Maternity pay question

[Mum02082024]

Hi
I started my maternity leave on 1st August 2024 and am on full pay for 6 months. I am on a salary of £36,500 per annum and a tax code of 1257L.

after the 6 months, I have 13 weeks of SMP and then 13 weeks of nothing.

please can someone help me - what will I take home in the 13 weeks of SMP? I can’t work out the tax. Will it be adjusted for the 13 weeks or will I continue to pay the same amount of tax as I have for the 6 months of full pay?

thank you!

It sounds like you will drop to SMP in February and March 2025. This being the case, the tax will adjust itself in February and March. SMP is typically paid in weeks so some months have 4 weeks and some weeks have 5 weeks meaning the pay will fluctuate slightly monthly to month. From April 2025, you shouldn't be paying any tax or NI. If you pay pension then this will be a percentage of your gross earnings.