# How to Verify Employment, a Payslip or a P60

> Landlords and lenders often need to verify a payslip, P60 or employment. Here is what these documents show, how to check they are genuine, and the warning signs of a fake.

*Section: Personal Finance — By Daily Junction Editorial Team (Newsroom) — Published March 30, 2026 — 5 min read*

Canonical URL: https://dailyjunction.co.uk/business-finance/verify-employment-payslip-p60
Tags: payslip, p60, employment verification, referencing, fraud

## Key takeaways

- A payslip shows a single pay period; a P60 summarises a whole tax year's pay and deductions from one employer.
- Employment can be verified directly with the employer, through a reference, or via official records the individual can share.
- Genuine documents have consistent figures, correct tax codes and National Insurance numbers, and matching year-to-date totals.
- Common fake giveaways include round numbers, mismatched totals, wrong tax codes and missing employer details.

Whether you are a landlord screening a tenant, a lender assessing affordability, or an employer checking a new hire, you will sometimes need to confirm that someone earns what they say they earn. The two documents at the centre of this are the **payslip** and the **P60**, alongside direct **employment verification**. Here is what each one proves, how to check it is genuine, and the warning signs that something has been forged.

*This article is general information, not legal advice. Verification must be done with the individual's consent and in line with data protection law.*

## What each document shows

### The payslip

**A payslip is a record of a single pay period — usually a week or a month.** A genuine UK payslip should show:

- The employee's name and the employer's name.
- The **pay date** and the period it covers.
- **Gross pay** (before deductions) for the period.
- Deductions: Income Tax (PAYE), National Insurance, pension, student loan, and any others.
- **Net pay** — the amount actually paid.
- The **tax code** and National Insurance number.
- **Year-to-date totals** for pay and deductions.

That last item is the verifier's best friend: year-to-date figures let you sanity-check one payslip against another and against the year-end summary.

### The P60

**A P60 is an end-of-year certificate summarising everything one employer paid an employee across a full tax year**, including total pay, total tax and total National Insurance. Every employee in a job at the end of the tax year should receive one. Because it is a single annual figure, the P60 is the natural anchor to check monthly payslips against: twelve consistent monthly payslips should reconcile to the P60 total.

> A payslip is a snapshot; a P60 is the full picture. Used together, each one validates the other — which is exactly why fraudsters struggle to fake both consistently.

## How to verify employment

Documents are one form of proof. Confirming the employment itself is another, and often stronger. The main routes are:

1. **Direct contact with the employer.** A call or email to the company's HR or payroll department, using contact details you have verified independently (not just the number printed on the document). Ask them to confirm the person is employed and, where appropriate, their role and salary band.
2. **An employer reference.** A written reference on company letterhead confirming employment dates and status.
3. **Records the individual shares.** People can access and share their own official income and employment information. Because HMRC does not generally confirm individual records to third parties, having the person provide their own documentation is the practical route.
4. **Cross-checking against bank statements.** Salary credits on a bank statement should match the net pay on payslips, from an employer name that matches.

A reputable referencing or verification service can pull several of these together. For example, business consultancy CM Beyer offers a [structured way to verify a payslip, P60 or employment](https://cmbeyer.co.uk/how-to-verify-your-payslip-p60-or-employment-with-cm-beyer/), which illustrates how formal verification typically combines document checks with direct confirmation.

Whichever route you use, get the individual's **consent** first. Verifying someone's employment involves personal data, so it must be handled lawfully and proportionately.

## How to check a document is genuine

Most fakes fail on internal consistency. Work through these checks:

| Check | What genuine looks like |
|-------|-------------------------|
| Year-to-date totals | Increase logically month to month and reconcile to the P60 |
| Tax code | A valid format, consistent across payslips |
| National Insurance number | Correct format (two letters, six digits, one letter) |
| Employer details | Full name and address present and verifiable |
| Net pay vs bank | Matches the salary credit on bank statements |
| Calculations | Gross minus deductions actually equals net |

Run the arithmetic yourself. On a real payslip, gross pay minus the listed deductions equals net pay, and the year-to-date columns add up across periods. Forgeries frequently get this wrong.

## Warning signs of a fake

Be especially wary of:

- **Suspiciously round numbers** — real pay and tax rarely land on neat figures after deductions.
- **Year-to-date totals that do not add up** across consecutive payslips, or that contradict the P60.
- **An incorrect, missing or implausible tax code.**
- **An invalid National Insurance number format.**
- **Missing employer name, address or company details.**
- **Fonts or layouts that change** between supposedly consecutive payslips.
- **Bank statements that do not match** the claimed net pay or employer.

No single red flag is proof of fraud — but several together warrant a direct check with the employer.

## Doing it lawfully and fairly

Verification sits inside data protection rules. Collect only what you need, use it only for the stated purpose, store it securely, and delete it when it is no longer required. For the wider principles, our explainer on [UK GDPR for marketers](/marketing/uk-gdpr-for-marketers) covers the data-handling basics that apply to any business processing personal information. For employers building these checks into hiring, our guide on [how to hire your first employees](/education/how-to-hire-first-employees) puts verification in the context of a fair recruitment process.

## The bottom line

A payslip proves one pay period; a P60 summarises the whole tax year; together they should reconcile, and that reconciliation is your strongest document check. The most reliable verification, though, is direct — confirming employment with the employer or through records the individual shares, always with consent. Treat round numbers, mismatched totals and wrong tax codes as prompts to dig deeper. A few minutes of cross-checking protects landlords, lenders and employers from the small minority who fake the paperwork.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between a payslip and a P60?

A payslip covers one pay period (such as a month) and shows that period's pay and deductions. A P60 is an end-of-year summary showing total pay, tax and National Insurance for the whole tax year from a single employer.

### How can a landlord verify employment?

Common methods are contacting the employer's HR or payroll directly, requesting an employer reference, asking for recent payslips and a P60, and in some cases reviewing official records the tenant chooses to share. Always get the applicant's consent first.

### How do you spot a fake payslip?

Look for inconsistencies: year-to-date totals that do not add up, suspiciously round figures, an incorrect or missing tax code, an invalid National Insurance number format, or missing employer name and address. Cross-check the payslip against the P60 and bank statements.

### Can I verify a P60 with HMRC?

HMRC does not generally confirm individual P60s to third parties. Instead, the individual can share their own official income records, and you can cross-check the P60 against payslips and bank deposits for consistency.

## Sources

- [GOV.UK: Payslips and P60](https://www.gov.uk/)
- [HM Revenue & Customs](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs)

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