Upload your payslip. See where the money went.
You should not need to read a payroll article before checking a real payslip. Upload a PDF or image, review the extracted figures, then let TaxDecod break down the lines and compare year-to-date PAYE and NI where the data is available.
Built for real payroll
Upload first, explain second
The file stays in the browser in this workflow. Always compare extracted figures with the original payslip because OCR can misread numbers.
Upload-first payslip check
Upload the payslip. Get the lines broken down.
TaxDecod reads common payslip labels, shows what it found and requires you to confirm extracted numbers before it presents a reconciliation. Scanned documents use OCR in your browser.
The payslip file is processed in your browser. TaxDecod does not send the file to our server in this workflow. OCR/PDF libraries are loaded only when you use upload.
Review extracted lines
Correct anything the reader got wrong
This pay period
Gross
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Net shown
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UNVERIFIED OCR / PDF extraction. These values may be incorrect. Correct them and tick the review checkbox to calculate a reconciliation.
Year-to-date check
The annualised YTD estimator below is for monthly payroll only. Weekly and fortnightly payslips can be reviewed above, but must not be treated as six months of pay.
Prefer to enter YTD figures manually?Open advanced checker +
YTD payslip checker
Check if your payslip deductions look right so far
This tool uses your gross pay to date and compares your paid tax and National Insurance with an estimated year-to-date reading.
Best use
Mid-year payslip check
Best inputs
YTD gross, tax, and NI
Step 1
Enter your year-to-date payslip numbers
Use your payslip year-to-date values where possible. This works best once you already have a few months of payroll history.
Stored for context only. This first-check estimator currently uses the standard 1257L allowance rather than applying arbitrary PAYE codes.
Step 2
Read the year-to-date signal
This is a first-check PAYE signal, not a payroll ruling or HMRC decision.
Headline reading
Your deductions may be running low
Based on your year-to-date pay, one or more deductions look lower than the estimated year-to-date amount. This can happen when tax catches up later, or when payroll timing and cumulative PAYE have not fully evened out yet.
Income Tax check
Paid vs estimated year-to-date Income Tax
Paid to date
£2,100
Estimated YTD
£2,743
Difference
-£643
Your paid Income Tax is currently running below the estimated year-to-date reading. This can happen when tax catches up later, a code changes mid-year, or payroll timing has not yet fully normalised.
National Insurance check
Paid vs estimated year-to-date NI
Paid to date
£950
Estimated YTD
£1,097
Difference
-£147
Your National Insurance is running below the estimated year-to-date reading. This does not automatically mean a problem, but it does suggest the payslip pattern deserves a closer look if the difference persists.
Annualised salary run-rate
£40,000
Estimated net pay YTD
£16,160
Estimated pension YTD
£0
Estimated student loan YTD
£0
Best next check: tax-code and payroll context
Because Income Tax appears to be running low, the most useful next step is usually checking the tax code and understanding whether PAYE may catch up later.
This is a year-to-date estimator using annualised pay. It is useful for a first check, but PAYE timing, bonuses, tax code changes, salary sacrifice, and irregular income can make actual payslips differ.
Decode your payslip
Understand PAYE, NI, pension, and tax code labels in plain English.
Check your tax code
Decode common UK tax codes before guessing why tax looks unusual.
Check refund route
Estimate whether tax paid looks high enough to justify a refund-style check.
Best inputs
- Gross pay to date
- Income Tax paid to date
- NI paid to date
- Correct tax code
Open calculator
Check the broader take-home pay picture behind the salary route.
Compare salaries
See whether a higher salary really changes monthly life enough after deductions.
Read payslip guide
Move into the plain-English guide when you want fuller payslip context.
Tax code looks unusual
Decode 1257L, BR, D0, emergency markers and other common codes.
Tax looks too high
Use the refund route only after checking the code and YTD payroll pattern.
Need the rule behind a line
Read the detailed payslip guide after you have identified the line you need to understand.