A UK payslip tells a simple story in four parts: who you are, what you earned, what was taken off, and what actually reached your bank account. Read it in that order and almost every figure starts to make sense. This guide walks through each line, using plain English and a worked example.
What must appear on your payslip
Most employees and workers are entitled to a payslip on or before payday; GOV.UK lists some exceptions. The required figures include:
- Your pay before deductions (gross) and the amount you actually receive (net)
- Separate amounts for deductions that change from period to period, such as tax and National Insurance
- The number of hours worked, if your pay varies with hours
Fixed deductions must also be explained, either on the payslip or in a separate written statement. Pay dates and periods are useful details commonly included, but are not part of the minimum list above.
Payslips usually also show your name, works or payroll number, your employer's name and HMRC PAYE reference, and your tax code.
Gross pay: everything you earned
Gross pay is your earnings before anything is deducted: basic salary or wages, overtime, commission and bonuses. Some taxable benefits can affect taxable pay without increasing cash wages. Compare cash earnings first, then look for adjustments.
Deductions: where the money goes
Common deduction lines include:
- PAYE Income Tax — collected by your employer on HMRC's behalf using your tax code
- National Insurance — your Class 1 contribution, shown as "Employee NI" or "ENI"
- Pension contributions — payments into your workplace pension scheme
- Student loan or Postgraduate loan repayments — if you're repaying a plan
- Other deductions — for example agreed union subscriptions, recovery of a wage advance or deductions ordered by a court
A company car or another benefit may affect your tax code or taxable pay instead of appearing as a separate cash deduction. Salary sacrifice can also be presented differently: ask payroll how your scheme is shown.
Net pay: what you actually receive
Net pay (sometimes "take-home pay") is the amount payable after deductions and any relevant adjustments. It should reconcile with your payment; reimbursements or split payments may need explaining. Check it every payday — small payroll errors are far easier to fix close to the payment date.
Tax codes: the number that sets your tax
Your tax code tells your employer how much tax-free pay to give you before tax is charged. The most common code, 1257L, reflects the standard Personal Allowance. A different code — for example one with a W1 or M1 suffix, or 0T — can change your tax deduction sharply. Read more in our guide to tax code 1257L.
Year-to-date figures
Many payslips show year-to-date (YTD) totals: how much you've earned, paid in tax and contributed in National Insurance since the start of the tax year on 6 April. YTD figures are useful for checking that cumulative deductions look sensible, and they're the figures you'd reference if you ever queried a deduction with HMRC.
An illustrative payslip, line by line
All figures below are fictional and rounded for illustration only. They are not real tax or National Insurance figures for any tax year.
- Employee: Alex Taylor (fictional) — works number 0142
- Employer: Example Components Ltd (fictional) — PAYE reference 475/AB12345
- Pay period: 1–30 November 2026, paid 27 November 2026
- Salary: £2,600.00; overtime: £180.00
- Gross pay: £2,780.00
- PAYE Income Tax: −£398.00 (illustrative)
- National Insurance: −£167.00 (illustrative)
- Pension contribution: −£139.00 (illustrative)
- Net pay: £2,076.00
- Year-to-date gross pay: £30,580.00; year-to-date tax: £4,363.00 (illustrative)
How to spot possible mistakes
- Compare gross pay against your contract, timesheets or shift record
- Check the tax code matches your latest HMRC notice
- Confirm the NI table letter looks right for you
- Check pension contributions match the scheme rate you agreed
- Look at net pay against your actual bank payment
If something looks wrong, ask payroll to explain the line and the period it relates to. For a month-to-month checklist, read why take-home pay can be lower.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone get a payslip?
Most employees and workers are entitled to one, subject to the exceptions in the official guidance. Someone genuinely self-employed generally invoices their client instead.
Why is my tax code different from a colleague's?
Tax codes are personal. Company cars, taxable benefits, underpaid tax from earlier years, a second job or Marriage Allowance can all change the code.
How often should I check?
Check each payslip on payday and retain your own copy. Keep the original document alongside any explanation from payroll.
Keep the comparison in one place
MyPay lets you organise your payslips and compare confirmed pay information. It can help you prepare questions, but does not certify that payroll is correct or replace your original documents.
Editorial check: 22 October 2026. Tax context: 2026/27 (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027). General education, not personalised tax, legal or financial advice. Check the linked official guidance and speak to payroll, HMRC or a qualified adviser about your circumstances.