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Original poster

Tax code change- help to understand

12 replies

redboxerclub · 14/03/2026 13:20

I have a main job that I get paid for 12 months and a second job I do from May- August (exam- marking)

I got an email stating my tax code has changed from 1257L to 885lx on main job for jan feb and march, and stayed BR on my second job.

I’ve been in the portal and it will be 1160L from next month

why would it change?

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 14/03/2026 14:18

According to Google the x indicates a non cumulative 'emergency' code and 885 is approx £8850 as tax free pay for the year.

Has one or the other employer changed even if as a TUPE transfer or has there been a change of payroll provider?

If you have acccess to HMRC on line you may pick up some clues.

As I've related previously my entire 1280 tax free allowance was long used against my Civil Service pension with earnings for career #2 taxed at BR.

Change of payroll provider allowed some dozy clerk on autopilot to put my employment tax code in as 1280. HMRC promptly instructed CS pensions to reduce the free pay there to nil.

Took until the end of the next month to sort it all out.

LatteLady · 17/03/2026 16:15

I have had a similar issue, I have three small pensions, plus state pension and I still work full time... they applied my tax allowance to a pension that was less than the full amount. I rang them and got it changed to my day job, however I have since received three changes of tax codes... However I was still not sure so put the whole question into AI and that did a fairly decent job of explaing how and why it is being calculated.

BananaSkinShoes · 17/03/2026 16:18

I have no idea.

Mine changes about once a month, always goes down. My salary doesn’t fluctuate other than an annual pay rise. It’s currently 355L.

JohnBullshit · 17/03/2026 16:31

Anything but the most straightforward PAYE, single source of income, no taxable perks seems to send HMRC into a spin of revised tax codes. We owe you a refund. One month later: you haven't paid enough tax. Three months on: we've decided you didn't pay enough tax in the year 22/23. No explanation as to why you were taxed by the wrong amount, or at which point it happened.
They're actually quite helpful on the phone, if your online account sheds no light and you can get through to a real person before the phone line gets cut off.

Original poster
redboxerclub · 18/03/2026 18:52

Ah that that is helpful! I will do some AI and try to speak toast human person.

when I went on the tax portal it is pretty confusing but they had overestimated my exam marking money (4300) as by 7000! So I have changed that and that will hopefully be rectified. I also found an old notification that told me I was old £62!

OP posts:
Original poster
redboxerclub · 18/03/2026 18:53

Also I did a self assessment for the first time this year a massive headache!

OP posts:
Original poster
redboxerclub · 18/03/2026 18:54

JohnBullshit · 17/03/2026 16:31

Anything but the most straightforward PAYE, single source of income, no taxable perks seems to send HMRC into a spin of revised tax codes. We owe you a refund. One month later: you haven't paid enough tax. Three months on: we've decided you didn't pay enough tax in the year 22/23. No explanation as to why you were taxed by the wrong amount, or at which point it happened.
They're actually quite helpful on the phone, if your online account sheds no light and you can get through to a real person before the phone line gets cut off.

This really did sound like I could have written it! 😂😂

OP posts:
Steeleydan · 25/04/2026 23:29

BananaSkinShoes · 17/03/2026 16:18

I have no idea.

Mine changes about once a month, always goes down. My salary doesn’t fluctuate other than an annual pay rise. It’s currently 355L.

In in same situation. 355L means u can only earn £3550 tax free,instead of the usual 12570

Original poster
redboxerclub · 26/04/2026 11:37

It’s all resolved now. My exam marking money was estimated too high and when I reduced that I ah e now gone back to a 1257L. Someone had posted on a sm group that this had happen to them too and lots of comments paying the same

it is not straight forward though! And because I do a lot of over time I never have the same pay each months it’s hard to identify.

OP posts:
Steeleydan · 26/04/2026 22:41

redboxerclub · 26/04/2026 11:37

It’s all resolved now. My exam marking money was estimated too high and when I reduced that I ah e now gone back to a 1257L. Someone had posted on a sm group that this had happen to them too and lots of comments paying the same

it is not straight forward though! And because I do a lot of over time I never have the same pay each months it’s hard to identify.

Did you have to ring hmrc yes my pay is different each month

Original poster
redboxerclub · 29/04/2026 17:41

No I just did it online buy changing t he forecast annual pay for the exam board

OP posts:
BananaSkinShoes · 29/04/2026 18:10

I just paid my tax underpayment to hopefully get me back to a normal tax code. It was 355, it now gone up to a whopping 749. 🤷‍♀️

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