Overview: How long to keep your tax records in the UK: a plain guide
Keep your P60 and your P45 with your other pay and tax papers. If you fill in a Self Assessment return, keep them for at least 22 months after the end of the tax year the return is for.
For the full picture, see our guide to keeping tax records in the UK.
At a glance
| Document | What it shows | Keep it |
|---|---|---|
| P60 | Pay and tax for the tax year (6 April to 5 April), from a job you hold on 5 April | At least 22 months after the tax year, if you file a return |
| P45 | Pay and tax up to the date you left a job | At least 22 months after the tax year, if you file a return |
| Payslips | Pay and deductions each pay period | Keep them with the P60 for the same period |
What each document is for
A P60 shows the tax you have paid on your salary in the tax year. You get one for each job you hold on 5 April. It helps you claim back overpaid tax, and it is accepted as proof of income when you apply for a loan or a mortgage.
A P45 is given to you when you leave a job. It shows your pay and tax up to the date you left, and you pass it to your next employer.
GOV.UK lists your P45, your P60 and any P11D form among the records an employee should keep. The retention period itself comes from the page on how long to keep your records.
When you get them
If you are working for your employer on 5 April, they must give you a P60 by 31 May, on paper or electronically. If it has not arrived, ask your employer first.
If you lose one
Ask your employer for a replacement. If they cannot provide it, GOV.UK says you can see the information in your personal tax account or the HMRC app, or contact HMRC and ask for the information that would be on the P60. Details are on the P60 page.
Special cases
You change jobs during the year. You will have a P45 from the job you left and a P60 from the job you hold on 5 April. Keep both.
You do not file a return. GOV.UK does not give a separate period for that case on these pages. Keeping the P60 for a few years is a sensible habit, because lenders often ask for proof of income.
How to stay organised
Scan each payslip as it arrives and file it by tax year. Add the P60 in May, and the P45 whenever you leave a job.
With Coffrio, each document is filed automatically under Work, and you can set a reminder for the date a year of paperwork can be thrown away.
Sources
Keeping your pay and tax records: employees, how long to keep your records and P60, GOV.UK, consulted on 20 September 2026.
Coffrio reminds you before the date
Scan a document once, note its deadline, and Coffrio tells you when it matters. Private, organized, always with you.
Frequently asked questions
When must my employer give me a P60?
If you are working for the employer on 5 April, they must give you a P60 by 31 May, on paper or electronically.
What can I use a P60 for?
It shows the tax you have paid on your salary in the tax year. You can use it to claim back overpaid tax, or as proof of income when you apply for a loan or a mortgage.
What if I lose my P60?
Ask your employer for a replacement. If they cannot provide one, you can see the information in your personal tax account or the HMRC app, or contact HMRC and ask for the information that would be on the P60.
General information, up to date as of 20 September 2026. It does not replace legal advice. Coffrio is not affiliated with any government body.
