pay after returning from mat leave

[Marzipan23]

hello, really hoping for some help here with post maternity wage, google seems to never have the answer and mumsnet always does!
I'm due first baby in July, only get SMP from work (please dont tell me your amazing mat policies because you'll break my heart haha) planning a year off and utilising my holiday to do this, meaning i'll be returning to full time work i july 2025. My question is, for 2025 tax year would my take home in my pay slip be higher than what I currently get as I would have been living off SMP and wouldnt be earning anywhere near what I usually do while on mat leave (with exception of holiday pay!)
hoping this makes sense and someone can help!

Hi, I think I know what you're asking...

In tax year April 2025-March 2026 you won't have earnt as much prior to July 2025 so are you asking if your monthly take home for the rest of the tax year will be higher than now?
In which case yes - because you won't be earning anything for last 3 months of mat leave on SMP (say April-June) so your personal allowance will be spread over the remaining months and your take home each month will therefore be higher.

I thought so! thank you for confirming! i've been in the depths of the internet trying to find the answer!!

It won’t necessarily be no because unless you’re going to be working part time between July 2025 and March 2026 you’re still going to exceed the allowance in the remaining 9 months of that tax year that you are working and most payroll departments will keep you on the normal tax code & just continue with your normal rate of tax on your pay. If you do end up overpaying tax you’d receive a rebate at the end of that tax year.