My tax code is wrong!

[politicsdomyheadin]

I’m on minimum wage, no side jobs or anything like that. I’ve been selling a little bit on Vinted but under the £1,000 limit and all used items.

I have just had my first pay slip of this tax year and my tax code is 1247L. I think it might be related to benefits I had at my old job, which have now ceased (I changed jobs in August 2025). I need to log into my HMRC account tonight but what do I do?! Who do I contact to get this sorted?

You need to contact HMRC, they will be able to tell you why they have placed you on this tax code rather than a standard 1257L. Then if it’s incorrect, they will be able to electrically send the updated one to your employer.

If you have a HMRC online account you will be able to see the elements that make up your tax code including benefits etc deducted from the standard allowance. There is a specific messaging function within your account that you can use to inform them of mistakes with tax codes. They will then make the necessary adjustments and inform your current employer. Much quicker and easier than trying to ring them.

I’ve looked in the app and it says it’s an old benefit that I stopped getting in August of last year. I’m fuming

It will sort itself out if you are prepared to wait. No need to fume.

Why are you fuming? It’s a minor difference and will be easily sorted.

I ended my employment there eight months ago. It’s been plenty of time for them to fix it. We give enough to them!

Had a problem with mine after a dozy beggar in my employers payroll updating after a TUPE transfer put me on 1257L like everybody else. Only it should be BR as my personal allowance applies to a pension from previous employment.

Got it put right after a phone call - ages on hold but the person I spoke to was straight on it - but it messed me around for a whole month.

Do you always overreact to things? It is a simple fix, either phone them or update your details on your government gateway account. It is literally a difference of about 20 quid, a year (less than £2 a month)in tax.

We pay more than enough tax. They’re quick enough to call us when we owe to them but they’re happy to sit on what they owe us!

So just go on and update your details or phone them. It really isnt worth getting fuming about.

Are you actually serious? They’ll hardly owe you anything. You sound really OTT.

Most of the time they get it right, but I’ve had a few years where I’ve owed them thousands and other years they’ve owed me thousands. They are always really helpful and sort it out. Chill out, they’re not stealing from you.

It will be fixed when they finalise your tax for the tax year and it's a tiny amount of money.