A P60 is a UK end‑of‑tax‑year certificate that shows your total earnings from an employer and how much Income Tax and National Insurance was deducted in that tax year. It’s an official document you usually need to keep safely for things like tax checks, loans, and mortgages.

What is a P60?

  • A P60 is an official UK tax document issued after the end of the tax year (6 April–5 April).
  • It summarises your total taxable pay, Income Tax deducted, and National Insurance contributions from that employer for the whole year.
  • You normally receive it if you’re still employed by that employer on 5 April of the tax year.
  • It can be given on paper or electronically, but it serves the same purpose either way.

When and why you get one

  • Employers must issue P60s once a year, after the tax year ends.
  • You only get a P60 from employers where you’re on payroll at the end of the tax year; if you leave earlier, you get a P45 instead of a P60 from that job.
  • Self‑employed people do not get a P60 from themselves; they rely on their own accounting and tax returns instead.

What a P60 is used for

You typically need your P60 for:

  • Checking if you’ve paid the right amount of tax.
  • Claiming back overpaid tax or completing a Self Assessment tax return.
  • Proving your income when applying for a mortgage, rental agreement, or personal loan.
  • Providing evidence for benefits or tax credits applications.

Simple example

Imagine you worked for one employer from April to April and earned £30,000 in the tax year, with £4,000 tax and £2,500 National Insurance deducted. Your P60 will show those totals clearly so you, lenders, or HMRC can see exactly what you earned and what you paid.

P60 vs P45 (quick distinction)

  • P60: Given at the end of a tax year, summarising the whole year with your current employer.
  • P45: Given when you leave a job, summarising pay and tax up to your leaving date in that same tax year.

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