to be getting fed up of this and want some answers

[DefenceAgainstTheDarkArts]

I started a new job in April, so I have had three pay cheques and the fourth wageslip arrived today (but not the money, unfortunately!)

Every single month it's different - and it shouldn't be, I work a set amount of hours, not dependent on shift work or overtime.

The first month, my net pay was £2,200, then £2000, then £2400 now this next one is £2150. That's a lot of variation.

It has actually annoyed me quite a lot as things are pretty tight for me at the moment and I need to plan carefully. How can I when I don't know what I'm getting!? Can I find out for definite anyway?

Has your tax code changed? Is the gross pay still the same?

My gross pay is the same, yes. It just seems the amount I get is almost random.

The first two months I could perhaps understand a bit of variation but this is just stupid.

Can't you ask your work?

Is your gross pay always the same? Are you on the right tax code? What other deductions are there (pension, student loan etc)?

if your gross pay is the same, the there must have been changes to your tax code, which is quite possible.. you need to look at the payslips and check what deductions have been made

I will ask, yes. I'm paid by the LEA (am a teacher) so I need to ring the local council - that'll be a joy!

Defence, I've PM'd you.

I know when I was temping, Euphemia, a small proportion of my pay was for holiday pay. I could either take the money and keep working or take a holiday and get paid. It'll be the same for supply teaching, I suppose.

I'm not a supply teacher :) IB, I didn't really understand your message, sorry - I wasn't sure what you meant by time between jobs?

It's irritating.

Have you had time off work? ( for example care for dependents isn't paid leave in my school). Look at your tax code, does it change each month? Do you pay any student loans, subscriptions out of your pay? You need to compare the deductions on each pay slip.

Come on OP. You're a teacher! The gross pay is the same. Surely you can line up the payslips and compare the deductions on each.

No, no time away, deductions are exactly the same but the total amount differs! I have no idea what is going on

That doesn't really make sense - a payslip should be easy to read: generally pay received on one side then deductions (tax / NI / pension ) on the other - total income less deductions should equal net pay, so unless the pay you are receiving is different to the net pay on your payslips either the income side or the deductions side must not be the same from month to month...

If your gross pay is the same and the deductions are the same then someone has got their maths wrong.
For example:
Gross £3000
Deductions £750
Net £2250
If you have:
Gross £3000
Deductions £750
Net £2000
It is obviously wrong. Phone your LEA and ask for teachers pay dept.

This site may help you calculate how much you should get paid listentotaxman.com/

I was an LEA payroll manager and can assure you that if your gross pay was the same, then the difference is in the deductions which will be shown on the payslip.

Mistakes can be made but as the pay is calculated by computers, it is not possible that the gross less the deductions would not equal the net.

Defence, I meant had some time lapsed between jobs? If so, you might be entitled to a tax rebate, which might show in a future payslip. It would say so on the payslip, though.

I don't know whether teachers on permanent contracts get holiday pay as I do -

No they get paid for their holidays. You don't, but it is illegal not to give paid holidays so you get the payment pro rata.

Isn't your tax code on the payslips?

You can call HMRC directly if you don't want to call the LA (but both are probably like banging your head against the wall!)

Don't you have a finance person in the school office? They should sort it out for you.