What is TAX CODE BR?

Taxation is a complex area, and almost every individual and business has to deal with it in one or the other form. Benjamin Franklin rightly quoted, “In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes“.

Therefore, businesses need to be aware of all aspects of taxation, be it filling requirements or different types of taxes.

Tax code forms a vital element of the taxation process for individuals. You may have many questions in mind, like what is tax code BR? Why is my tax code BR? What is the meaning of the emergency tax code?

The article below will help decode the tax code aspect in a detailed manner and answer all such questions.

The topics covered below are:

What is the tax code?

A tax code is a code used by employers and pension providers to calculate the amount of tax to be taken from an individual’s pay. Simply put, it is a code that helps the government calculate the amount of income tax to be deducted from an individual’s salary or pension. The code comprises letter & numbers.

Tax Advisor

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for this Calculation. In the United Kingdom, employees have to register under the PAYE scheme to get a tax code.

What is the PAYE scheme?

PAYE stands for Pay As You Earn.

It means that income tax & national insurance contributions are deducted from your pay before it reaches your pocket. The remaining amount is your take-home salary.

The companies must register as an employer with HMRC and set up a PAYE scheme when they get £120 or more a week, plus they get expenses and benefits. The PAYE can be operated either by:

Following are the steps to register for the scheme:

Registeration process

Current year tax code

The 2021-22 tax code for basic taxpayers having one source of income is 1257L.

At the starting of the new year, HMRC notifies all PAYE taxpayers about the new tax code. It is called the P2 Notice of Coding.

Interpreting tax code

A tax code is a combination of several numbers and letters. The letters and numbers have a specific meaning.

NumberThe number tells the employer how much tax-free income will be provided this year.
Letter Letter signify your situation in sync with personal allowance.

The number relies upon tax-free personal allowance and income that is not taxed. The benefits from your job are also taken into account. The standard tax code used is 1257L.

It means the digits are multiplied by 10 to find the tax-free amount. The letter tells how much you have to pay. In this case, £12,570 is the personal allowance, and L indicates that you are entitled to the basic free allowance.

For example, if Mark’s annual income is £45,000 and his tax code is 1257L.

Total income£45,000
Less tax free amount (1257 * 10)(£12,570)
Taxable pay£32,430

In summary, when your tax code is 1257L, £12,570 is the amount deducted from total taxable income. The figure left is the taxable amount.

The process is different if an employee has a letter K in their tax code.

Where to find the tax code?

The payslip received from the employer contains the tax code. It is mentioned near to the National Insurance Number. You can also check the government online tax checker tool to know the code.

Insights into different codes

The tax code comprises different letters that hold a significant meaning. The detailed description is as follows:

LStandard free tax allowance
MThe marriage allowance (Partner’s 10% allowance received)  
NThe marriage allowance ( Transferred 10% allowance to partner)  
TOther calculations are included to come at personal allowance figure  
OT• You have used the personal allowance
• You get a new job
• The employer is not having details to give tax code  
D0Income from job/pension taxed at a higher rate  
D1Income from job/pension is subject to tax at additional rates  
NT No tax is paid on this income  
SIncome taxed as per rates in Scotland  
SOT • You have used the personal allowance (Scotland)
• You got a new job
• The employer has no details to give tax code  
SBRIncome is subject to tax at basic rates in Scotland  
SOIncome is subject to tax at intermediate rates in Scotland  
SD1Income is subject to tax at a higher rate in Scotland  
SD2Income is subject to tax at the top rate in Scotland  
CIncome taxed using rates in Wales  
COT• The personal allowance is used up (Wales)
• You got a new job
• The employer has no details to give tax code  
CBRIncome is subject to tax at basic rates in Wales  
CD0Income is subject to tax at higher rates in Scotland  
CD1Income is subject to tax at intermediate rates in Scotland  

Above are certain prominently used letters in respect of tax codes.

Apart from these, tax codes that have the letter ‘K’in the beginning signify that you have income that is not taxed another way, and it is more than your tax-free allowance.

It happens in the following cases:

  • You are paying the tax you owe from a previous year through wages and pension
  • You are getting taxable benefits

Multiply the number in their tax code by 10 to see how much should be added to taxable income.

For example, if Kate’s annual income is £40,000 and her tax code is K600.

Total income£40,000
Add: Untaxed income (600 * 10)£6,000
Taxable pay£51,000

Emergency tax codes

Emergency tax codes signify that you will pay tax on all your income above the basic personal allowance. The payslip quotes the following as emergency codes:

  • 1257 W1
  • 1257 M1
  • 1257 X

The code is used when HMRC is unable to figure out the income details at times when:

  • You get a new job.
  • You are working after being self-employed.
  • You are getting company benefits or a state pension.

The HMRC will update tax codes once the employer provides the correct information.

Personal allowance and other allowances

The personal allowance allowed for the year beginning 6 April 2021 and ending 5 April 2022 is £12,570. This means £12,570 is the amount of income you do not have to pay tax on.

However, the amount increases if you take a marriage allowance or blind person allowance, while it decreases if the income is over £100,000.

The tax rates are as follows:

BandIncomeRate
Personal AllowanceUp to £12,570  0%
Basic RateUp to £12,571 to Up to £50,270    20%
Higher RateUp to £50,271 to Up to £150,000    40%
Additional RateOver £150,000    45%

Marriage Allowance helps you transfer £1,260 of the personal allowance to your wife, husband or civil partner. It reduces the tax up to the limit of £252.

Blind Person Allowance is added to the personal allowance, and the amount is £2520. It is the amount of money you earn before paying tax.

What is tax code BR?

The BR in tax code stands for “Basic Rate”.

It means all of your income is taxable at 20%. It is a temporary code used until the employer figures out the correct tax code and applies correct deductions.

You get a BR code when:
• The employer does not have enough information to provide the correct code
• You are going from self-employment to PAYE employment
• You have an additional income like a second job or pension

What is the meaning of the BR code?

All taxpayers get a tax free personal allowance that changes every year. The payment of tax starts on earnings over the personal allowance.

BR tax code means the entire salary is taxable at 20%, and no tax-free allowance is available.

Being wrongly on the BR code will lead to unnecessary payment as you do not get an allowance.

Tax Advisor

Final thoughts

Tax codes make it feasible both for employers & employees to keep track of what reaches their pocket. It gives a precise mechanism to compute the liabilities and personal allowances. They are a source of transparency in taxation arrangement.

123Financials Editorial Team
The 123Financials editorial team is composed of seasoned finance and accounting experts with a combined experience of over 20 years. Specializing in UK finance, accounting, and tax-related content, our team is dedicated to delivering insightful and practical advice to startups and small businesses. With a strong background in both the theoretical and practical aspects of financial management, we ensure that our readers stay informed and empowered to make sound financial decisions. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of UK tax laws or providing strategic financial planning tips, our team is committed to excellence and accuracy in every article.