Payslip Troubleshooting
How long does an emergency tax code take to fix itself?
You started a new job, worked hard for a month, and just got your first payslip—only to find you have been absolutely hammered by an emergency tax code like 0T or 1257L W1. Will it fix itself next month? Will you get the money back? Here is the exact timeline.
Emergency tax is a temporary measure. HMRC and your employer's payroll software use it to collect tax safely while they figure out exactly how much tax-free Personal Allowance you are entitled to.
The good news is that the UK PAYE system is entirely automated. In most cases, an emergency tax code will fix itself without you having to call anyone. However, the timeline depends entirely on what paperwork you handed in on your first day.
Scenario A: You handed in a P45 (Fastest)
If you gave your new HR department a P45 from your previous job before the payroll cutoff date, you shouldn't have been on emergency tax at all.
If you handed it in after the first payroll cutoff, they were forced to put you on emergency tax for month one. However, the moment they process your P45, the software will fix the code. You will be off emergency tax and automatically refunded the overpaid amount on your very next payslip.
Scenario B: You filled out a Starter Checklist (Normal)
If you didn't have a P45, you should have filled out a HMRC New Starter Checklist. Your employer sends this data to HMRC in their first payroll submission (called an FPS).
It usually takes HMRC's computers 3 to 5 weeks to process this new data, locate your tax records, and send an electronic P6 coding notice back to your employer's software.
This means you might be on emergency tax for your first payslip, and sometimes your second, before it automatically fixes itself on the third.
Scenario C: You did absolutely nothing (Danger Zone)
If you started a job without a P45, and you refused or forgot to fill in a Starter Checklist, you are in the danger zone. Your employer has no information to send to HMRC.
In this scenario, it will never fix itself. You will remain on a 0T tax code (losing 20% of everything you earn) until the end of the tax year. To fix it, you must take action immediately.
How much did you overpay?
Don't wait for HMRC to figure it out. Use our Emergency Tax calculator to see exactly how much money is currently owed to you.
Emergency Tax Calculator →How to speed up the process
If you are struggling to pay rent because of an emergency tax deduction, you don't have to wait 5 weeks for the computers to talk to each other. You can force the fix in 48 hours.
- Call HMRC on 0300 200 3300 (lines open at 8am).
- Have your National Insurance number and your employer's PAYE reference number ready (both are on your payslip).
- Tell the agent: "I have started a new job but I am on an emergency tax code. Can you issue my correct code to my employer?"
- HMRC will instantly push an electronic update to your employer. When HR runs the payroll for your next shift, the software will automatically switch your code to 1257L and refund the overpaid tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to wait until April to get the refund?
No! If you fix the emergency tax code while you are still working at the company, the payroll software will refund the money directly into your wages on your next payday. You only have to wait until April (for a P800 letter) if you quit the job before the code was fixed.
My employer says they can't give me a refund. Are they lying?
They aren't lying, but they are explaining it poorly. Employers cannot manually refund tax by just transferring you cash. It is illegal. The refund must be generated automatically by the payroll software, which will only happen once HMRC authorizes the new tax code.