P45 & Omitting Position

bitteorca

Hi all,

I am currently at a company which I really don't like, and wish to make a move. Without going into too much detail, I believe I will get a bad reference or something else that may put-off a potential employer who asks for references. This isn't because of my performance (I've had a performance review and actually scored well with good feedback), but is because of the culture of the company. I've heard stories so far, and sounds that not many people leave gracefully. And whilst I've been there, someone has called for a reference request, and the person giving it went into another room really secretively. It pretty much sums up the place when I am scared that I will get a bad reference despite performing well.

Anyway, I know you may not recommend this, but if I wanted to omit this position from my CV (around 6 months), and just put 'travelling' on my CV to fill this space (I actually did a month away anyway, so could show a boarding pass etc. if new employer wanted to see proof), what are the implications when I need to submit a P45 to my new employer? I don't know much about the tax side, so if someone could advise. What does a P45 show? If the P45 gives this away, is there a way round this?

Appreciate your help

HappyMJ

You don't have to hand in a P45. You'll be taxed on a basic rate code and can claim any overpayment of tax back from HMRC at the end of the tax year.

agrinnall

What HappyMJ says could happen, but the new employer should really ask you to complete a New Starter Checklist (equivalent to the old P46) which will be submitted to HMRC so that they can issue the correct tax code. You may be put on the emergency tax code initially, although as this is the same as the standard tax code it may end up being correct anyway, but even if you do pay incorrect tax in early pay periods it should get sorted out in subsequent ones without you needing to do anything. The only time this might not work is if you were changing jobs close to the end of the tax year.

robatwork

They can't give you a bad reference if you've done nothing bad.
Well, they can, but that can mean an awful lot of trouble for them if they stray off absolute factual information.

If you turned up on time, didn't get disciplined and did your job you should be safe.

Even if your reference is just start and end dates that isn't necessarily construed as bad. If they put anything on there that isn't verifiable you can sue/tribunal 'em.

t0rt0ise

When I was offered my present position, which is nothing great, they wanted proof of every job and gap of employment over the last three years. I had to call the tax office and get a statement of employment from them showing what jobs I'd had and so on. I then had to prove by other means that I hadn't worked during any gaps shown. I had to send bank statements, wage slips and all sorts of things. Had I left out a job I'd have got caught. So it doesn't always work.

Mersey_2

Going into another room was presumably just to maintain confidentiality. If anything, I'd be more worried if they'd broadcast it so the whole team could hear.


As others have said, no need for a P45 and most haven't arrived in time for a new job anyway, so not handing one in isn't suspicious.


These days, most Refs tend to simply list month and year of start and end dates, salary together with Job Title(s), as well as eg 'resignation' for reason for leaving.

Moneysaver199

Could you not just direct any reference to the HR department, assuming there is one? That way it would be an HR reference only - ie xxxx worked at xxx in position of xxxx from xxxx to xxxx.

People can be mean but it will often come back and bite them!