P45 necessary for agency?

wigglebeena

I'm registering w/an agency who are very insistent that a P45 or P60 is necessary for registration, and a wageslip isn't sufficient for NI details. Have there been new regulations or something?

I can't think of any scam that could be involved offhand, but I've never known a wageslip not to be sufficient.

fengirl_2

There are no new regulations - it must be something they have made up.

unhappysky

Agencies need a P45 or P60 so that you won't be put onto emergency tax. Some agencies will accept wage slips - some don't. When you get your P45 or P60 that will have your NI number on anyway - so killing 2 birds with one stone!

LittleVoice

I have never provided an agency with a P45 or P60. I have always simply told them what my NI number is.

Completing a P46 should be enough to get started on tax.

Savvy_Sue

By this stage in the tax year I'm not sure what use a P60 will be to anyone for working out what tax code you should be on, but maybe the agency want something 'official' which shows your NINo, rather than something you've written it on (as you do with a P46).

JanineB

I think they're being overly strict. When I signed up with my current employment agency I had to bring my passport and my NI card in. That was all as far as I can remember.

LittleVoice

Asking for a P45 or P60 looks like they are checking actual earnings - perhaps checking truthfulness of claims of salary received. However I don't see why they would be bothered about previous earnings when they will offer whatever they are prepared to offer.

venus_in_furs

I also only needed my passport and NI number with the agency i got my last job through. Nothing else. They sorted out the right tax code for me if i remember correctly.

fengirl_2

There are two issues here:
1. Identity and permission to work in the UK - an NI number is proof of right to work in the UK, but as venus says, there are many other forms of identity which are acceptable under the IMmigration and Asylum Act 1996, such as a passport of birth certificate.
2. Tax. If you dont have a P45, the agency should give you a P46 which you sign to say its your only job. You then need to contact HMRC to give them the info they need to issue you with a proper code.
It is NOT a requirement of employmetn that you have an NI number, although of course you would want to obtain one so that you are credited with your NI deductions.

LittleVoice

fengirl wrote: »

- an NI number is proof of right to work in the UK, .

Are you sure about that? I thought it was possible to get an NI number without proving that you had the right to work - but that was some years ago and perhaps things have changed.

Skint_Catt

LittleVoice wrote: »

Are you sure about that? I thought it was possible to get an NI number without proving that you had the right to work - but that was some years ago and perhaps things have changed.

You are correct. An NI number does not prove right to work