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Printable · First job

First job setup checklist

Everything a 16-19 year-old needs to set up properly in their first month of work. Bank account, tax code, payslip, NI number, savings system. Use it once at the start — everything is in place.

Audience
KS4-KS5 pupils + parents
Key Stage
KS4-KS5
Format
A4 portrait checklist
Time
One-off use
Topic
First-job admin
Last reviewed
2026-05-11

How to use this printable

  1. Print one copy when starting your first paid job.
  2. Work through the boxes over your first few weeks. Most take 5-30 minutes each.
  3. Tick as you complete. Keep the sheet with your other job paperwork.
  4. Some items (HMRC personal tax account, NI number) you only do once and never again. Worth doing now.

First job checklist

My first job setup

Tick the boxes. Most take 5-30 minutes. The whole list is doable in a few hours across your first month.

Open a current account in your own nameHalifax, HSBC, Lloyds, Nationwide, Monzo, Starling — all do 16+ adult accounts. You'll need this for your wage to land.
Get / find your National Insurance numberPosted to you around your 16th birthday. If lost, get it from gov.uk personal tax account.
Set up a HMRC personal tax accountgov.uk/personal-tax-account. Takes 15 minutes. Lets you check tax codes, claim refunds, see your record forever.
Hand your P45 (or starter checklist) to your employerP45 from your previous employer if applicable. New starter checklist if first-ever job. Without it you go on emergency tax.
Check your first payslip carefullyTax code should be 1257L. Not BR, 0T, or W1/M1. If wrong, phone HMRC on 0300 200 3300.
Confirm net pay matches what landed in your accountIf not, ring payroll the same day.
Check NI category letter is ADifferent letters exist (apprentice = H, under 21 = M) but most workers are A. Wrong letter = wrong deductions.
Set up a separate savings accountLinked savings space in your bank app is the easiest start. Cash ISA at competitive rate is better for long term.
Set up a standing order to savings on the day after paydayEven £20/month from age 18 is £240/year. The habit matters more than the amount.
Decide on a pension contribution rate (if 22+)Auto-enrolment kicks in at 22. If your employer matches more than the 3% minimum, set your rate to grab the maximum match — that's free money.
Save the bank app and HMRC app to your phoneBoth have biometric login. Push notifications for transactions. Catch problems early.
Keep payslips and P60s for at least 4 yearsEither paper folder or scanned to cloud. Mortgage applications and tax queries often need them years later.
Cite this printable
UK Tax Drag (2026). First job setup checklist. Printable worksheet. Available at: https://kids.uktaxdrag.co.uk/printable-first-job-checklist.html
CC BY 4.0. Free to print, photocopy, share, embed in your VLE or adapt for your school.
Print tip. Set printer to A4 portrait. Margins "Default" or "Minimum" both work. The print preview hides the navigation, instructions and footer so you get just the worksheet on paper.