P45 and P60 explained
A P45 is what you get when you leave a job. A P60 is what you get at the end of a tax year if you are still employed. Both are records of pay and tax, and both are worth keeping — they are the documents everything else about your tax gets checked against.
General information · Last reviewed
What this document usually is
Employers report pay and deductions to HMRC through PAYE. A P45 summarises your pay and tax in the current tax year up to your leaving date. A P60 summarises a whole tax year for an employment you were still in on the last day of that year. Neither is a bill; both are statements of record.
Why you might have received it
- You left a job, so your employer produced a P45
- The tax year ended and you were still employed, so your employer produced a P60
- You receive a pension through PAYE, so your provider issues a P60
- You had more than one employment, so you may have more than one form
What to check on it
- Your name and National Insurance number
- The employer's name and PAYE reference
- The leaving date on a P45, or the tax year on a P60
- Total pay to date and total tax deducted
- The tax code shown, and whether it is a week-1 or month-1 code
- Whether the figures match your final payslip
The difference at a glance
Both show pay and tax, but they answer different questions:
- P45 — issued when employment ends, covering that tax year up to your leaving date
- P60 — issued after the tax year ends, covering the full year for a continuing employment
- You can receive several P45s in one year, but normally only one P60 per continuing employment
Starting a new job without a P45
If you do not have one, your new employer will normally ask you for starter information instead. Getting that right at the start reduces the chance of being put on an emergency code and overpaying for a few months.
When these forms become important
They are the documents you check an HMRC P800 or Simple Assessment against, the evidence for a refund claim, and the proof of income lenders and agents ask for. Losing them is not fatal — much of the information appears in your Personal Tax Account — but employers are not required to issue replacements.
Things worth a second look
- Figures that do not match your final payslip for the same period
- A National Insurance number that is not yours
- A P60 for an employer you never worked for — worth raising with HMRC
- A missing P45 after leaving, with no explanation from the employer
- An emergency tax code still showing months into a new job
What you might need to do next
- Check the figures against your payslips as soon as the form arrives
- Give your new employer the information they ask for at the start of a job
- Store both forms with that year's payslips, digitally or on paper
- Use your Personal Tax Account to see what HMRC holds if a form is missing
- Contact HMRC or a qualified tax adviser if the figures look wrong
Official sources
Common questions
Q. What is the difference between a P45 and a P60?
A. A P45 is issued when you leave a job and covers the tax year up to your leaving date. A P60 is issued after the tax year ends and covers the full year for a job you were still in.
Q. I have lost my P45 — can I get another?
A. Employers are not required to reissue one. Your new employer can use starter information instead, and much of the detail is visible in your Personal Tax Account.
Q. Do I get a P60 if I left during the year?
A. Not from that employer. A P60 covers employment held on the last day of the tax year; your P45 covers the part-year instead.
Q. How long should I keep them?
A. At least 22 months after the end of the relevant tax year, and longer if you complete Self Assessment or may need proof of income.
Important disclaimer
General information about UK PAYE forms, not tax advice. Check GOV.UK, or speak to HMRC or a qualified tax adviser, about your own circumstances.
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