What does my paperwork actually say?
Pick a document. We read it back to you line by line, and flag the boxes that cost people money.
Your payslip
You get this: Every payday
One page that tells you your tax code, what was taken, and whether it looks right.
Tax code Usually 1257L
How much you can earn before tax. A code ending in L is normal. BR or 0T means no allowance is being given.
If it is not 1257L and you only have one job, check why.
Gross pay Pay before anything is taken
This is the figure tax and National Insurance are worked out from.
PAYE Income tax taken
Tax deducted this pay period, based on your code.
NI National Insurance
8% of pay between 12,570 and 50,270 a year, then 2%.
Pension Your pension contribution
If this says salary sacrifice, you are also saving National Insurance.
Nothing here means you may be missing free employer money.
Student loan Plan 1, 2, 4 or postgraduate
Check the plan matches when you studied, a wrong plan takes too much.