As an employee you tend to meet your responsibilities to the UK tax system via PAYE.

However, there can be instances when submitting a tax return can be the best move for reducing the amount of tax you have to pay or because you are obliged to under HMRC rules. This might apply where you are employed and:

  • You are self employed or in a partnership
  • You are a company director
  • You have savings or investment income
  • You have untaxed savings or investment income
  • You own land or property that is being let
  • Your household receives Child Benefit and you have income in excess of £50,000
  • You have income from overseas
  • You have sold or given an asset away (such as a holiday home or some shares)
  • You’ve lived or worked abroad or aren’t domiciled in the UK

Even if some of these activities do not generate a profit (such as rental properties or self employment), completing a tax return may be compulsory and even when a tax return is not required, it could lower your tax bill and therefore voluntarily completing one can be beneficial.

P60 – End of Year Certificate

Your P60 shows your total gross earnings and tax paid in the financial year. Your P60 should also show amounts relating to previous employments in that same tax year. You are entitled to this form from your employer by 31st May following the relevant tax year- even if you left employment with them during that same tax year.

You may need a P60 to:

  • Complete a tax return- which can be obligatory depending on your circumstances- for instance, if you have income over £100,000.
  • Claim back tax or National Insurance you may have overpaid
  • Apply for tax credits

P11D and P9D – Expenses Payments and Benefits

Forms P11D or P9D show any taxable expenses and benefits that have been provided by your employer. These could include items such as company cars, accommodation, low-interest/ interest-free loans and medical insurances.

If you receive such benefits, you are entitled to receive a copy of the P11D or P9D (or at least details of what was included on the form) by 6th July following the end of the relevant tax year.

What to do if you don’t have the forms

Lost P60

If you’ve lost your P60, your employer should be able to supply you with a duplicate.

P11D/ P9D

If you lose your copy of form P11D or P9D, your employer should be able to let you have another one. If they can’t, HMRC should be able to supply you with a copy.

Penny Lane Accountants can do a number of things for taxpayers that receive most or all of the income from employment, such as:

  • Prepare your tax return and check your tax position for you, because you suspect the tax collected by your employer(s) was too high/ low
  • Prepare your tax return because you have some untaxed income from savings/ properties or you have income in excess of £100,000.
  • Support you in making a claim for a tax refund from HMRC
  • Continuously check your tax code to ensure it is appropriate – meaning the tax collected on behalf of your employer each period is correct. Checking tax codes where you have multiple employments can be particularly important, as errors can often occur in such circumstances
  • If you have incurred expenses as a result of being employed, we can complete the claim form or tax return for you in order for you to obtain tax relief on them. This might be for items such as business mileage (this excludes commuting to your normal place of work), hotel accommodation/ meals/ business phone calls and professional subscriptions