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Last reviewed: June 2022
When you leave a job your employer gives you a P45 covering what you’ve been paid and how much tax you’ve paid for the year so far. It’s your previous employers responsibility to ensure you’re given this form. Here’s a quick guide to help you with everything you need to know about your P45.
The form comes in 4 parts. Part 1 goes to HMRC, while part 1A is the one you keep for your own reference. Parts 2 and 3 are for your next employer, assuming you’re moving on to another job. You might also be asked to show your P45 paperwork if you find yourself at a Jobcentre Plus.
The bits that go to your new employer give them all the information they need to get you set up. That means your tax code, for one thing, but also your earnings and tax for the year.
Basically, you just need to sit back and wait. Your old boss is legally required to shoot you a P45 after you’ve moved on. Obviously, you won’t have a P45 when you start your first job - but your new employer should sort you out there. When you’re starting PAYE work for the first time, they’ll give you a Starter Checklist to complete. You’ll need to get this done as early as possible so your boss can get your tax code squared away and you can be paid properly. You’ll also end up going through a Starter Checklist if you lose your original copy, because you can’t just get a replacement P45. The same goes if you haven’t had a PAYE job in more than a year, or if you start a second job without giving up your first.
Assuming this isn’t your first job, and your old boss doesn’t send you a P45, you need to start kicking up a fuss. That means nudging them directly to request your P45 – and doing it repeatedly if necessary until you get your form. They’re breaking the law if they don’t send it, so don’t be afraid to shout out.
Your employer has to give you a P45 when you leave a job for any reason. That said, depending on your situation, you might not get your P45 on the exact day you leave. Generally, though, you ought to get it very soon after your tax and other deductions are sorted out for your final pay period at the job.
The main thing people tend to need their P45s for is keeping their tax information straight when they’re switching jobs. Getting stuck on the wrong tax code can be seriously bad news, so this is something you really need to stay on top of.
The form does have some other uses, though. If you have to file a tax return, for instance, you’ll need the information from your P45 to get it done. Typically, people on PAYE don’t have to worry much about tax returns. However, there are several reasons why you might still have to use the Self Assessment system while you’re on PAYE. If you’re claiming a tax rebate or getting extra income outside your normal job, for example, you might well find yourself using Self Assessment. You’ll be glad of your P45 then.
P45s can also be worth their weight in gold (figuratively, at least. They’re pretty light) when you’re claiming any social welfare benefits. Basically, if you get one, don’t throw it away. Remember, you can’t get a replacement P45 if you lose it.
The law says your employer must give you a P45 once you leave your job, no matter why you're leaving it. Contact them (or their Human Resources department if they have one) if they don't send you your form. In the last resort, you can get in touch with HMRC to chase them up for you.
If there's a delay and you need to start a new job before your P45 arrives from your old one, you could use a starter checklist instead. At least that way, you shouldn't run into too many problems with your tax code.
If you don't have a P45 when you start a new job, you'll need to fill in a 'starter checklist' instead. This form will allow your new employer to make sure you're on the right tax code. Your starter checklist will ask you if this is:
If you've got any taxable benefits or pension income, you'll be asked about those, too—along with some basic financial questions, like whether or not you're paying off a Student Loan. Once you've answered the questions, your employer should have enough information to work out your tax code. Being on the wrong tax code can lead to a lot of headaches, so it's important to make sure you give the right information in your starter checklist.
Yes, no matter why you're leaving your job, you should get a P45.
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Yes, you should still get a P45 from your last employer when you retire. You should hang onto it, too. Your pension provider will expect you to have it to hand, and you'll need it to keep your tax code straight if you make any withdrawals from your pension.
You might well find yourself on an emergency tax code if your new employer can’t check your P45. If this happens, you’ll see one of these codes on your payslip:
These codes are only ever meant to be temporary, so it’s a good idea to get your proper tax code sorted out as quickly as possible.
Like a strange rattle in your engine or an unexpected skin rash, if something looks iffy in your P45 it's always best to get it checked out. In most cases, a quick call to whoever deals with GR at work will clear things up. If that doesn't get you anywhere, you can talk to HMRC directly or have a tax expert look it over for you.
Form P46 is an older form that was replaced by the starter checklist. If you don't have a P45 to show your new employer when you start a job, you'll get a starter checklist to fill out so you end up on the right tax code. Some people still refer to the starter checklist as a P46.
A P45 is form showing how much PAYE tax you’ve paid in the current tax year. You’ll get one of these from your employer when you stop working for them, which may be part-way through a tax year.
A P60 is an end-of-year certificate showing all the taxable income you’ve made and the PAYE tax and National Insurance you’ve paid on it for the whole tax year. It also includes details of your Student Loan repayments.
A P45 only counts for the specific tax year it refers to. Tax years run from the 6th of April in one calendar year to the 5th of April in the next. If you start work at a new job in the same tax year as you left your old one, you can show your P45 to your new employer so they can put you on the right tax code.
HMRC don't hand out replacements for lost P45 forms, but your previous employer might be able to give you a copy. They can usually only do this if they use digital P45s, so if yours was on paper then they won't be able to print you another copy.
If you can't get a replacement for a lost P45 and start a new job in the same tax year without one, your employer can give you a starter checklist to fill in instead.
A P45 is the form you get when you leave a job. It shows how much tax you've paid so far in the current tax year, and it's used by your next employer to work out what tax code you should be on.
A starter checklist is the form used when you don't have a P45 to show your new employer for some reason—perhaps because this is your first job in the tax year. As with the P45, though, it's used to make sure your tax code's correct for your new job.
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