The P45 form: how to get one for your Self Assessment tax return

The P45 form is a statement that summarises how much tax your employer paid in the current tax year.

Your employer has to give you one when you leave or change jobs.

You should receive two copies of it:

• one for yourself
• and another for your future employer.

What’s in a P45 form

• your National Insurance number
• when you left work
• how much you earned in the given tax year
• how much income tax and National Insurance your employer paid for you
• your details and your employer’s
• and your most recent tax code.

What does a P45 look like

There is no standard format for it (each may look a bit different), but the minimum information on it is always the same.

What do you need a P45 for

• preparing your personal Self Assessment tax return
• to give it to your new employer (if you’ve changed jobs)
• for your tax records (to handle possible tax disputes).