PayBreakdown - Salary Calculator & Budget Manager

What does 1257L mean?

1257L is a common UK tax code linked to the standard personal allowance. It is often used as a default salary calculator assumption.

What this page helps with

The number in 1257L relates to the personal allowance divided by 10, and the L usually means a standard allowance. Prefixes such as S1257L for Scottish taxpayers or C1257L for Wales can also appear.

Official sources

Income Tax rates and Personal AllowancesNational Insurance rates and categoriesStudent loan repayment thresholdsPension tax reliefNational Minimum Wage and National Living Wage ratesStatutory Maternity Pay and LeaveStatutory Sick PayFCA guidance on misleading financial promotionsOff-payroll working and IR35 guidanceUnderstanding off-payroll workingSalary sacrifice for employersNHS Employers pay scales 2026/27NHS Health Careers Agenda for Change pay rates

Last updated 2026-05-07. Planning estimates only. Not financial advice.