Updated Apr 17, 2025

What is a Tax Code 0T?: It’s Impact, Cause, and Solutions

Tax Code 0t

Have you ever looked at your payslip and wondered, “Why am I suddenly paying so much tax?” Look closely at your slip once again; you might find tax code 0T on it. And that’s the answer to your question. 

This code indicates that you are not being handed over any tax-free personal allowance, and your entire income is now subject to taxation. 

However, by contacting HMRC or your employer, you can not only remove this code from your payslip but also reclaim your overpaid taxes. 

Therefore, go through this informative article to understand the broader meaning of this tax code and learn how to deal with its effects on your financial statements.  

What is Tax Code 0T?

The 0T tax code is used when an employer doesn’t have complete details of your financial information from the revenue department to assign you the correct tax band. 

Similarly, once you are on 0T, you will not get any personal allowance, and every bit of your income will be taxed. 

You may usually encounter this situation when you have started a new job without handing the P45 form to your employer or haven’t updated your current income details with HMRC. 

However, the best part is that 0T has a temporary nature that can be removed, and the overpaid amount can also be refunded once you provide all the necessary documents to your employer or the taxation department. 

Four Common Reasons Why You May Receive Tax Code 0T

Four Common Reasons Why You May Receive Tax Code 0T

After understanding the OT tax code meaning, let’s check some potential reasons why the taxation department issues this on your payslip. 

  1. Join a New Company: You begin a new job without giving your employer the necessary information, such as an incomplete starter checklist or forgetting to submit previous P45 or P46 forms. As a result, the employer may temporarily assign your income under the 0T tax code. 
  1. Emergency Tax Code: Sometimes, the 0T tax code is used as a temporary action when HMRC doesn’t have all the information it requires to accurately calculate tax liabilities. 
  1. Maximize Your Tax-Free Personal Allowance: The standard tax-free personal allowance is £12,570, which means you don’t have to pay tax on this part of your total earnings. However, if you exhaust the entire allowance amount, every penny of your pay will be subject to a 0T tax code. 
  1. Multiple Income Sources: If you have more than two income streams or pensions, and the government isn’t sure how to set up your allowance, the tax code 0T can be used to set off taxable assets. 

Thus, the aforementioned are some potential reasons you may face the tax code 0T on your payslip. 

How Does Tax Code 0T Impact Your Income Tax Rate? 

Unlike other HMRC tax codes, there is no specific rate for income tax that is stated under the 0T tax code. However, all people with salaries are held accountable for taxation based on basic, higher, and additional rates. 

Notes

If you are under tax code 0T, you will not receive a personal allowance (£12,570) from your employer and will be liable to pay tax on each bit of your income.

Moving further, look at the data table presented below to learn more about the income tax rate under the 0T tax code. 

Taxation Rate Percentage Payment Bracket
Basic Rate Taxation20% £12,571 – £50,270
Higher Rate Taxation 40% £50,271– £125,140
Additional Rate Taxation 45% Over £125,141

Therefore, remember that the aforementioned tax rates aren’t uniform. The percentages of the tax bracket are completely based on regional factors. 

How to Deal with the Tax Code 0T? 

How to Deal with the Tax Code 0T

Managing tax code 0T will help you identify why this code has been included on your payslip. Therefore, take a look at the section below to learn more about it.

1. Remove the Tax Code 0T from Your Pay

The removal of the OT tax code and achieving the correct tax band require multiple major steps. And, for that, look over the listed pointers. 

  1. Visit the Revenue and Customs Department: First, go to the official website of HMRC and notify the officials that your current tax code is not correct and that you want to obtain personal allowance benefits from your salary bracket. 
  1. Submit Your Documents: Attach any appropriate document for validation; for example, the P60 form (if you are an employee) or the P45 form (if you are a former employee). 
  1. Wait for the Tax Commission’s Confirmation: Once you have completed all your tasks, patiently wait for an update from the HRMC. The officials will shortly assign you a new tax code.
  1. Update Your Employer: Lastly, provide your new employer with the P45 form or complete a starter checklist to determine the information. Make sure the documents include your full address, national insurance number (details of any income since the current tax year began), passport number (if applicable), etc. 

Thus, the above-listed suggestions will assist you in changing your OT tax code into a new and reliable one. 

2. Basic Strategies to Claim the Overpaid Taxes

If your employer has assigned you under tax code 0T, and you are overpaying the HMRC from your salary because of this, examine the spectrum below and resolve this issue now. 

  1. Visit the Revenue Authority via their Website: Submit your overpayment details along with all the necessary documents to start the process of changing your tax code for further assistance. 
  1. Apply for Tax Rebate: Once you have provided all the essential details to the officials, apply for the tax rebate to recover the extra amount you have paid because of the OT tax code.
  1.  Provide Accurate Information to Employer: To avoid any further inconvenience, hand over the updated documents to your employer via the P45 form.  
  1. Monitor the Future Adjustments: After the new tax code is assigned to you, monitor future amount adjustments to review the deduction process. 

In essence, adhering to the above-mentioned steps cautiously and paying proper attention to your tax transactions will assist you in avoiding any sort of penalty. 

Difference Between Tax Code 0T and Other Tax Codes

Each tax code holds identical yet different attributes from one another. Here is an overview of how tax code 0T is different from other tax codes. Have a look: 

1. Tax Code 0T vs. BR Tax Code

Both tax codes prevent you from receiving the benefits of a personal allowance. However, the major difference between them is the implications of the taxation rate. The OT tax code follows the basic, higher, and additional rate (%) procedure, whereas the BR tax code later has a 20% tax rate on all incomes. 

2. Tax Code 0T vs. W1/M1 Tax Code

W1 or M1 are both emergency tax codes and apply with the full personal allowance based on a non-cumulative basis for each pay period. While the OT tax code does not comply with any of them. 

3. Tax Code 0T vs. 1257L Tax Code

Under the 1257L tax code, you can attain the standard personal allowance but also have to pay a bit higher tax band in comparison to the other codes. On the other hand, you can’t access any personal allowance and must pay tax on every portion of your salary once tax code 0T has been assigned to your income statement. 

In a nutshell, this is how every tax code holds its distinctive characteristics and plays a crucial role in your financial tax affairs. 

Three Common Myths About Tax Code 0T

Three Common Myths About Tax Code 0T

Many people get confused between the OT tax code meaning and the other tax bands because of their traits. This can eventually lead to many misconceptions about the 0T tax code. 

Check out the portion below; here we have dispelled three common myths. 

1. Tax Code 0T is an Emergency Tax Code 

One of the major myths about the 0T tax code is that it has been classified as an emergency tax code, which is not correct. Because the tax rate under the 0T tax code depends on the individual’s income, whereas the emergency tax code applies a fixed rate. 

2. Tax Code 0T has an Impact on State Benefits and Allowances 

Many employees think that their state benefits and allowances will also be affected by the OT tax code. But no, this tax code does not impact any of them. 

While it has its distinct nature, in which an individual is liable to pay tax on a whole portion of their salary and cannot utilize any personal allowance. 

3. Permanent Nature of Tax Code 0T

If you think that tax code 0T is not removable, let us surprise you with this revelation. This tax code is only enforceable until the HRMC collects all the necessary information to calculate your correct tax liabilities. 

And, once you provide them with all the documents they request, you can apply for the new reliable tax code. 

Therefore, we suggest you not believe any of these myths and make the best possible effort to improve your overall tax payment statements.

Effective Measures to Prevent Future Tax Code Issues

Effective Measures to Prevent Future Tax Code Issues

To secure yourself against future tax code complications, you have to keep a keen eye on your tax records and learn practical tactics. 

Besides, consider checking out the highlighted instructions to identify how you can easily deal with any sort of OT tax code issues. 

1. Managing Proper Document Records

Keeping all the financial invoices in their correct order is a mandatory initial step in dealing with any tax code complaint. Likewise, you will also require these records at the time of the self-assessment tax return services

2. Regularly Update Your Taxpayer Account

Review your payslips and tax codes, and regularly visit the official website of HMRC to verify your information. This will help you identify any issues right away and report them without any further delay. 

3. Be Transparent with Your Employer

If you have taken up a new job, make sure your employer has all your previous financial statements, along with other important details. Communicate clearly with your company’s authority to avoid any misunderstandings and the risk of being assigned under tax code 0T. 

Thus, actively practicing the cited suggestions will empower you to resolve any uninvited OT tax code complications. 

Conclusion 

To wrap it up, understanding tax code 0T at first seems a bit confusing, but it’s all directly related to updating and monitoring your financial statement. 

Especially when you have recently joined a new company or a significant change has taken place in your life that directly impacts your income bracket. 

Thus, we are confident that after reading this article, you will know exactly what you have to do if you see tax code 0T on your payment statement. Businesses should avoid common mistakes in case of tax and let their employees be aware of the consequences too. Or else, can take tax consultancy for an enhanced knowledge. 

Frequently Asked Questions
How can I claim back on tax code 0T?

To claim your overpaid taxes due to tax code 0T: 

  1. Manage your payment statements orderly. 
  2. Visit the official website of HMRC. 
  3. Apply for a tax rebate. 
  4. Submit your required documents. 
  5. Wait for the confirmation. 
  6. Monitor your future tax amount; the overpaid amount will be deducted there only.
Can I claim back my emergency tax?

Firstly, check your P800 letter to see if HMRC has mentioned your refund amount in it. If not, you should inform the taxation authorities before the end of the tax year, either online via your tax account or by telephone.

What does the OT tax code mean on my payslip?

If you have seen the OT tax code on your payslip, that indicates your employer has assigned you to this tax bracket. Consequently, you will not be able to access any personal allowance, and you will have to pay tax on your entire salary.

What is the tax code 0t?

0T tax code is issued by the tax office when the authority does not have complete financial information about their employee. It means there is no personal allowance, and the entire income is taxed.

Author - Suprabha Bhosale
Suprabha Bhosale

Finance Writer

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