Waiting for your P60 so you can file your tax return? Here's exactly when you should expect it.
Every employer that you're still employed by at the end of the tax year (5th April) is legally required to send you your P60 by 31st May (8 weeks after the tax year ends).
⏰ If you're waiting on a P60, it must arrive by 31st May at the latest. After that date, it's late!
When you leave employment, your employer should give you a P45 without delay. There's no specific legal deadline like there is for P60s, but you should receive it within a few days of leaving.
If you don't receive your P45 after leaving, request it from your employer. You need it for your tax return and to provide to your next employer.
If you haven't received your P60 or P45 by the deadline, don't worry—you have options:
If you're keen to get your tax return done and are still waiting on your P60, you can use:
However, your P60/P45 is always the best source of information, and HMRC often has this information on file already. When you submit your tax return, sometimes the employed section will be automatically filled in for you based on what your employer reported to HMRC.
If you worked for multiple employers during the tax year, you should receive:
Check you've received documentation from all employers before filing your tax return.
Once you receive your P60 or P45, keep it safe alongside your tax return documents. Email copies are easy to organize digitally. You may need to provide them if HMRC investigates your accounts.
Don't panic if you're waiting—the 31st May deadline gives you time to gather everything before the January 31st tax return deadline!