How to Read Your P60 (Line by Line Guide)
Your P60 arrives every May. It’s one of the most important financial documents you’ll receive — but most people file it away without reading it. Here’s how to read every section, understand what it means, and check the figures are correct.
What is a P60?
A P60 is your end-of-year tax certificate, issued by your employer by 31 May. It covers the full tax year from 6 April to 5 April and shows your total earnings and all deductions. You’ll need it for mortgage applications, tax refunds, visa applications, and self-assessment returns.
How to read your P60 — section by section
Tax year
Shown at the top. The 2025/26 P60 covers 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026.
Employee name and National Insurance number
Check both are correct. An incorrect NI number means your contributions may not be recorded on your HMRC record. Contact payroll immediately if it’s wrong.
Pay in previous employment
If you changed jobs during the tax year and gave your new employer a P45, your pay and tax from the previous role appears here. This does not mean pay from previous tax years — a common misconception.
Pay in this employment
Your gross pay with this employer since 6 April. Check it matches the YTD (year-to-date) gross pay figure on your final payslip of the tax year.
Total for year
Combined pay from this employment and any previous employment shown above. Your income tax is calculated on this figure.
Tax code at 5 April
The tax code in use at the end of the tax year. Most employees will see 1257L, which gives a personal allowance of £12,570. A different code means your allowance was adjusted — check your HMRC Personal Tax Account if you don’t recognise it.
National Insurance contributions
Field 9 on your P60 shows your NI breakdown across earnings bands — at the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL), between LEL and the Primary Threshold, between PT and the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL), and above UEL. The ‘Employees Contribution’ column is the total NI you paid. Employer NI is shown separately for information.
Student loan deductions
If you’re on a repayment plan and earned above your plan’s threshold during the year, your total annual student loan repayment appears here.
Statutory pay
Any statutory maternity pay (SMP), statutory paternity pay (SPP), or statutory sick pay (SSP) received during the year is detailed here.
Employer name, address and PAYE reference
Your employer’s details and their unique HMRC identifier. You’ll need the PAYE reference if you contact HMRC about your tax, claim a refund, or complete a self-assessment return.
How to check your P60 is correct
The simplest check: your P60 totals should match the YTD figures on your final payslip (usually March or April). Compare gross pay, income tax, and NI. Use the free P60 Calculator to see what your figures should be based on your salary and tax code.
→ Free P60 Calculator — check every field
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘pay in previous employment’ mean on my P60?
If you changed jobs during the tax year and gave your new employer your P45, your previous employer’s pay and tax figures are carried forward. This section shows those figures. It does not mean pay from previous tax years.
Why does my P60 show a different tax code to my payslips?
Your P60 shows the tax code at 5 April — the last day of the tax year. If your code changed during the year, earlier payslips will show a different code.
What if my P60 figures don’t match my payslip?
Contact your payroll department immediately with both documents. Your employer can submit a corrected submission to HMRC and reissue your P60 if there’s an error.
Where is the employer PAYE reference on my P60?
Usually shown near the employer name and address, in the format 123/AB456. You’ll need it when contacting HMRC about your tax position.
This post is for general information only and does not constitute financial or tax advice.