Two P45’s - Need some advice

S7u

Hi there I’m new to the forum so hi 👋

Looking a bit of advice. I worked i retail for 10 years and was made redundant due the to store closing and I moved to another workplace doing admin work. This new role only lasted 3 weeks as there was many issues, mainly with the people I worked with not being very welcoming. So I left that job after 3 weeks, and I did not have to provide any notice period as stated in my contract within the first 4 weeks.

My issue is, I received a p45 from both jobs after I had already resigned from the second workplace. I now have a new job finally after a long few months and I am unsure which P45 to give them?
Is it going to be an issue if I give them the 3 week job (most recent) if they find out I left. Or will the P45 from my first job be fine? I

I’m more afraid that they will contact the second workplace and ask for a reference, not that I did anything wrong, I just want to keep myself right. Sorry if this is a daft question, thanks for any help.

marlot

Just give the older P45.

Or, if you prefer, you can ask to complete a P46 (now called a new starter checklist, I think).

S7u

Thank you Marlot.

So it doesn’t have to be the most recent p45? They are both within the current tax year.

I guess I could just go the P46 route

Dazed_and_confused

There is nothing to prevent you handing in the first P45 but you should be aware that as a result of doing this you are opening yourself up to the possibilities of,

1. Getting a tax refund from your new employer the first time they pay you.

2. Owing tax back to HMRC at the end of the tax year.

The tax you might owe for 2019:20 (the current tax year) would normally have to be paid throughout the 2021:22 tax year by way of a reduced tax code but in some situations you might have to pay it back all in one go direct to HMRC.

Have you actually looked at the P45's?

If so and you hand in the second one (and only the second one) how do you think your new employer will know you only worked at the second job for a few weeks?

S7u

Thanks for the reply Dazed and Confused.

I have read both P45’s yes and I suppose it doesn’t say anywhere that I only worked a few weeks, my concern would just be if they were to seek a reference from them if I were to use that P45.

I’m not even sure if they would attempt that as I have already put references from my previous job of ten years on my application but I was just a little worried incase they do.

So do you advise I take the most recent one then and just be honest about the situation, or take both and explain?

Apologies, I am new to this as I haven’t had to change jobs very much but I do appreciate your help.

Dazed_and_confused

It's impossible to know what your new employer might ask so maybe the simplest option would be to complete a new starter declaration*.

This will mean you are put on the emergency tax code on a non cumulative basis. If you check your P45 you were probably on the emergency tax code of 1250L so you will notice little difference in the short term.

If you are due a refund HMRC will either send a new tax code to your new employer so they can sort it out through your wages or they (HMRC) will refund you direct after the end of the tax year.


* this replaces the P46 form which was abolished several years ago

marlot

S7u wrote: »

Thank you Marlot.

So it doesn’t have to be the most recent p45? They are both within the current tax year.

I guess I could just go the P46 route

Either way means that the recruitment team don't see your last employer details. If it were me I'd go the new starter declaration.

As said above, it could cause a small tax problem, but in most companies the payroll person/department are unlikely to make an issue of it.

S7u

Thank you both very much for your help, you have put me at ease.

I will fill out the employee start check list rather than have the P45 concern. I will just have to say I can’t find my P45 or I never received it.

Thanks again, its much appreciated

General_Grant

Dazed_and_confused wrote: »

. . .


If so and you hand in the second one (and only the second one) how do you think your new employer will know you only worked at the second job for a few weeks?

As both P45s are available, the second employer did not use the first so would be showing only the income from the second job.

I would expect that if the amount of gross pay is not astronomic then it would indicate a short period of employment.

Only the OP can see the P45s but seeing whether it was BR (and everything was taxed at 20%) would mean that the first P45 would be a more realistic option. However the New Starter Checklist is simple.

General_Grant

S7u wrote: »

Thank you both very much for your help, you have put me at ease.

I will fill out the employee start check list rather than have the P45 concern. I will just have to say I can’t find my P45 or I never received it.

Thanks again, its much appreciated

Don't lie - just say it's simpler for you to fill in the New Starter form.