Part of our complete guide to employer payroll.
Two forms, two deadlines
If you employ anyone, even just yourself as a director on a small salary, two payroll forms have fixed annual deadlines that are easy to lose track of outside the main tax calendar:
- P60, due to every employee by 31 May
- P11D, due to HMRC (and a copy to employees) by 6 July, with Class 1A National Insurance on the benefits due by 22 July
What a P60 actually is
A P60 is a year-end summary of an employee's total pay and the tax and National Insurance deducted during the tax year. Every employer must give one to every employee who was on the payroll on 5 April, the last day of the tax year, by 31 May. It's increasingly issued digitally rather than on paper, but the deadline is the same either way.
What a P11D actually is
A P11D reports taxable benefits and expenses provided to employees and directors that weren't put through payroll, common examples include company cars, private medical insurance, and interest-free loans above a small threshold. If you provided any of these during the tax year, you must file a P11D for each affected employee by 6 July, and pay Class 1A National Insurance on the value of those benefits by 22 July.
Key point: If you genuinely provided no taxable benefits, you don't need to file a nil P11D, but if HMRC is expecting one from you based on previous years, it's worth formally telling them you have nothing to declare, rather than silently not filing and risking a chased return.
Why this catches employers out
Both deadlines sit outside the main self assessment calendar most business owners track mentally, there's no January-style reminder culture around P60s and P11Ds, which is exactly why they're easy to miss, particularly for a director running their own small payroll without dedicated HR support.
What happens if you're late
Late P11Ds attract penalties of £100 per 50 employees for each month or part of a month they're overdue, plus interest and potential penalties on any Class 1A National Insurance paid late. Persistent lateness can also trigger a wider HMRC look at your payroll compliance generally, not just the specific form.
Want this handled without having to remember the dates? Book a free consultation, our payroll service tracks P60 and P11D deadlines as standard, so nothing slips through outside the main tax calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What is a P60 and when is it due?
A P60 summarises an employee's total pay and deductions for the tax year. Employers must give one to every employee on their payroll at 5 April by 31 May.
What is a P11D and when is it due?
A P11D reports taxable benefits and expenses provided to employees and directors, such as company cars or private medical insurance. It must be submitted to HMRC, and a copy given to each employee, by 6 July, with Class 1A National Insurance on the benefits paid by 22 July.
Do I need to submit a P11D if I have no benefits to report?
If genuinely no taxable benefits were provided, you don't need to file a nil P11D, but it's worth confirming this formally with HMRC if you previously filed one, to avoid being chased for a return you no longer need to submit.
What happens if P60s or P11Ds are late?
Late P11Ds attract penalties of £100 per 50 employees for each month or part-month late, plus potential penalties and interest on any Class 1A National Insurance paid late. Late P60s can also trigger HMRC enquiries into payroll compliance generally.