Forms from your employer – explained.

If you’re employed, there are a few key documents that show how much you’ve been paid and how much tax has been taken.

This section explains what each document is, why it matters, and when you should receive it.

Payslip.

Your employer should give you a payslip every time you’re paid.

It shows:

• Your pay before tax (gross pay)
• Any deductions such as pension contributions
• How much Income Tax and National Insurance has been taken off
• What you actually receive in your bank account (net pay)

Think of your payslip as a receipt for the tax you’ve paid. It can also include useful details like your tax code and your employer’s PAYE reference.

It’s a good idea to keep your payslips, just in case you need to check something later.

Form P60.

A P60 is a summary of your pay and tax for the whole tax year.

It shows:

• Your total pay for the year
• The total Income Tax and National Insurance taken from it

Your employer must give you a P60 by 31 May after the end of the tax year (which ends on 5 April).

Keep your P60 safe. You may need it if:

• You have to complete a tax return
• You think you’ve paid too much tax and want to claim a refund
• HMRC asks questions about your tax in the future

You won’t get a P60 if you left that job during the tax year. In that case, the same information should be on your P45.

Form P45.

When you leave a job, your employer must give you a P45.

This shows:

• Your name and tax code
• How much you were paid so far in the tax year
• How much tax was taken off
• The date you were last paid

A P45 comes in several parts:

• If you start a new job, give Parts 2 and 3 to your new employer
• Part 1A is for you to keep

Keep your copy safe. It’s proof of the tax you’ve paid and can be very helpful if something goes wrong with your tax or tax code.

Starter Checklist.

If you start a new job and don’t have a P45, you’ll be asked to complete a Starter Checklist instead (this used to be called a P46).

This helps your new employer work out which tax code to use, so the right amount of tax is taken from your pay from the start.

Form P11D.

If you get benefits from your job — such as a company car or private medical insurance — your employer should give you a P11D.

This lists any taxable benefits you received during the tax year. It should not include genuine business expenses your employer has paid back to you.

Your employer must give you a copy of your P11D by 6 July after the end of the tax year.

Keep it safe. You may need it to:

• Complete a tax return
• Claim a tax refund
• Check whether your tax code is correct