Income Tax
All employees and workers in the UK must pay income tax. In the UK, most employees and workers’ pay Income Tax through the Pay as You Earn system (PAYE), which means that tax is automatically deducted from your salary each month.
If you have not worked in the UK before, when you start work for the first time the University will provide you with a tax form known as a 'Start checklist'. You need to complete and return this to the payroll section within the Finance Division, who will then provide you with a tax code which will determine how much tax will be taken from your salary. You will also require a National Insurance Number.
If you are resident in the UK and have income from another country, you may be able to claim tax relief or an exemption so that you do not end up paying tax twice. The UK holds double taxation agreements with a number of countries.
Tax Year
The tax year in the UK runs from 6 April to 5 April. If you arrive in the UK mid-tax year, you only pay tax on the income you have earned since the date you started work.
Tax Bands
The amount of tax you pay depends on how much you earn. These are known as ‘tax bands’. These tax bands can vary year upon year. For further information on tax bands please visit
UK Government Tax Rates website
Please note: The University cannot offer advice on your individual circumstances. With regard to tax payments, you can contact an independent tax advisor. For all queries relating to individual tax codes, please contact the HMRC directly to ensure the correct code has been issued to you.
National Insurance Number
As an employee, you are required to pay National Insurance contributions. Your contributions are deducted from your salary before it’s paid to you. In order to pay National Insurance, you need a National Insurance number. This is your own personal account number and it never changes even if you go abroad or change your name.
Applying for a National Insurance Number
If you do not have a National Insurance number, you will need to apply to obtain one. You can apply by telephoning the National Insurance number application line to ask for an application form.
Contact Telephone: 0800 141 2075 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
You will need to return the application form along with your proof of identity and your right to work or study in the UK. You will be notified which documents you can use as proof when you get your application form. After you apply, it can take up to 8 weeks to get your National Insurance number.
You may need to attend a local interview to obtain a National Insurance number. Waiting times for appointments may be several weeks. Your personal number will be issued to you a few weeks after the interview.
Note: if you are a non-EEA national holding a Skilled Worker visa, you may already have been issued a National Insurance number in advance of arrival in the UK which means you do not need to apply for one. Your National Insurance number will be noted on the reverse side of your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
