I've Been Foolish - P45 "issue"

gandalftheking

hello all

i was made redundant about 6 months ago from my marketing role. i decided that it would be easier to find another post if i said i was still working to prospective employers (yes, i already know it was foolish and stupid, but thats what i did). my old employer, being a small business had no problem with this re references etc.

now that a couple of offers are imminent hopefully, im panicking about having a p45 which doesnt back up my story. ive thought of not producing the p45 and hoping it will sort itself out, or giving it in and hoping the date isnt noticed. anything i can think of consists of a lie to cover a lie, and while i regret my initial decision to go this way, its done, and i need a job yesterday to begin to climb the financial recovery mountain!

by posting this im open to copious amounts of wrist slapping, but am desperate so hope that some kindly soul can provide a solution.

thanks. :-[

Ma_Grisewald

Hi, I don't think that you need to be too hard on yourself about this. You haven't done anything illegal. I think that if you get a firm job offer - then take it. Once you have to produce your P45, it will go to salaries/wages/human resources - not to the person that interviewed you. Once you have a firm job offer, I think that you should come clean and explain that you were concerned about being made redundant spoiling your chances of getting interviews for other jobs. (Although many people are made redundant -especially with the increase in contract only working, rather than full time contracts - so it's no shame to be made redundant). You can tell your new employer that your old employer is willing to confirm that you were made redundant - rather than being sacked . Your new employer will be more concerned that he is getting the right person for the job.

Good Luck!!

;D ::) ;D

gandalftheking

Thanks Ma

to be frank, i'd be very concerned about coming clean at the offer stage - ive been "courting" both companies im referring to for some months, and to disclose the truth now... well, i dont think i could. too much fear!!

also, one of the potential offers - and the most imminent - is a smallish company (15-20 staff) and i would be concerned as to who handles payroll etc.

advice i've received from digita taxcentral forum (both from accountant type folks) is to not produce the p45, be issued with a p46 to send off to i.r., which will mean i pay a bit more tax, until year end when its all sorted out. thats my favourite option at the moment. if the offer came from a larger company - then i would be tempted to supply my p45, as it would, as you say, not be seen by those involved in the interview process.

thanks for the advice.

Spendless

When I had a temp xmas job last year I forgot to hand in my P45 from the job I'd packed in a year earlier to have my daughter(not hiding anything, total dizziness on my part).
I then got taxed as though I had 2 jobs. I packed xmas job in after a few shifts (due to Daughters illness). On £91 earnings I got taxed £20.
I recently got this back from taxman by sending off letter and last P45.
What I'm trying to say if I got taxed £20 on £90 earnings. Aren't you likely to struggle on the amount of tax you'll pay until next April (new tax year).especially if yoy've been out of work a few months.
Have you not been claiming JSA? If you have when you inform them you are about to start work it is them that will issue you with a new P45.

Being made redundant is nothing to be ashamed of. Few people nowadays get to the end of their working life without it happening to them.

Good luck

Plumpud_3

As a recently ex-employee of the Inland Revenue I can assure you that you need not worry. You are not obliged to hand in your P45.

When you start work, tell them you haven't yet received the P45 from your last employer yet. Ask them for a P46 to complete, sign it to say it is your only or main job.

That will put you on the emergency tax code, that gives you the normal tax code but on a week 1 or month 1 basis.

You then have two choices. You can either send your P45 to the tax office that deals with your new employer (your new employer will be able to tell you which tax office that is). Ask them to issue a tax code to your new employer, showing the previous pay and tax (as per P45), the new employer will then operate that tax code. They won't know your date of leaving. The only drawback is that if you told your new employer that your previous salary was £24,000p.a. for example, and somebody spotted that your previous pay was only £2,000 not £14,000 as expected, questions might be asked.

Alternatively, if you can afford to, keep your P45 until your new employer issues your P60 after the 5th April 2005. You will also need your P11d if you receive taxable benefits. Send them to your tax office, with a covering letter of explanation and ask for a tax refund. This should give you a lump sum repayment. Unless you come under self assessment, in which case, send your tax return in as soon after the 5/4/05 as you can. You will get your refund automatically.

If you want to PM me, with the pay, tax code number and date of leaving on your P45. Along with your aprox date of starting the new job and expected salary, I can give you an idea of the figures involved. Rest assured, not only am I covered the Official Secrets Act, I'm also covered by the Taxes Acts.

If you are unhappy about PMing me, either phone or call in to your local tax office, they will be able to give you the same information.

I don't condone lying, but I can fully understand why you did this. Research shows time after time, that it is far easier to get another job if you already have one. If you are worried that you may get found out eventually, try looking for a new job once you have been there a while. Some employers would consider this a sackable offence.

I hope it goes well for you.