How to read a UK payslip
A payslip is the record of what you earned, what was deducted and what reached you. Here’s how to read the important numbers — and which ones to check when your take-home pay looks wrong.
Start with gross pay
Gross pay is your pay before deductions. It can include basic salary plus taxable overtime, bonuses or other payments in the period. If your pay varies by hours worked, your payslip should also show the relevant hours.
Find your tax code
Your PAYE tax code tells payroll how Income Tax should be calculated. A common code is 1257L, while Scottish codes normally carry an S prefix. BR, D0, D1, 0T and K codes work differently, so do not assume every employee should have 1257L.
Check PAYE Income Tax
PAYE is the Income Tax deducted through payroll. Compare the tax code printed on the payslip with the code HMRC holds for you. If the code is right but the tax still looks unusual, compare the gross pay and tax with an independent estimate.
Check employee National Insurance
Employee Class 1 National Insurance is separate from Income Tax. For most Category A employees in 2026/27, the main employee rate is 8% between the Primary Threshold and Upper Earnings Limit, then 2% above it. NI is normally calculated by pay period, which is why irregular pay can change the deduction.
Account for pension and student loans
Pension contributions and student or postgraduate loan deductions can reduce the amount that reaches your bank. Their treatment is not identical to PAYE or NI, so use the figures actually shown on your payslip when checking net pay.
Finish with net pay
Net pay is what remains after deductions. If gross pay looks right but net pay does not, work down the deductions one by one rather than looking only at the final number.
Related NetSlip payslip tools & guides
Does your payslip look right?
Enter the figures printed on your payslip and let NetSlip compare the main deductions.
Open the Payslip Checker →