Your NI number and first payslip

Lesson 14 of 16 in our free Work, Payslips & Tax guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.

This lesson is in the full version.

Free with a code from your uni, college, council, landlord or employer (worth £600/year). Lesson 1 of Work, Payslips & Tax is free for everyone.

Questions you'll answer

You work 7 hours each Saturday at £8 an hour. What's your gross pay for one Saturday?

A message says: 'Your NI number is suspended. Reply with it and your bank details to reactivate.' What is it?

Gross pay: hours × hourly rate → What you earned. Gross pay is what you earned before anything is taken off.
Income tax → What came off. Taken off only if you earn above your tax-free Personal Allowance.
National Insurance → What came off. Taken off once you earn over a weekly threshold (about £242 a week in 2026/27).
Your tax code, for example 1257L → Who you are to HMRC. Your tax code tells your employer how much you can earn tax-free.
Your National Insurance number → Who you are to HMRC. It links your pay to your record with HMRC.
Myth: “You only start paying National Insurance at 18.” — You can pay it from 16, but only once you earn over the weekly threshold.
Fact: “HMRC won't tell you your NI number over the phone or webchat.” — It's protected. Use the HMRC app or your personal tax account, or check an old payslip.
Fact: “An emergency tax code can mean too much tax at first, and it's usually sorted out later.” — Check your tax code in the HMRC app. Overpaid tax is normally refunded through your pay or by HMRC.
Myth: “It's fine to post a photo of your first payslip online to celebrate.” — Payslips show your NI number and pay details. Scammers love those. Celebrate with a cake instead.