Emergency tax
Formal Neutral
What it really means
A temporary tax code used when your employer does not yet have full details about you, often in your first job or after a gap. It usually taxes you more than needed; once your correct code arrives, HMRC refunds the difference.
Chinese explanation
紧急税：雇主尚未掌握你完整信息时临时使用的税号，常见于第一份工作或空窗期后。通常会多扣税；等正确税号到位后，HMRC 会退还多缴的部分。
Example conversation
A: My first payslip took loads of tax off.
B: You are probably on emergency tax — give your P45 to payroll and it will sort out.
A：我第一张工资单扣了好多税。
B：你多半是被按紧急税扣的——把 P45 交给薪资部门就会调整过来。
Official sources
Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.
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· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake