What Happens If I Lose My Payslip or P60? A Complete Guide 21 Aug 2025

What Happens If I Lose My Payslip or P60? A Complete Guide

Losing a payslip or P60 can feel overwhelming. These documents are essential for tracking your earnings, tax deductions, National Insurance contributions, and other financial details. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to recover your information — and prevent the problem in the future.

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Table of Contents

1. What happens if I lose my payslip?

2. Ask your employer for a duplicate

3. Use bank statements to check earnings

4. Contact HMRC for official records

5. Understand the consequences of losing payslips

6. How to keep your payslips safe in the future

7. FAQs

1. What Happens If I Lose My Payslip?

A missing payslip or P60 doesn’t mean you’re left without proof of income. Employers, HMRC, and even your bank records can help you restore the details you need.

???? Related: Are digital payslips legal in the UK?

2. Ask Your Employer for a Duplicate Payslip

If you’ve lost a payslip or P60, the first step is to contact your employer’s payroll department. Most companies can reissue duplicates, and some may even provide them electronically for convenience.

???? Related: Can an employer refuse to give payslips?

3. Use Bank Statements to Check Earnings

If a duplicate is not available, your bank statements will reflect your employer’s deposits. By reviewing your income payments, you can estimate your earnings. While not as detailed as a payslip, this method helps track your salary.

4. Contact HMRC for Official Records

For lost P60s or when detailed tax information is needed, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can provide a summary of your tax and National Insurance contributions. This ensures your financial records remain accurate and compliant.

5. Understand the Consequences of Losing a Payslip or P60

Misplacing these documents can cause issues when you need:

• Credit applications – Loans and credit cards often require proof of income.

• Mortgage approval – Lenders usually request multiple payslips or a P60.

• Benefit claims – Universal Credit and other benefits may require proof of employment income.

???? Related: How long should you keep your payslips?

6. How to Keep Your Payslips Safe in the Future

To prevent future stress, safeguard your payslips and P60s with these tips:

• Create a payslip file – Store all your records in one secure location.

• Make digital copies – Scan or photograph payslips for backup.

• Use electronic payslips – Save securely on your computer or cloud storage.

???? Related: Benefits of switching to digital payslips

7. FAQs

Q: Can I request a copy of my payslip from my employer?
Yes. Employers are legally required to provide payslips and can issue duplicates if requested.

Q: How long should I keep my payslips or P60s?
Keep them for at least 3 years, though many people store them longer for financial records.

Q: What if my employer refuses to provide a duplicate?
You can use your bank statements to check income, or contact HMRC for official tax records.

Conclusion

Losing a payslip or P60 is inconvenient, but not irreversible. Whether through your employer, HMRC, or secure digital records, you can regain the information you need.

For peace of mind, Payslips Online UK offers professional replacement payslips and P60s with same-day delivery — helping you stay organised, compliant, and financially prepared.

???? Next Steps:

• Order duplicate payslips online

• Order replacement P60s

• Read more knowledge base guides