P60 vs P11D: What Each Form Actually Tells HMRC (and You)
A P60 summarises your pay and tax for the year. A P11D reports benefits in kind like a company car or private medical insurance. Employees often confuse the two — here's what each one covers and why you might get both, one, or neither.
Two Different Jobs
P60 and payslip explained P11D benefits in kind guide| P60 | P11D | |
|---|---|---|
| What it reports | Total pay, tax deducted, and employee NI for the tax year | Taxable benefits in kind (company car, medical insurance, loans, etc.) not already payrolled |
| Who gets one | Every employee still employed on 5 April | Only employees who received qualifying, non-payrolled benefits |
| Deadline to receive it | 31 May | 6 July |
| Affects your tax code? | Confirms what was already deducted | Can trigger a tax code adjustment or Self Assessment liability for the following year |
| Who pays NI on it | You (Class 1, deducted throughout the year) | Employer only (Class 1A, reported via a separate P11D(b)) |
What's on a P60
A P60 is essentially a year-end summary certificate showing:
- Total gross pay for the tax year (across that employer, if you had only one job)
- Total Income Tax deducted under PAYE
- Total employee National Insurance contributions deducted
- Your final tax code for the year
- Student loan deductions, if applicable
It's the document most commonly requested by mortgage lenders, letting agents, and anyone else needing proof of your annual income and tax position.
What's on a P11D
A P11D lists the cash-equivalent value of taxable benefits in kind provided to you during the year that weren't taxed through payroll, such as:
| Benefit type | Example |
|---|---|
| Company car | Cash equivalent based on list price and CO2 emissions band |
| Private medical insurance | Cost the employer pays for the policy |
| Interest-free or low-interest loans | Above the £10,000 small loans exemption |
| Living accommodation | Value of employer-provided housing |
| Non-business travel/entertainment expenses | Certain reimbursed costs not otherwise exempt |
The value shown adds to your taxable income for Income Tax purposes, though — importantly — you do not pay employee National Insurance on it; only your employer pays Class 1A NIC, reported separately on form P11D(b).
Why You Might Get One, Both, or Neither
- Neither: no employment during the year, or (for P11D specifically) no taxable benefits received at all.
- P60 only: normal salaried employee with no benefits in kind, or all benefits are fully payrolled by the employer.
- Both: salaried employee who also receives a company car, medical insurance, or another non-payrolled benefit.
What to Do When You Receive a P11D
- Check the figures match what you understand your benefits to be worth — errors do happen, particularly with company car CO2 bands.
- Check whether your tax code has already been adjusted to collect the tax, or whether you need to declare it via Self Assessment.
- Keep both your P60 and P11D for your records — they're the primary evidence HMRC and lenders will ask for if your income or tax position is ever queried.
- If your employer has moved to payrolling benefits, you may simply see the tax already reflected in your monthly payslip and no P11D at all going forward — check your payslip narrative if you're unsure which system your employer uses.
Frequently asked questions
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