Previous employer refusing to provide P60

stevereading2023

Hi there

I’ve been trying to get hold of my P60 from a previous employer (whom I was only with for just over a year). They have given me numerous excuses for why it can’t be provided (including that the company went through a merger over the tax year change, so it couldn’t be generated).

But the latest reason is that I apparently have to have been employed for 2 years with them to get one, which seems like nonsense to me. I can’t find any information online which says this. 

Does anyone have more knowledge about this? I believe the 2 year thing to be rubbish. And they have a legal obligation to provide it.

And if they cant, is there another way of getting one? 

stevereading2023

For context, I was a contractor (and was for many years) before I took this role so I’m not so hot on employment stuff like this. 

Mark_d

@stevereading2023 you may find this useful:

https://www.axa.co.uk/articles/business-guardian-angel/finance-and-legal/an-employers-guide-to-p60s/

Penguin_

stevereading2023 said:

Hi there

I’ve been trying to get hold of my P60 from a previous employer (whom I was only with for just over a year). They have given me numerous excuses for why it can’t be provided (including that the company went through a merger over the tax year change, so it couldn’t be generated).

But the latest reason is that I apparently have to have been employed for 2 years with them to get one, which seems like nonsense to me. I can’t find any information online which says this. 

Does anyone have more knowledge about this? I believe the 2 year thing to be rubbish. And they have a legal obligation to provide it.

And if they cant, is there another way of getting one? 

Were you employed on the 5th April of the tax year in question?

BoGoF

As just asked, were you employed at the 5 April for the year you have asked for it? Did you get a P45 when you left?

Why do you need it? If for a mortgage then maybe get HMRC to confirm your earnings? But I would check my Personal Tax Account to see exactly HMRC hold for you from this employer.

Undervalued

stevereading2023 said:

Hi there

I’ve been trying to get hold of my P60 from a previous employer (whom I was only with for just over a year). They have given me numerous excuses for why it can’t be provided (including that the company went through a merger over the tax year change, so it couldn’t be generated).

But the latest reason is that I apparently have to have been employed for 2 years with them to get one, which seems like nonsense to me. I can’t find any information online which says this. 

Does anyone have more knowledge about this? I believe the 2 year thing to be rubbish. And they have a legal obligation to provide it.

And if they cant, is there another way of getting one? 

Indeed they do.

However that is not the same thing as there being an easy, cost effective and practical way of forcing then to provide one!

Sadly it is one of many situations, both with employment and other areas of life, where whilst there may be a right but there isn't really a way.

Marcon

stevereading2023 said:

Hi there

I’ve been trying to get hold of my P60 from a previous employer (whom I was only with for just over a year). They have given me numerous excuses for why it can’t be provided (including that the company went through a merger over the tax year change, so it couldn’t be generated).

But the latest reason is that I apparently have to have been employed for 2 years with them to get one, which seems like nonsense to me. I can’t find any information online which says this. 

Does anyone have more knowledge about this? I believe the 2 year thing to be rubbish. And they have a legal obligation to provide it.

And if they cant, is there another way of getting one? 

They are clearly talking garbage.

If you were in employment on the last day of a tax year (5 April), you're entitled to a P60 - but there's nothing 'special' about actually have a P60 form, however hard some parties might argue otherwise. Convenient, yes...

Have you looked at your personal tax account? https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account That should enable you to access the information. If not, ask HMRC to confirm it.

General_Grant

stevereading2023 said:

Hi there

I’ve been trying to get hold of my P60 from a previous employer (whom I was only with for just over a year). They have given me numerous excuses for why it can’t be provided (including that the company went through a merger over the tax year change, so it couldn’t be generated).

But the latest reason is that I apparently have to have been employed for 2 years with them to get one, which seems like nonsense to me. I can’t find any information online which says this. 

Does anyone have more knowledge about this? I believe the 2 year thing to be rubbish. And they have a legal obligation to provide it.

And if they cant, is there another way of getting one? 

If one of the reasons given was that you were not employed by them on 5 April then that  was the  reason that no P60 was generated.

So who were you employed by on 5 April?  If you weren't an employee of any organisation on that day then no P60 is due.

Intoodeep

Correct P45 far  more important IMHO

Marcon

Intoodeep said:

Correct P45 far  more important IMHO

P45 not important when completing a New Starter form will deal with the absence of one.

Savvy_Sue

Another point to remember is that the employer has no duty to provide a copy or duplicate P60 if the employee has misplaced or not accessed one which was 'provided' at the correct time.

So, if you did not 'receive' one despite being employed on 5th April, was it available on your payroll portal and you simply failed to save it in a personal location?