Understand your payslip

beginner⏱ Rough guide only: 30 minutes of confusion

Last reviewed by Amara Lewis

What does my payslip mean?

Type the line names and amounts from your payslip, without personal details, into ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot and ask for a plain-English explanation of each line and how your take-home pay is calculated. If something looks wrong, check your government's official guidance or ask your payroll team – AI can't see your tax record.

Copy-and-paste prompt

Swap the bits in [square brackets] for your own details.

Explain my payslip in plain English. I'm paid [weekly/monthly] in [country]. Here are the lines (personal details removed): [e.g. Basic pay 2,100; Tax 210; National Insurance 95; Pension 105; Net pay 1,690]. Tell me what each line means, how net pay is worked out, and what I should check each month. Say if anything looks unusual but don't guess my tax code.

How to do it

  1. Write down the line names and amounts from your payslip – leave out your name, employee number and tax reference.
  2. Paste them into the AI with the prompt below.
  3. If something still looks wrong, ask your payroll team or check your government's official guidance.

What a good answer looks like

Illustrative example written by the AI My Day team to show the kind of answer you can expect. It is not a captured tool output, and real results vary.

Basic pay (2,100): what you earned before anything is taken off. Tax (210): income tax, worked out from your tax code/allowance. National Insurance (95): contributions towards state benefits and pension. Pension (105): your workplace pension contribution (often 5%). Net pay (1,690): what lands in your bank = 2,100 − 210 − 95 − 105. Check each month: hours, tax code, pension %, any one-off deductions.

Recommended tools

Any of these can explain payslip terms in plain English. Don't upload the payslip itself – type the line names and figures without personal details.

ChatGPT

A general-purpose AI assistant you can chat to by typing, talking or sharing photos.

Free planbeginner

Claude

An AI assistant known for clear, natural writing and handling long documents.

Free planbeginner

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft's AI assistant, built into Windows and Microsoft 365 apps.

Free planbeginner

Top tips

  • Never upload a payslip with your name, tax number or employee ID.
  • Tax rules differ by country and change – check official guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Can AI tell me if my tax is right?

It can explain how tax usually works, but it can't see your tax record. Contact your tax authority or payroll if unsure.

Should I upload a photo of my payslip?

We advise against it. Type the figures instead and leave out identifying details.

Useful sources

Which AI is best for this?

Not sure which tool suits you? Take the 60-second quiz.

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