P45 Decoder

What is on a P45 (the four parts)

1. Part 1 — your old employer sends this directly to HMRC. You never see it.
2. Part 1A — your personal copy. Keep it for your records and Self Assessment.
3. Parts 2 and 3 — these go to your new employer. They use the figures so you do not end up on emergency tax.

What we check on your P45

• ✓Tax code at leaving — emergency codes (W1/M1/X) on a P45 carry across to your new job and can lead to over-tax for months.
• ✓Total pay and tax to date — does the maths reconcile against your final payslip?
• ✓Student loan plan — Plan 1, 2, 4, 5 or PGL — needed for new employer's payroll setup.
• ✓Leaving date — combined with start date at new employer to spot pay gaps.
• ✓Refund flag — if you left mid-year and did not earn for the rest of the year, you may be owed a refund. We flag it.

No P45? What to do

If your old employer has not given you a P45 within a few weeks of leaving:

1. Chase them once in writing — payroll is legally obliged to issue it.
2. Your new employer can use a Starter Checklist (formerly P46) to set up your tax code from the information you provide.
3. If you suspect the old employer is being unhelpful, contact ACAS (0300 123 1100) or HMRC (0300 200 3300).

P45 vs P60 vs P2 vs payslip

• Payslip — every pay period during a job.
• P45 — when you leave a job.
• P60 — by 31 May each year, summarising the full tax year.
• P2 — whenever HMRC change your tax code.

Disclaimer: Educational guidance only. PaySlipIQ does not file tax returns or process refunds — that is between you and HMRC.