Emergency tax code

[sunnyagain25]

Hi, I started a new job very recently and have realised that an emergency tax code has been used for my pay- is it HMRC I contact rather than my work?
Thanks

I think the 'emergency' tax code was just the standard 20 (or is it 21 these days?) percent rate, paid on earned income from the 11grand-ish basic personal allowance and up to around the 45-50k level.
Sorry to be vague on actual amounts but they keep changing!

I think it's HMRC you should get in touch with if you think you are overpaying income tax. You will get it back eventually!

Your employer should be submitting your details and then they should receive the correct tax code for you. Until they do they have to use the BR code, but everything be adjusted after they get it sorted. You should end up paying the correct tax overall.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/changes-to-your-tax-code-when-you-start-a-new-job explains it.
Just to say as well, my son had the BR code for ages because his previous employer didn't notify HMRC that he was no longer working for them. All the tax free allowance was assigned to the old job, and his new job had to deduct at 20% on the BR code. He had to ask the old employer to update the record before it got sorted, but this was quite a long time ago.

Just realised it has to be followed by W1, M1 or X so may not be an emergency code…I think I’ll try to find out from HMRC although apparently it takes forever to get through on phone to them. Will check if they have a good website for this!

Just saw link above- thanks - will have a look at that first! Any other info gratefully received!

I had this and downloaded The HMRC app, it’s actually quite handy as has your last five years employment history / tax paid etc. Anyway there’s a notify them of your employment just start date and employer and it helps them join the dots in the current year rather than sorting it out in April. I let them know at start of the month and it was resolved by month end for next pay after 3 months paying basic rate.

your work has to submit your pay by the 10th iirc the following month so any overpayment the first month should be adjusted in your second pay period. If you haven’t received a tax code by the time of your next payment do speak to your hr dept. No point calling hmrc because they can’t calculate your tax until your employer submits

Be aware that if you have been paid in the same tax period by your old and current employer you may have had your monthly tax free allowance twice. The x after the tax code means it’s just looking at the month rather than your taxable pay year to date and your tax paid year to date….It will work itself out….

https://www.gov.uk/tax-codes/emergency-tax-codes has a section on emergency tax codes, including W1 etc.

Amazing- I will have a look at this link 🙏