Key facts
- Employers must issue P60s to all employees on the payroll on 5 April by 31 May each year.
- The P60 shows total pay, tax, NI, and student loan deductions for the tax year.
- Employees need P60s for Self Assessment returns, mortgage applications, and tax credit claims.
- Since April 2023, employers can issue P60s electronically (PDF or secure online portal) without needing the employee’s consent.
- Employers are not required to issue a P60 to employees who left before 5 April — they receive a P45 instead.
What Is a P60?
A P60 is an official end-of-year certificate that summarises an employee’s total earnings and deductions for the tax year (6 April to 5 April). Every employer must issue a P60 to each employee who is still on the payroll on 5 April.[1]
The P60 is one of the most important documents an employee receives each year. It serves as the definitive record of how much they earned and how much tax and National Insurance was collected through PAYE.
What a P60 Shows
A P60 contains the following information:[1]
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Employer details | Employer name, PAYE reference, and Accounts Office reference |
| Employee details | Employee name, National Insurance number, and works/payroll number |
| Tax code | The tax code in use at 5 April |
| Total pay | Total taxable pay in the tax year (this pay period) |
| Total tax deducted | Total Income Tax deducted in the tax year |
| NI contributions | Employee NI, employer NI, NI category letter, and the earnings band breakdown |
| Student loan deductions | Total student loan and postgraduate loan repayments deducted |
| Statutory payments | Any Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, etc. included in the total pay figure |
Deadline for Issuing P60s
Employers must provide P60s to employees by 31 May following the end of the tax year. For the 2025/26 tax year (ending 5 April 2026), P60s must be issued by 31 May 2026.[2]
Key point: A P60 is only issued to employees who are on the payroll on 5 April. If an employee leaves before this date, they receive a P45 instead. The P45 covers the period from 6 April (or the start of employment if later) to their leaving date. They will not receive a P60 from that employer.
Who Receives a P60?
A P60 must be issued to:
- Every employee on the payroll on 5 April, including those on maternity leave, sick leave, or unpaid leave
- Employees who earned below the tax threshold (the P60 will show zero tax deducted)
- Part-time employees and casual workers still on the books at year end
A P60 is not issued to:
- Employees who left before 5 April (they receive a P45)
- Self-employed contractors or freelancers (they are not on the PAYE payroll)
Why Employees Need Their P60
Employees should keep their P60 safe because it is needed for:
- Self Assessment tax returns — the figures on the P60 are entered onto the employment pages
- Tax credit and benefit claims — HMRC and DWP may ask for P60 evidence of income
- Mortgage applications — lenders typically ask for the last two or three P60s as proof of income
- Checking tax accuracy — comparing the P60 to payslips to ensure the right amount of tax was deducted
- Claiming tax refunds — if the employee believes they have overpaid tax
Electronic P60s
Since April 2023, employers can provide P60s in electronic format without requiring the employee’s consent. Acceptable electronic formats include:[1]
- PDF documents sent by email
- Secure online payroll portals where employees can download their P60
- Payroll software that generates electronic P60 documents
Tip: If your payroll software produces P60s automatically, check them against the year-to-date figures on the final payslip and the FPS figures submitted to HMRC. Any discrepancies should be investigated and corrected before the P60 is issued.
Employer Record-Keeping
Employers must keep copies of all P60s issued (or the data used to produce them) for at least 3 years after the end of the tax year to which they relate. HMRC may request these records during a compliance check.[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I have lost my P60?
Your employer is not legally required to issue a replacement P60. However, most employers will provide a duplicate or a letter confirming the same details. You can also find the same information through your HMRC Personal Tax Account, on your final payslip of the tax year, or by contacting HMRC directly.
Do I get a P60 if I only work part-time?
Yes. Every employee on the payroll on 5 April receives a P60, regardless of whether they work full-time or part-time. Even if no tax was deducted (because earnings were below the Personal Allowance), the employer must issue a P60 showing the total pay and the zero tax figure.
What is the difference between a P60 and a P45?
A P60 is issued at the end of the tax year (after 5 April) to employees still on the payroll. A P45 is issued when an employee leaves employment during the year. The P45 shows pay and tax up to the leaving date. If you leave and rejoin before 5 April, you will get a P45 for the old job and a P60 from the new employer covering only the period from when you started.
Can P60s be issued electronically?
Yes. Since April 2023, employers can provide P60s in electronic format (such as PDF or through a secure payroll portal) without needing the employee’s prior agreement. Previously, the employee had to consent to receiving the P60 electronically. The electronic version has the same legal standing as a paper copy.
Further Reading
- Payroll Year-End Checklist — P60s as part of the year-end process
- The P45 Process — the leaver’s equivalent of the P60
- P11D & Benefits in Kind — another year-end form that sits alongside the P60
- Final FPS & Year-End Returns — the RTI submission that generates P60 data
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Sources
- P60: End of Year Certificate — GOV.UK
- Running payroll: Reporting to HMRC — GOV.UK
- PAYE: employer year-end duties — GOV.UK