What is a P45 Form and How Do I Get One?

31 January, 2025 · 10 min read

Author

Tracey Blake

Do you know what your P45 is for and where it comes from? Let’s take a closer look.

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What is a P45 and how does it work?
How and when do you get a P45?
How long is a P45 valid for?
P45 and Emergency Tax
What to do if you’ve lost your P45 form
Where can you find help with P45s?
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is a P45 and how does it work?

A P45 is the document issued to employees by employers when you leave a job. It’s important for making sure that you’re taxed correctly in a new role and shows how much tax you’ve paid to date for the current tax year.

What does a P45 look like?

A P45 is a simple paper form and has 4 parts, Part 1, Part 1A, Part 2 and Part 3.

Part 1 is sent to HMRC by the employer and the employee receives the other 3 parts.

Part 1A should be kept for records.

Parts 2 and 3 are given to the employee to pass onto their new employer.

What information is on a P45?

A P45 contains a few key details.

The employee’s personal information (name, address, NI number).
Employment details (start date, end date).
Earnings and tax paid during the tax year.
Tax code and pay details.

It’s important that everything on a P45 is accurate so you don’t end up overpaid or underpaid in your new role.

What is a P45 form used for?

The P45 is mainly used by employees to provide their new employer with their earnings and tax information. It plays a vital role in ensuring that an individual is not taxed at a higher rate (emergency tax) and ensures the tax information is correct for the new role.

How and when do you get a P45?

How do I get a p45?

A P45 is issued by an employer when you finish a job. You should have your P45 by the time you leave your job and receive your final payslip.

If you haven’t received your P45, contact your employer's HR or payroll department to ask for it. Employers are legally required to provide a P45 when an employee leaves the business.

How long does it take to get a p45?

A P45 should be issued on your last working day or soon after the final day of your employment. If you haven’t received your P45 after a few weeks you may need to follow up with your employer.

It’s important that you don’t delay this because it may lead to you overpaying tax in your new role.

Where do you get a P45 form as an employer?

Most employers access P45 forms via their payroll software. Employers can get P45 forms directly from HMRC.

How to get P45 online

Your P45 is usually given to you as a physical paper copy. It’s important to keep it safe when you receive it.

How long is a P45 valid for?

A P45 gives you details for the current tax year. As long as it is accurate, it will be valid for your new employer when they’re organising your tax.

It’s also important to keep hold of your P45 Part 1A so that you have your own record of your tax code and tax paid to-date for the year.

When you retire you’ll still receive a P45 from your employer when you leave your job. Though you may not need it for a new employer, it’s important for knowing how much tax you’ve paid to date for the tax year.

P45 and Emergency Tax

If you don't have a P45 when you start a new job, you may be placed on an emergency tax code. This can result in higher tax deductions until the correct tax details are updated. It can also mean you need to wait to get your money back where you’ve overpaid.

What to do if you’ve lost your P45 form

If you lose your P45, you can request a replacement from your former employer or contact HMRC for help.

Where can you find help with P45s?

For issues with your P45, you can seek guidance from

HMRC's customer service.
Your former employer.

Financial advisors, accountants or online guides for advice on tax implications.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What's the difference between a P45 and a P60 form?

P45: Issued when you leave a job, showing earnings and taxes paid in the current tax year.

P60: Issued annually by your employer, showing earnings and taxes paid for the entire year.

P45 form vs ‘starter checklist’

A P45 is a final tax document when leaving a job, whereas a starter checklist is used when starting a new job and doesn't contain full tax details.

What if your P45 contains incorrect information?

If your P45 has errors, contact your employer to correct it. If it's already submitted to HMRC, they can help amend the information.

Do you get a P45 if you've been sacked?

Yes, even if you've been dismissed, you're entitled to a P45. Your employer must issue it upon termination of employment.

What to do if your employer won't give you your P45?

Your employer is legally required to provide a P45 for employees. If your employer refuses to issue a P45, contact HMRC for guidance and assistance.

How long do you need to keep P45s as an employer?

Employers should keep P45 forms and records for at least 3 years from the end of the tax year they were issued. It may be useful to keep employee records for longer.

Can a p45 be issued before final pay?

A P45 should be issued after your final pay. It should reflect the total earnings for the tax year so it’s important that every month is included.