Understand your pay

Lessons

1. 1 How to read your payslip What everything on a UK payslip means, from your tax code and NI letter to tax, National Insurance, pension and student loan deductions, with a worked example. 3 min read Mark as done : How to read your payslip
2. 2 UK tax codes explained What your tax code means, in plain English. From 1257L to BR, K codes and emergency codes, how it changes your take-home pay, and what to do if it's wrong. 3 min read Mark as done : UK tax codes explained
3. 3 National Insurance explained What National Insurance is, how much comes off your pay in 2026/27, the rates for employees and the self-employed, and how it builds your State Pension. 3 min read Mark as done : National Insurance explained
4. 4 Student loan repayments explained How student loan repayments work in the UK, which plan you're on, how much comes off your pay on each plan in 2026/27, and whether to pay it off early. 4 min read Mark as done : Student loan repayments explained
5. 5 The 60% tax trap between £100,000 and £125,140 Why earning between £100,000 and £125,140 means a 60% tax rate, what it costs you, and how pension salary sacrifice and Gift Aid get you out of it. 3 min read Mark as done : The 60% tax trap between £100,000 and £125,140
6. 6 Marriage Allowance: worth up to £252 a year How Marriage Allowance works in 2026/27, who can claim it, how much it saves, how to backdate it four years, and how it changes your tax codes. 3 min read Mark as done : Marriage Allowance: worth up to £252 a year
7. 7 Benefits and help with costs you might be missing Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Tax-Free Childcare and more: the UK help working people and families can get, and how to check what you qualify for. 3 min read Mark as done : Benefits and help with costs you might be missing