can't find p45

Pennywise

dori2o wrote: »

Contact the employer and ask them for a DUPLICATE P45.

If they refuse to issue a duplicate, which many employers do as they believe that it is not possible to do so, then ask them for a statement of earnings for the period 5 April 2011 until the date you left. Ask them to ensure they show your date of leaving and the final tax code on the statement.

Download a P50 form from the HMRC website, complete and submit with the P45/Statement of Earnings.

Employers WILL refuse to issue a duplicate because HMRC instructs them not to:-

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers/p45-employee-leaves.htm#4

"Q. My employee has lost (not received) the P45 can I issue a duplicate?

A. You must not issue a duplicate P45 under any circumstances.

When your former employee starts their next employment their new employer will ask them to complete a form P46."

Seems strange that an HMRC employee (dori2o) wouldn't know this and even stranger that they imply the employer would be at fault for not issuing a duplicate P45!

chrismac1

Can anyone think of any credible reason for this rule? Given that the P45 will have been filed online,what possible harm can arise from e-mailing a duplicate P45 to an ex-employee? This is something I've done about 3 times so far this tax year. If someone can tell me exactly why this rule makes sense and why what I am doing is wrong, I'll consider stopping doing it. Until then I consider it as just one more daft rule from HMRC.

Pennywise

chrismac1 wrote: »

Can anyone think of any credible reason for this rule? Given that the P45 will have been filed online,what possible harm can arise from e-mailing a duplicate P45 to an ex-employee? This is something I've done about 3 times so far this tax year. If someone can tell me exactly why this rule makes sense and why what I am doing is wrong, I'll consider stopping doing it. Until then I consider it as just one more daft rule from HMRC.

Yes, it's to stop people giving the same P45 to different new employers if they have 2 or more subsequent jobs or 2 jobs concurrently. I've seen the chaos caused when two new employers (say 2 part time jobs) have used the same P45 details, and also where the P45 was given to the next employer, who didn't issue a P45 when employee left, so employee goes back to original employer and asks for replacement to give to next employer number 3. Of course, as you rightly say, a P45 form is no longer what it used to be as it is indeed easy to copy or reprint. Perhaps the rule should be changed so that replacement P45s can be issued but "COPY" must be written on it. Of course, it all becomes irrelevant when we have the proposed live payroll system as HMRC will have real time information at their fingertips!!! Cue for another few years of chaos!!!!!

chrismac1

Mmm. So far the second versions I have issued have been to folk who've gone on to better things, hence just one employer and no risk of double-dipping. I'll hide behind this rule for future requests from people who are potentially double-dippers.