Got Your P60? Here's the One Thing You Must Check Before Filing It Away

Your P60 is issued by your employer every year after 5 April — it summarises your total pay and tax for the completed tax year. Many people treat it as purely administrative. It's actually the most important financial document you'll receive all year, and there's one number that's critical to check.

The One Number to Check: Total Tax Paid

Your P60 shows "Total Pay" and "Total Tax Deducted" for the year. Take your Total Pay and run it through our take-home pay calculator. The tax figure the calculator shows should closely match the "Total Tax Deducted" on your P60.

If the P60 tax is significantly higher than expected for your salary, you may have been on the wrong tax code or emergency tax for part of the year — and could be owed a refund.

Why Your P60 Matters Beyond Tax

• Mortgage applications: Lenders frequently ask for 2–3 years of P60s as proof of income. Don't lose them.
• Tax credit claims: If applying for certain benefits or tax credits, P60 data is the reference point.
• State pension: While NI records are separate, your P60 can help verify employment history if there are gaps or disputes.
• Personal injury or unfair dismissal claims: P60s are used to evidence lost earnings in legal claims.

What If Your P60 Is Wrong?

Your employer is legally required to issue an accurate P60 by 31 May. If yours contains errors:

1. Contact your payroll department first — most errors can be corrected quickly
2. If your employer can't correct it, contact HMRC directly with your NI number and the employer's PAYE reference
3. Do not claim a tax refund based on a P60 you know to be incorrect — wait for the corrected version

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I left my job before the end of the tax year?

If you left employment before 5 April, you should have received a P45 rather than a P60. Your P45 part 1A shows the same year-to-date information that a P60 would cover. You can request a P60 from your former employer if you're still employed by them at 5 April.

P60 vs P45 vs P11D — which is needed for a mortgage?

Mortgage lenders typically ask for P60s (full year income evidence). P45s show partial year income. P11Ds evidence benefits-in-kind. If you've changed jobs, you may need both your P45 from the previous role and P60 from the current one.