Tell HMRC about a new employee

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Late P45 or starter checklist

You may need to update your payroll records if your employee gives you a P45 or starter checklist after you’ve registered them with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

You only need a starter checklist from your employee to work out their tax code if either:

  • they do not have a P45
  • they left their last job before 6 April 2023

If HMRC has sent you a tax code

Use the tax code that HMRC has sent you if your employee gives you a P45 or starter checklist after you’ve first paid them. Deduct any student loan repayments from the date your employee started with you.

If HMRC has not sent you a code

Late P45

Use your employee’s P45 to work out their tax code and update their details in your payroll software.

If your employee left their last job after 5 April 2023, you should also update both of the following fields in your payroll software:

  • ‘Total pay to date’
  • ‘Total tax to date’

Do this for the first week you included this information. If your software finds errors, update the fields with the correct figures.

Late starter checklist

Use your employee’s starter checklist to update the starter declaration in your payroll records.

Keep using the tax code you used in your first Full Payment Submission (FPS) until HMRC sends you a new one.

When you next pay your employee

Do not enter another start date on the FPS, even if you have not reported a start date before.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Employ someone: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check your business is ready to employ staff

    1. Prepare your business to take on employees

  2. Step 2 Recruit someone

    You need to advertise the role and interview candidates. You can use a recruitment agency to do this or do it yourself.

    1. Find out about recruiting someone yourself on Acas
    2. Find out about using a recruitment agency

    As an employer you must make sure you recruit employees fairly.

    1. Avoid discrimination during recruitment
    2. Make your application process accessible for employees with disabilities or health conditions

  3. and Check they have the right to work in the UK

    1. Find out how to check an applicant's right to work

  4. and Find out if they need a DBS check

    You may need to check someone's criminal record, for example, if they'll be working in healthcare or with children.

    1. Find out if you need a DBS check
    2. How to do a DBS check

  5. Step 3 Check if they need to be put into a workplace pension

    Check if you need to put your employee into a workplace pension scheme:

  6. Step 4 Agree a contract and salary

    When someone accepts a job offer they have a contract with you as their employer.

    1. Check what the National Minimum Wage is for different ages
    2. Check what the National Minimum Wage is for different types of work
    3. Check what to include in a contract
    4. Agree a written statement of employment particulars

  7. Step 5 Tell HMRC about your new employee

    You must tell HMRC about your new employee on or before their first pay day.

    1. Tell HMRC about a new employee
    2. Get their personal details and P45 to work out their tax code
    3. You are currently viewing: If you don’t have their P45, use HMRC’s ‘starter checklist’
    4. Check what to do when you start paying your employee