How Can I Find My PAYE Tax Reference Number?
By
HuutiMoney
If you are wondering how you can find your PAYE Tax Reference Number, you will find detailed guidance through this blog post. While we will mainly discuss the sources for PAYE Tax Reference Numbers, we will also discuss how to identify one as well as the purpose(s) of its use.
How Can I Find My PAYE Tax Reference Number?
As an employee, you can find your PAYE Tax Reference number in the following documents:
- payslip
- P45 or P60 forms
- Personal Tax Account
- PAYE income tax history
If you are unable to find or identify your PAYE Tax Reference Number from any of the above-listed sources, you can ask your employer to guide you in locating or identifying your PAYE Tax Reference Number.
On the other hand, if you are an employer looking for your PAYE Tax Reference Number, you can use the following sources:
- the Yellow Booklet provided by HMRC as part of your welcome pack when you initially registered as an employer
- historic payslips, P45, P60 or P11D that were issued to previous or current employees
- relevant correspondence from HMRC about PAYE
If you are still unable to find your PAYE Tax Reference Number, you may need to call HMRC’s Employer Helpline on 0300 200 3200. However, it can take at least two weeks for your PAYE Tax Reference Number to arrive by post.
How Can I Identify My PAYE Tax Reference Number?
You can identify your PAYE Tax Reference Number by using the following advice:
- The number is divided into two parts. The first part is three digits, while the second part of the reference follows a forward slash.
- The first part is a three-digit number that indicates the HMRC office number that manages the company’s PAYE and looks e.g. 157.
- The second part comes after a forward slash. This is an alphanumeric code that is unique to each employer and looks something like AB36954.
- The complete number looks something like 157/AB36954.
How Is The PAYE Tax Reference Number Used?
The PAYE Tax Reference Number is used for the following purposes:
- mention on payslips, P60s, P11Ds and P45s
- while completing your annual PAYE return
- to complete Tax Credits or student loan applications for employees
- when taking out employer’s liability insurance
- while corresponding with HMRC regarding income tax and national insurance
In addition to this, employers can use the PAYE Tax Reference Number to access the following information about their employees online:
- Tax Code notices: P6 and P9
- Student Loan notices: SL1 and SL2
- National Insurance verification notices: NVR and NOT
- Generic notifications such as late reporting and late payment alerts
This is done by accessing the PAYE online for employers provided by the HMRC.
Conclusion:
The above discussion helps to highlight the different sources through which one can locate their PAYE Tax Reference Number; whether they are an employee or an employer. The easiest way to find your PAYE Tax Reference number is to look at one’s payslip, P45, P60 or P11D.
References:
Where to find your PAYE Reference Number | Accountancy Cloud
What is an ERN (PAYE Reference Number) and why do I need it?
How to find your Employer PAYE reference | Low Incomes Tax Reform Group