P60 and P45 are both official UK payroll documents, and it is easy to confuse them. One marks an ending. The other marks a year. Getting them mixed up causes real problems, particularly when a mortgage lender or letting agent asks for the wrong one. This guide explains exactly what each form is, when you get it, and what to do if either goes missing.
Quick Answer
A P60 is an annual summary of your pay and tax for a full tax year, issued by your employer if you are still working for them on 5 April. A P45 is issued when you leave a job, and it only covers your pay and tax up to your leaving date. You cannot get a P60 from an employer you have already left.
What Is a P60?
A P60 is your End of Year Certificate. Your employer issues it after the tax year ends on 5 April, and it summarises your total earnings and all deductions, including Income Tax and National Insurance, for the full tax year. If you are still employed by the same employer on 5 April, you get a P60 from them, even if you were on maternity leave, long-term sick leave, or any other form of absence during the year.
P60 Deadline
Employers must issue P60s by 31 May following the end of the tax year. For the 2025/26 tax year, which ended on 5 April 2026, the deadline is 31 May 2026. Employers can issue P60s on paper or electronically, and an electronic P60 is just as legally valid as a paper one, provided it clearly states it is an eP60.
What If You Have More Than One Job?
If you are employed by more than one employer on 5 April, you receive a separate P60 from each one. Your P60s are not combined into a single document, so keep every copy if you are employed by more than one company at once.
What Is a P45?
A P45 is the document that closes an employment relationship for tax purposes. Your employer must issue one whenever your employment ends, whatever the reason, including resignation, dismissal, or redundancy. It records your pay and tax up to your leaving date so your next employer, or the Department for Work and Pensions if you claim benefits, can tax you correctly.
P45 Deadline
There is no fixed legal deadline for issuing a P45, but employers must provide it within a reasonable time after you leave, and most issue it alongside your final payslip.
P60 vs P45: The Key Differences
| Feature | P60 | P45 |
|---|---|---|
| When issued | After the tax year ends, by 31 May | When employment ends |
| Who receives it | Employees still working for you on 5 April | Any employee who leaves, for any reason |
| Period covered | Full tax year, 6 April to 5 April | Start of tax year to leaving date |
| Main use | Proof of income for mortgages, Self Assessment | Correct tax with a new employer or DWP |
| Deadline for employer | 31 May | No fixed deadline, but reasonable time |
If You Change Jobs Mid-Year
If you leave a job partway through the tax year, you get a P45 from that employer, then a P60 from whichever employer you are with on 5 April. Your new employer’s P60 will already fold in the pay and tax figures from your P45, giving one complete year-end total rather than two separate documents.
Why Employers Need to Get This Right
For employers running payroll, mixing up P60 and P45 obligations is a common and avoidable error. If an employee left before 5 April, they get a P45 from that employment, not a P60. If they were still on your payroll on 5 April, even if they left a few days later, they are entitled to a P60. Missing the 31 May deadline can lead to HMRC penalties, so it is worth building this into your payroll process well before year end rather than treating it as a last-minute task.
What Do You Actually Use Each Document For?
Using Your P60
A P60 is one of the most commonly requested documents for proving income. Mortgage lenders routinely ask for two or three years of P60s as evidence of stable earnings. Letting agents may also request one, and HMRC uses it as a reference point if you need to check figures on a Self Assessment tax return.
Using Your P45
Your P45 tells your new employer which tax code to use and what you have already earned and paid tax on this year, so you are taxed correctly from your first payslip rather than being placed on an emergency tax code. If you claim benefits after leaving a job, the same information helps the Department for Work and Pensions process your claim.
What If You Lose a P60 or P45?
If you lose a P60, your employer is legally required to provide a replacement on request. They can reprint or reissue it from their payroll records at any time, since there is no time limit on this.
A lost P45 is more awkward. HMRC does not hold copies of P45s and will not issue a replacement. Your best option is to contact your former employer directly and ask for a written statement of earnings, which most lenders and agents will accept as a substitute. If the employer has closed down, your Personal Tax Account on gov.uk can provide an employment history and tax summary instead.
What If Your P60 Looks Wrong?
If the figures on your P60 do not match your own payslip records, contact your employer’s payroll department first. If a genuine error has occurred, they must issue a corrected P60 and submit amended information to HMRC. If they cannot or will not correct it, you can report the issue to HMRC directly through your Personal Tax Account.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a P60 and a P45?
A P60 is an annual summary of pay and tax for employees still working for you at the end of the tax year. A P45 is issued when someone leaves a job and covers only their pay and tax up to that point.
When do P60s come out in 2026?
Employers must issue P60s for the 2025/26 tax year by 31 May 2026. Most employers issue them earlier, in April or early May.
Do I get a P60 if I left my job before 5 April?
No. If you left before 5 April, you received a P45 from that employer instead. Only employees still employed on 5 April receive a P60.
Can I use a P45 instead of a P60 for a mortgage application?
Not usually. A P45 only covers part of a tax year, so it lacks the full annual totals that mortgage lenders typically require. They generally ask for a P60 specifically.
What should I do if I lose my P45?
HMRC does not reissue P45s. Ask your former employer for a written statement of earnings, or check your Personal Tax Account on gov.uk if the employer is no longer trading.
Key Takeaways
- A P60 covers a full tax year and is issued by 31 May to anyone still employed on 5 April
- A P45 covers only pay and tax up to the date someone leaves a job
- You can hold a P45 from one job and a P60 from another in the same tax year
- Employers can replace a lost P60 at any time; HMRC does not reissue lost P45s
- Both documents matter for mortgages, benefits claims, and accurate tax coding
About the Author
This guide was prepared by the Business Mine editorial team, who research and write practical UK business, tax and finance guides. Information is checked against current HMRC guidance at the time of publication. This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute tax advice; for advice specific to your circumstances, consult a qualified accountant.
