Can I Get a Copy of My P45 From HMRC?

Table of Contents

Last Updated on: 26th September 2025, 10:14 am

If you’ve recently left a job in the UK, one of the most important documents you’ll need is your P45. But what happens if you lose it or never receive it at all? Can you just contact HMRC for a replacement? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think.

Many people assume HMRC handles duplicate forms, but the truth is that your former employer plays a key role in this process. Understanding how the P45 system works can save you from headaches like emergency tax codes or delays in starting a new job.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about getting a copy of your P45, what to do if it’s lost, and how to stay compliant during job transitions. Let’s clear the confusion and help you get back on track with your tax and employment records.

What Is a P45 and Why Do You Need It?

When you leave a job, your employer is legally required to issue you a P45. This form summarises your income and tax deductions for the tax year up to the point you leave.

It’s split into four parts:

Part 1 is sent to HMRC electronically via Real Time Information (RTI).
Part 1A is for your own records.
Parts 2 and 3 are passed to your new employer or Jobcentre Plus.

The P45 plays a crucial role in ensuring you’re taxed correctly in your next job. Without it, your new employer might use an emergency tax code, which can result in overpaying tax.

Here’s why the P45 matters:

It informs your new employer about your earnings and tax paid.
It helps HMRC update your employment record.
It ensures proper continuation of your National Insurance contributions.
It allows for accurate PAYE tax calculation.

If you’re claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit, you’ll also need to present your P45 to the Jobcentre. For freelancers or those entering self-employment, it helps with tax returns and proof of previous employment. This makes it essential to keep Part 1A of your P45 safe, even if you’ve moved jobs or changed careers.

Can You Get a Replacement P45 from HMRC?

A common question people ask is: Can I get a copy of my P45 from HMRC? Unfortunately, the answer is no. HMRC does not issue duplicate P45 forms due to the sensitive personal data they contain, such as your National Insurance number, tax code, and employment history.

Here’s what you need to understand:

HMRC policy prohibits direct replacement of a lost or missing P45.
This is to protect you from potential identity theft or fraud.
The only entity legally able to re-issue a P45 is your former employer.

Instead of going to HMRC, your best option is to:

Contact your previous employer’s HR or payroll department.
Ask for a digital or physical copy of your P45.
Use a Starter Checklist if the employer is unable or unwilling to help.

If your employer refuses or the company no longer exists, alternative routes include logging into your Personal Tax Account or speaking directly with HMRC to verify your earnings and tax code.

While HMRC cannot recreate your P45, they can share the same information it contains. In summary, the only official source for a replacement P45 is your employer, not HMRC.

What Should You Do If You’ve Lost Your P45?

Losing your P45 can feel overwhelming, especially when starting a new job or applying for benefits. But don’t worry, there are several steps you can take to resolve this quickly and efficiently.

Immediate Steps to Take

As soon as you realise your P45 is missing, act quickly:

Check your email and paperwork for a digital or printed version.
Log into your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK to view your income and tax records.
If you still can’t find it, move on to contacting your previous employer.

When to Contact Your Previous Employer?

Your former employer is legally responsible for issuing the P45 when you leave.

Reach out to them by:

Emailing their HR or payroll department.
Calling the business and asking to speak with payroll.
Providing your full name, National Insurance number, and employment dates.

In many cases, employers can resend your P45 digitally, especially if they use payroll software like Xero or Sage.

Details You Should Provide in Your Request

To ensure a fast response, include the following in your request:

Your full legal name as it appeared on their records.
Your National Insurance number.
Start and end dates of your employment.
A request for a reissue of the P45, specifying whether you’d prefer a PDF or printed copy.

End your email or letter politely and keep a copy for your records. If your employer doesn’t reply within 7 working days, follow up. The sooner you act, the faster you’ll resolve any potential tax issues with your new employer.

How Can You Use a Starter Checklist If You Don’t Have a P45?

If your P45 is lost or unavailable, don’t panic. You can still start a new job and ensure the correct tax code is applied. The key tool in this situation is a Starter Checklist, also known as a “New Starter Form.”

This checklist helps your employer provide HMRC with the information needed to tax you correctly from day one.

What is a Starter Checklist?

The Starter Checklist is a government-provided form that collects essential tax details, including:

Your full name and National Insurance number.
Your current employment status (first job, second job, or returning to work).
Details of any benefits or student loans.
Your expected income.

It serves as a temporary substitute for a P45, and allows employers to apply a provisional tax code until HMRC confirms your details.

How Your New Employer Uses It?

Employers use this form to avoid defaulting to an emergency tax code.

When you submit a completed checklist:

Your employer sends the data to HMRC through RTI.
HMRC then assigns the appropriate tax code.
Your employer updates their payroll system to reflect it.

This ensures your income is taxed fairly even without the original P45.

Avoiding Emergency Tax Codes

Without a P45 or Starter Checklist, you risk being placed on an emergency tax code, such as 1257L W1/M1.

This means:

You may pay more tax than necessary.
Your take-home pay could be significantly lower.
It may take weeks or even months to correct the error.

To prevent this:

Always complete a Starter Checklist if your P45 is missing.
Be honest and detailed when declaring your employment and benefit status.
Double-check your tax code on your first payslip.

Many employers offer the checklist during onboarding, but you can also download it directly from GOV.UK. It’s an effective backup if your previous employer is unresponsive or your P45 is lost permanently.

What Happens If Your Previous Employer Doesn’t Respond?

Not all employers respond promptly, or at all. If you’ve contacted your previous employer and received no reply, don’t give up. There are several ways to move forward and ensure your tax affairs remain in order.

How to Escalate the Situation?

If you’ve made multiple requests and your employer still hasn’t responded:

Send a follow-up email clearly referencing your previous attempts.
Mark your emails as “P45 Request – URGENT” for visibility.
If ignored, you may report the employer to HMRC via the Employer Helpline.

HMRC views the failure to issue a P45 as a breach of employer obligations, and they can intervene or advise your new employer on how to proceed.

Using your Personal Tax Account as an alternative

The GOV.UK Personal Tax Account is an excellent backup tool.

While it won’t show an exact copy of your P45, it provides:

Tax code information
Pay and tax figures
National Insurance contributions
Employer history

To access it, you’ll need to:

Visit gov.uk/personal-tax-account
Sign in or create an account using your Government Gateway ID
Verify your identity using your passport, driving licence or National Insurance details

You can share screenshots or PDFs with your new employer as proof of your previous income and tax paid.

Contacting HMRC to Verify Your Employment and Tax Records

When all else fails, speak to HMRC directly:

Call 0300 200 3300
Provide your full name, National Insurance number, and previous employer details
Ask for assistance in verifying your tax code and earnings

While HMRC won’t issue a new P45, they can help correct your tax code and ensure you don’t end up on an emergency code. You can also request a P800 Tax Calculation later in the year if you believe you’ve overpaid tax due to a missing P45.

What If Your Previous Employer Has Gone Bust or Is Insolvent?

When a company closes down or goes into liquidation, it may seem impossible to get your P45. However, your options are not completely blocked. Even in these circumstances, you can still recover the necessary tax information.

Start by checking if the company is officially insolvent or dissolved. You can confirm this through the Companies House website. If it is in liquidation, there is likely a liquidator or administrator assigned to handle company matters. They may have access to old payroll records, including your P45.

If the liquidator is uncontactable or cannot help, you’re not out of luck. HMRC’s Real Time Information (RTI) system stores employment and tax data, including what would be found in your P45. You can access these details through your Personal Tax Account or by contacting HMRC.

These records can then be shared with your new employer as proof of income and deductions. Though it’s not a formal replacement of your P45, it effectively provides the same essential information. So, even if your old company no longer exists, your tax data doesn’t disappear, and you still have ways to stay compliant.

How Does a P45 Affect Your Tax Code and Pay?

Your P45 directly influences your tax code and how much tax your new employer deducts from your wages. Without it, you could end up paying too much tax due to being placed on an emergency tax code.

The document gives your new employer essential information about:

Your tax code from the previous job
Total earnings for the current tax year
Amount of tax already paid
National Insurance number

If you start a new job without a P45, your employer may apply a temporary tax code (often 1257L W1/M1), which ignores your previous earnings. This can result in a higher monthly deduction.

For example, someone earning £2,000 a month without a P45 could have £114 more taken in tax every month until the error is corrected. Over a few months, that adds up quickly.

With a valid P45, your new employer can continue your correct tax code, helping you avoid overpayment or delays in refunds.

If your code needs to be adjusted later, it usually happens via your payslip or through a P800 reconciliation from HMRC at the end of the tax year. So, having your P45 isn’t just a formality, it has real consequences for your finances.

Why Employers Must Issue a P45 and How They Generate It?

By UK law, employers are required to issue a P45 when an employee leaves a job. This legal obligation ensures that all tax deductions under the PAYE system are correctly documented and transferred to the next employer or to HMRC.

Employers use payroll software such as Xero, Sage, or QuickBooks to create and submit these documents. Since April 2023, the system is entirely digital, and P45s must be submitted via Real Time Information (RTI) directly to HMRC.

After generating the P45, employers are expected to:

Send Part 1 to HMRC electronically
Provide Parts 1A, 2, and 3 to the employee
Do all of this without unreasonable delay, ideally within a few days of your final payslip

If an employer fails to issue a P45, they could face fines or penalties. In some cases, they may be fined up to £3,000 per employee for non-compliance or incorrect payroll reporting.

For businesses with fewer than 10 employees, HMRC offers Basic PAYE Tools for free, ensuring that even small companies can meet their obligations.

Ultimately, issuing a P45 is not optional, it’s a legal requirement that protects both the employer and the employee during job transitions.

What Are the Benefits of Keeping Your P45?

Holding onto your P45 is more important than you might think. This document serves several crucial purposes in your financial life, and losing it can create complications down the road.

Here’s why you should keep your P45 safe:

It proves how much tax you’ve paid during your previous employment.
It allows your new employer to apply the correct tax code, avoiding emergency taxation.
It helps when claiming tax refunds if you’ve overpaid during the year.
It’s useful for completing self-assessment tax returns, especially if you have multiple jobs or sources of income.

In addition, you might need your P45 for:

Benefits applications through Jobcentre Plus
Proving income for mortgage or loan applications
Providing employment history when applying for visas or settling residency issues

According to HMRC, you should keep tax records, including P45s, for at least 22 months after the end of the tax year they relate to. For businesses or self-employed individuals, record-keeping might be required for up to six years.

Even if it seems like a small document, your P45 holds valuable information that could save you time, money, and stress later on. Keeping it safe is just good financial housekeeping.

P45’s Role in 2024–2025 Tax Bands

Understanding how the P45 fits into your tax band can help you avoid being overtaxed or incorrectly coded. The UK tax system for 2024–2025 divides income into bands, each with its own rate. Your P45 allows your new employer and HMRC to place you in the right tax band based on your year-to-date earnings.

Without a P45, employers may not know how much you’ve already earned, causing them to tax you from scratch, often with an emergency code.

Here’s a breakdown of how the P45 aligns with UK tax bands:

Income Range (2024–25)	Tax Rate	P45 Role
£0 – £12,570	0%	Confirms your personal allowance usage
£12,571 – £50,270	20%	Ensures proper application of basic rate
£50,271 – £125,140	40%	Prevents premature application of higher rate tax
£125,141+	45%	Avoids misclassification and over-deductions

Your P45 ensures your taxable income continues smoothly without interruption. It confirms your tax code, which affects how much you’ll take home each month. Keeping your employer informed through this document protects you from surprise deductions or long waits for HMRC refunds.

Step-by-Step: How to Request a P45 from a Previous Employer?

Requesting your P45 doesn’t have to be a hassle if you follow a clear process. Whether you’ve misplaced it or never received it, here’s how to request it effectively from your former employer:

Locate the right contact: Start by finding the contact information for your old employer’s HR or payroll department. This is usually found on your employment contract or past payslips.
Send a formal request: Write a clear and polite email that includes your full name, National Insurance number, Job title, and department (if relevant), and Employment start and end dates. Request for a copy of your P45. Be sure to label your subject line as “P45 Request” for clarity.

Follow up if needed: If there’s no response within five to seven working days: Send a reminder email, Try calling the company directly. Keep a record of all your correspondence

Escalate if necessary: Still no luck? Contact HMRC’s Employer Helpline at 0300 200 3200. They can investigate on your behalf if the employer is non-compliant.

By being proactive, respectful, and thorough, you increase the chances of receiving your P45 promptly, and avoiding costly tax mistakes with your new employer.

Conclusion

Your P45 may be just one piece of paper, but its impact on your finances, tax code, and employment status is significant. Whether you’ve misplaced it, never received it, or your previous employer has gone out of business, you now know what steps to take.

HMRC will not replace your P45, but by contacting your employer or using alternative tools like the Starter Checklist or Personal Tax Account, you can still provide accurate tax information to your new job.

Keeping your tax documents organised is more than good housekeeping, it’s a critical step in protecting your income and avoiding unnecessary stress. Make it a priority to request and retain your P45 every time you change jobs, and you’ll be in a strong position for the tax year ahead.