Can a new employer find out about salary + bonuses + shares from an old employer?

pertyallthetime

Hi there,

I have a dilemma. A prospective employer has got in touch with me to tell me that they are going to make me an offer for a new job. However, before they do this, they asked for a full disclosure of my salary, bonus etc in my current employment. I have told the truth about my base salary, but I exaggerated my cash bonus (by a few grand) and stock bonus (I gave a figure double what I actually get).

I regret lying about this because I want the job, but it was clear to me the new company was going to make an offer based on my existing deal. My reasoning for exaggerating the share bonus was that in my mind, it seems like a difficult thing to verify for a prospective employer.

My question is: can the new company find out about my share bonuses? I know they can work out if I have told the truth about my current salary and cash bonus (combined) through my P45/60, but will they be able to verify my shares bonus? My shares are taxed at source and the taxed shares are withheld so do not appear on my payslip.

Is it possible this new company would contact the HR dept of my current employer without my knowing and ask them for details of my share bonus? And if so, are my employers obliged to give this information?

Polly

AJ1982

I dont think I have ever told the truth, I always bump my salary by at least 10-15% so please dont feel bad about this.

My experience is as follows...

P45 will only show tax YTD from April, so any bonuses or shares "may simply not have been paid yet" or they "have been paid last tax year". IMO (Correct me if Im wrong) is the P45 is just to make sure the correct Tax payments are applied for remainder of year. It is also likely the person who reads/understands the P45 will just be a payroll person, who will not be party to the original conversations (lies) between you and your new boss.

I also do not believe there is any method for a potential employer to access your tax information from past jobs, even the coding notices from HMRC state "This is your code, we tell your employer, but we dont tell them why"

My advice, sit back, relax and enjoy your new job.

pioneer22

pertyallthetime wrote: »

Hi there,

I have a dilemma. A prospective employer has got in touch with me to tell me that they are going to make me an offer for a new job. However, before they do this, they asked for a full disclosure of my salary, bonus etc in my current employment. I have told the truth about my base salary, but I exaggerated my cash bonus (by a few grand) and stock bonus (I gave a figure double what I actually get).

I regret lying about this because I want the job, but it was clear to me the new company was going to make an offer based on my existing deal. My reasoning for exaggerating the share bonus was that in my mind, it seems like a difficult thing to verify for a prospective employer.

My question is: can the new company find out about my share bonuses? I know they can work out if I have told the truth about my current salary and cash bonus (combined) through my P45/60, but will they be able to verify my shares bonus? My shares are taxed at source and the taxed shares are withheld so do not appear on my payslip.

Is it possible this new company would contact the HR dept of my current employer without my knowing and ask them for details of my share bonus? And if so, are my employers obliged to give this information?

Polly

In my experience company bonuses are hush hush so I wouldnt worry. Breach of data protection anyway.

bap98189

The answer is that yes they can. Often simply by writing to your old employer asking for confirmation of your salary, bonus etc. This used to be really common, as part of a reference request, and we still occasionally get such requests sent to us. Our company policy is that we will not disclose that information without the individual's consent, but I have no idea how your current employer would deal with such a request.

Undervalued

bap98189 wrote: »

The answer is that yes they can. Often simply by writing to your old employer asking for confirmation of your salary, bonus etc. This used to be really common, as part of a reference request, and we still occasionally get such requests sent to us. Our company policy is that we will not disclose that information without the individual's consent, but I have no idea how your current employer would deal with such a request.

Indeed.

Of course, if consent is refused the potential new employer is very likely to conclude that the applicant has been "over egging the pudding" or in other words lying!

It is worth keeping in mind that deliberately making a false statement in order to secure employment or a higher salary is a serious crime. It used to be called attempting to obtain a pecuniary advantage by deception but it is much simpler now - fraud!

GingerBob_3

Undervalued wrote: »

Indeed.

Of course, if consent is refused the potential new employer is very likely to conclude that the applicant has been "over egging the pudding" or in other words lying!

It is worth keeping in mind that deliberately making a false statement in order to secure employment or a higher salary is a serious crime. It used to be called attempting to obtain a pecuniary advantage by deception but it is much simpler now - fraud!

Murder is a serious crime. This one is about as serious as parking on double yellow lines.