Can I Get a Copy of My P60 From HMRC?

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Last Updated on: 29th September 2025, 05:31 am

Have you recently realised that your P60 has gone missing just when you need it most? Whether you’re applying for a mortgage, claiming a tax refund or simply managing your records, losing this essential document can feel stressful.

You’re not alone in wondering whether HMRC can help you recover a copy of your P60. It’s actually more common than you’d think, and the good news is, there are ways to get the information you need.

In the UK, a P60 is a vital piece of financial documentation summarising your annual income and the tax you’ve paid. If it goes missing, knowing what steps to take next is key.

This blog will guide you through the process of replacing or retrieving your P60, including what HMRC can and cannot do, how to use your online tax account, and what to do if all else fails.

What Is a P60 and Why Is It Important?

Your P60 is a summary of your taxable income and the tax you’ve paid over the previous tax year, which runs from 6 April to 5 April.

If you are employed on the last day of the tax year (5 April), your employer is legally required to issue this document by 31 May. This form is not just a tax record, it’s a crucial piece of paperwork used across many financial and legal processes.

The information a P60 contains includes:

Your total earnings from that employer for the year
The total Income Tax and National Insurance contributions deducted
Your tax code and PAYE reference number
Student loan repayments (if applicable)

You’ll need your P60 for several important purposes:

To apply for a mortgage or rental
As proof of income for visa or loan applications
To claim a tax rebate
To verify contributions and income history

Keeping it safe is critical, but if you lose it, you do have options to access the same information. It’s a legal requirement for employers to provide it and retain a record for at least three years, so your first step should always be to contact them. But if that doesn’t work, there are other routes.

What Should You Do If You’ve Lost Your P60?

Losing your P60 can be frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of a tax return, loan application or financial review.

However, it’s a common issue, and thankfully there are practical steps to help recover the information it contains. The best approach depends on how long ago you received the document and whether your employer still holds a record.

Start with your current or former employer. Employers are required to keep a record of your P60 for a minimum of three years. If it’s a recent tax year, chances are they can provide you with a duplicate.

When contacting them, provide:

Your full name
National Insurance number
Dates of employment
Approximate date you received the original P60

If your employer cannot help due to business closure or data loss, there are alternatives. You can log into your Personal Tax Account on the HMRC website, which stores many key details from your employment records.

If that doesn’t work, you can contact HMRC directly for a summary of your annual earnings and tax paid. It may not be a replica of the original P60, but it can serve the same purpose for most applications.

Whatever you do, act promptly. Missing documents can delay important financial processes and create unnecessary stress. Recovery is possible, and you’re not without options.

Can HMRC Send You a Replacement P60?

Many people naturally assume HMRC can issue another copy of their P60 if it’s lost. However, it’s important to understand that HMRC does not provide replacement copies of original P60 forms.

Only your employer has the authority and records to reissue this specific document. What HMRC can do, though, is offer a solution that provides the same key details.

Instead of issuing a new P60, HMRC can supply a summary of your income and tax for the relevant year. This document is often accepted by lenders, landlords, and for tax return purposes.

It includes:

Total earnings from each employer
Income Tax paid
National Insurance contributions
Employment start and end dates (if applicable)

To request this from HMRC, you can either:

Call their helpline with your National Insurance number
Use the HMRC app or online services
Write a formal request via post

It may take a few weeks to receive the summary if you’re doing it by post. While this summary isn’t an identical copy of your P60, it’s often functionally sufficient for proof of income or tax verification purposes.

Always explain to the requesting party that you’ve received an HMRC-issued tax summary, which confirms the same figures reported on your original P60.

How Do You Use Your Personal Tax Account to Find P60 Details?

Your Personal Tax Account (PTA) is the most convenient tool for retrieving the information found on your P60. It’s an online dashboard provided by HMRC that securely stores your tax and income data. If you’ve lost your P60, this should be your first digital stop before making phone calls or writing letters.

To access your Personal Tax Account:

Visit the official HMRC website and log in using your Government Gateway credentials
If you haven’t registered, you’ll need your National Insurance number and a form of ID
Once logged in, navigate to the section labelled “Pay As You Earn (PAYE)”

Inside your PTA, you’ll be able to view:

Employment history
Annual income summaries
Income Tax and National Insurance details
Information typically found on a P60

This information can be downloaded or printed and often accepted as a substitute when applying for mortgages, loans or tax rebates.

The accuracy and security of your PTA make it a reliable alternative when your physical P60 has been lost or never received. Make sure you keep your login credentials safe and update your personal details if anything changes.

The platform is free, easy to use, and accessible 24/7. It’s a great way to stay on top of your financial records, especially during tax season or while gathering documentation for applications.

What Are Your Alternatives If You Still Can’t Get a Copy?

If both your employer and HMRC can’t provide the original document and your Personal Tax Account doesn’t contain the needed details, you still have a few alternatives to retrieve the information usually found in a P60.

While these won’t replace the official form, they may serve as acceptable substitutes depending on your specific need.

Here are your options:

Earnings Statement from HMRC: Request a full earnings and tax summary, which outlines your income and tax paid for a specific tax year
Payslips for the Final Month of the Tax Year: Your last payslip from March or April can offer a fairly accurate reflection of your total earnings and tax contributions
Third-Party Payslip Services: Some legitimate services can create duplicate P60 documents based on your historical payslip data, though they must be used cautiously
Bank Statements: These can help support your claims by showing salary deposits over the financial year

If you’re applying for a mortgage or loan, confirm whether the financial institution will accept these substitutes. Sometimes, providing multiple documents together (such as payslips and a tax summary) will be enough.

It’s always worth contacting the organisation requesting the P60 and explaining your situation. Most institutions are familiar with these scenarios and may offer alternative verification methods.

How Long Are P60s Kept on Record?

Understanding how long your P60 is retained is crucial for managing your financial history and accessing your documents when needed.

Legally, employers in the UK must keep employee P60 records for a minimum of three years. This requirement is set by HMRC and helps ensure employees can obtain duplicates when necessary.

However, it’s a good habit to store your own copies for longer, especially if you’re:

Self-employed
Frequently changing jobs
Applying for mortgages or loans
Engaging in long-term tax planning

Employers may keep records digitally or in physical archives. If you’ve lost a P60, your first point of contact should be your employer, particularly if it’s been less than three years. For older records, the likelihood of retrieval decreases if the business has changed ownership or ceased trading.

HMRC also stores data from your P60 in digital format, although they cannot send a direct duplicate of the form. They can, however, provide the earnings data it contained, even for prior years, which can still be beneficial.

To be proactive, always keep a digital backup of important financial documents. Scan paper versions and store them in a secure cloud account. This can save you from unnecessary delays or complications when you need access to your income records quickly.

What’s the Difference Between a P60 and a P45?

It’s common to confuse a P60 with a P45, especially if you’ve recently changed jobs or lost one of these documents. Both are important PAYE forms, but they serve different purposes and are issued at different times.

A P60 is provided at the end of the tax year and summarises your total earnings and deductions from that specific job. You’ll receive one from each employer you worked with on 5 April. It’s used for long-term financial records, loan applications, and verifying tax payments.

On the other hand, a P45 is issued when you leave a job.

It shows:

Your income and tax paid up to your leave date
Your tax code
The employer’s PAYE details
Your National Insurance number

The P45 comes in four parts:

Part 1: Sent to HMRC by your employer
Part 1A: You keep for your own records
Parts 2 and 3: Given to your new employer or Jobcentre

If you’re applying for benefits or moving to a new job, a P45 ensures that your new employer continues with the correct tax code. Both forms are important for managing your taxes correctly, and keeping them safe ensures you’re always prepared during tax season or major life events.

Conclusion

Losing your P60 might feel like a major inconvenience, but as you’ve now seen, it’s a problem with several practical solutions. While HMRC won’t send a duplicate, your employer is the first place to check. If that’s not possible, your Personal Tax Account and HMRC’s tax summary service can give you the exact information you need.

Understanding how these documents work, where to retrieve their data, and what your options are can save you time and stress. By keeping digital records, checking your online tax account regularly, and being aware of legal record-keeping requirements, you can stay ahead of any future issues.

Ultimately, your financial documents are key to many parts of life. So even if one goes missing, there’s no need to panic. With the right steps, you can always find a reliable way to prove your income and tax history.