P60s: What Employers Must Do by 31 May

If you have employees on your payroll at the end of the tax year, you’re legally required to give them a P60 by 31 May. Miss it, and you risk HMRC penalties. Here’s what you need to know. 

Key Takeaways

• If you have employees on your payroll as of 5 April, you must issue them a P60 by 31 May as it’s a legal requirement.

• Missing the deadline or providing incorrect information can lead to HMRC penalties, so it pays to get it right the first time.

What Is a P60 and Who Needs One?

A P60 is a yearly summary of pay and tax that employers must give to current employees by 31 May.

It basically summarises your employee's total pay and deductions for the tax year, including:

• Total earnings

• Income tax paid

• National Insurance contributions

• Student loan repayments (if applicable)

• Statutory payments like maternity or paternity pay

This is the official P60 form used to report year-end pay and tax totals for each employee.

Who Needs a P60?

• Employees - Anyone employed by you on 5 April of the tax year must receive a P60.

• Limited Company Directors - If you pay yourself a salary through your company, you should issue a P60 to yourself.

• Multiple Employers - Employees who work for more than one employer should receive a separate P60 from each.

Who Doesn't Need a P60?

• Former Employees - Individuals who left your employment before 5 April receive a P45 instead.

• Self-Employed Individuals - Sole traders and freelancers who don't pay themselves a salary through PAYE don't receive a P60.

• Contractors - Those working through an umbrella company will receive a P60 from that company, not from you.

Employer Responsibilities and the Deadline

If you have any employees on your payroll as of 5 April, you're legally required to give them a P60 by 31 May. 

Employers are required to provide this form to their employees by 31 May following the end of the tax year (which runs from 6 April to 5 April).

Your responsibilities include:

✅ Issuing the P60 on time - either digitally or on paper

✅ Making sure all figures are accurate (total pay, tax, NI)

✅ Keeping records for at least 3 years in case HMRC asks

Failing to meet the deadline can lead to HMRC penalties, and employees may face issues if they need their P60 for tax refunds or financial applications.

Feeling the pressure of the 31 May deadline? JAFA takes the stress out of issuing P60s - accurate, on time, and HMRC-compliant. Book a QUICK FREE CALL and get it sorted before it turns into a problem. We’ll even answer common questions like "Can I get a copy of my P60 from HMRC?" so you’re never left guessing.

What We Think

P60s are one of those tasks that seem simple until you miss the deadline or realise the figures aren’t quite right. For many small businesses, especially those without a dedicated payroll department, the end-of-year reporting pressure can build up fast.

We think the system assumes too much that every business owner has the time, tools, or payroll knowledge to issue P60s accurately and on time. But for sole traders and small employers, especially those doing it all themselves, it’s easy to overlook.

In our experience, most mistakes happen not because employers don’t care, but because they’re juggling too much. And once you fall behind, penalties from HMRC only add to the stress.

How JAFA Can Help

At JAFA, we know how easy it is for payroll tasks like issuing P60s to slip through the cracks, especially when you’re managing everything else in your business. That’s why our payroll services are built with small business owners and sole traders in mind.

We take care of year-end reports, including P60s, so you don’t have to worry about deadlines or HMRC penalties. Our system ensures everything is accurate, submitted on time, and compliant with current regulations.

Whether you need ongoing payroll support or just help getting organised before 31 May, we’re here to help. If you’d rather not deal with the stress of P60 deadlines, book a QUICK FREE CALL with our professional team without any pressure, just practical support to get it sorted.