — not regulated tax, financial or payroll advice. Always verify with HMRC or your payroll team before acting. To run a real check, the wrong-tax-code checker is the place to begin.