Working in the UK on a Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa means paying tax through PAYE, getting a National Insurance number, and watching out for emergency tax codes that over-deduct. The good news: the system is automatic, and a generous tax-free allowance means you keep more of your early earnings than in most working-holiday destinations. This guide covers it all.
You don't pay income tax on your first £12,570 of earnings a year. Above that you pay 20% up to £50,270. National Insurance is a separate 8% on earnings above £12,570. You'll likely need to apply for a National Insurance number after you arrive, but you can start work before it comes through. Watch your first payslips for an emergency tax code, and reclaim any overpaid tax through HMRC.
A National Insurance (NI) number is your personal reference in the UK's tax and benefits system. Your employer uses it to record your tax and NI contributions.
Some YMS holders find their NI number is already linked to their digital immigration status (eVisa), so check your UKVI account first. If you don't already have one, you apply for free at gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number, and you can only apply once you're physically in the UK (gov.uk).
The NI number application is free. Ignore any third-party site that charges to "get" one for you.
The UK taxes income above a tax-free Personal Allowance. For the current tax year these are the rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland sets different bands):
| Band | Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | Up to £12,570 | 0% |
| Basic rate | £12,571 to £50,270 | 20% |
| Higher rate | £50,271 to £125,140 | 40% |
| Additional rate | Over £125,140 | 45% |
Source: gov.uk, income tax rates.
The Personal Allowance is the headline benefit for working holidaymakers: your first £12,570 each tax year is tax-free, and most YMS workers spend the year in the 20% basic-rate band. The Personal Allowance starts to taper away once you earn over £100,000, which won't affect most working holidaymakers.
Separate from income tax, you pay National Insurance contributions (NICs) on your earnings. As an employee, the main (primary) Class 1 rate is 8% on earnings above £12,570 a year (about £242 a week), dropping to 2% on earnings above roughly £967 a week (gov.uk). Your employer deducts it automatically alongside income tax. So on typical YMS earnings, your combined deduction above the allowance is roughly 20% income tax plus 8% NI.
The UK runs on PAYE (Pay As You Earn): your employer deducts income tax and National Insurance from each payslip before you're paid, and sends it to HMRC. The tax year runs 6 April to 5 April.
When you start a job, give your employer your P45 (from a previous UK job) or complete HMRC's starter checklist (gov.uk). This tells payroll your correct tax code. Skip it and you may be put on an emergency code.
New arrivals with no P45 are often put on an emergency tax code at first. This can mean you're taxed too much, sometimes as if you'd already used part of your allowance elsewhere. It's common and fixable.
Check your tax code on your payslip and through gov.uk's Check your Income Tax tool. Once HMRC has your full details (from the starter checklist and your employer's reports), your code is usually corrected automatically and any over-deduction refunded through your pay.
If you were overtaxed (emergency code, or you stop working part-way through the year), you can get it back. HMRC often refunds automatically after the tax year ends, but you can also use the Check how to claim a tax refund tool, especially if you're leaving the UK before the year ends. Keep your payslips and your P45 from each job; you'll need them.
YMS visa holders can be self-employed only under tight conditions: you must not have premises you own (renting is allowed), your equipment must be worth under £5,000, and you can't employ staff. If that's you, you register with HMRC for Self Assessment and handle your own tax and NI rather than going through PAYE. Most YMS holders work as employees through PAYE.
When your final pay or a tax refund lands, you'll likely move it into your home currency. Banks usually add a margin to the exchange rate on top of any fee. Specialist services such as Wise and OFX often deliver more of your money. Compare the amount that actually arrives, not the headline fee.
No. You can start work before it arrives, as long as you can prove your right to work. Apply for free at gov.uk once you're in the UK; it can take up to four weeks.
Nothing on your first £12,570 a year, then 20% income tax up to £50,270, plus 8% National Insurance on earnings above £12,570. Most YMS workers stay in the basic-rate band.
You were probably on an emergency tax code because payroll didn't yet have your details. Complete the starter checklist, check your code on gov.uk, and HMRC usually corrects it and refunds the difference through your pay.
Often yes, especially if you leave part-way through the tax year. Use HMRC's refund tool or form, keep your payslips and P45s, and don't close your UK bank account until the refund arrives.
Yes. Apply only at gov.uk. Any site charging a fee is unnecessary.
Sources: gov.uk. Last verified 2026-06-11.