Your P60 Explained — UK Guide 2025/26

Your P60 is one of the most important documents you hold — but most workers never check it properly. This guide walks you through every section and shows you exactly what to look for.

Every UK employee receives a P60 by 31 May each year. It shows your total pay, tax, and National Insurance for the complete tax year — and HMRC uses it to calculate your tax position.

But most workers file it away without a second glance. That's a mistake.

Errors on your P60 can affect your tax bill, your benefit claims, and your mortgage applications. This guide from WorkWise Voice walks you through every section of the P60 in plain English — so you know exactly what you're looking at and what to do if something doesn't add up.

What's inside:

✓ All 8 P60 sections annotated with a real worked example

✓ How to cross-check your P60 against your payslips

✓ Tax code check — what 1257L means and what to do if yours is different

✓ National Insurance contributions explained by earnings band

✓ Statutory payments — what's included in your total pay figure

✓ Watch For callouts on every section

✓ Scotland-specific tax code guidance (S1257L and the five-band system)

✓ What to do if your P60 figures don't match your payslips

Format: PDF — 2 pages — instant download

Edition: UK 2025/26

WorkWise Voice — Independent Workplace Guidance | workwisevoice.co.uk