Your first job money checklist (UK)

New to this? Have a read of How does tax work? first. It covers the basics from scratch in a few minutes.

Before your first payday

Find your National Insurance number. You'll usually have been sent one just before you turned 16. If you can't find it, you can look it up in the HMRC app or your online account.
Hand over your P45, or fill in a starter checklist. A P45 comes from your last job. If this is your first job, or you don't have one, your employer will ask you to fill in a starter checklist instead. It helps them put you on the right tax code.
Tell payroll about any student loan. The starter checklist asks which plan you're on. Getting it right now saves repayments being taken at the wrong rate. Our student loan guide explains the plans.
Set up your HMRC online account. It shows your tax code, your pay as HMRC sees it and your National Insurance record, and it's where you'll sort out any problems.

When your first payslip arrives

Read it line by line. Check your pay is right, then look at what's come off. Our payslip guide walks through each line, and the take-home pay calculator shows roughly what to expect.
Check your tax code. The most common one is 1257L. If yours ends in W1, M1 or X, you're on an emergency code. That's normal in a new job and usually gets fixed once HMRC has your details. If it's still there after a couple of months, check your HMRC account.
Look at your pension. If you're 22 or over and earn more than £10,000 a year, you'll be enrolled automatically, and your employer has to pay in too. You can opt out within a month and get your money back, but you'd usually give up your employer's contributions as well. Read workplace pensions explained first.

In your first few months

Build a budget around your take-home pay. Not your salary: what actually lands in your account. Our budgeting guide shows three simple ways to do it.
Start a safety net. Even a small amount set aside each month means a surprise bill doesn't land on a credit card. See how to build a safety net.
Check what else your employer offers. Some match extra pension contributions, run salary sacrifice schemes such as Cycle to Work, or have staff discounts. It's worth a look through the staff handbook.

Want to see where you are on the route to financial freedom? Take the one-minute starting point check.

Common questions

What if I don't have a P45?

That's normal for a first job. Fill in the starter checklist your employer gives you, and they'll use it to choose your tax code until HMRC sends the right one.

Why is my first pay lower than I expected?

You might be on an emergency tax code, or your first pay might only cover part of a month. Emergency codes usually get corrected, and any extra tax normally comes back through your pay.

When will I get paid?

It depends on your employer. Many pay monthly, so your first pay can take longer to arrive than you expect. Check your contract, or ask payroll for the date.

Sources

We checked this guide against these sources on 13 October 2026. Rules and allowances can change, so check the latest position before you act.

This guide is general information, not personal financial advice. Read our full disclaimer.