An Update from HMRC–Nov 2026

Help your new employees understand tax

Starting a new job often raises questions about tax codes, payslips and take-home pay. When employees don't understand how tax works, it can lead to confusion, avoidable contact with HR and payroll teams, and concerns when they receive their first payslip.

HMRC's Tax Confident website provides straightforward guidance to help people understand tax when starting work, changing jobs and throughout their working life.

Please consider including Tax Confident in your onboarding communications to help employees understand what information they need to provide, how tax works and where to find trusted guidance.

We’ve also prepared a Tax Confident guide for seasonal jobs, designed to be an easy-to-use resource they can quickly refer back to when they need it.

Why getting starter details right from day one matters

Last financial year, 183,196 new starters were placed on the wrong tax code because they chose the wrong employee statement.

These errors can lead to incorrect payments and queries to payroll and HR, taking time for employers and employees to resolve.

Three steps for quicker, easier onboarding

1 Collect personal information before the employee starts. Ask new employees for key personal information, including their full name, date of birth and National Insurance number.

2 Set up PAYE correctly. Use a P45 or the online starter checklist and submit accurate information to HMRC.

3 Help employees understand their tax. Encourage new employees to download the HMRC app to check their tax code information and understand what tax they will pay.

Getting it right first time can help reduce payroll queries and give employees confidence that they’re paying the right tax from their first payday.

Helping your new recruits this festive season with the HMRC app

Recruiting this Christmas?  One simple way to speed things up is encouraging your new starters to download the HMRC app before their first day.  

Once downloaded and signed in, your new employees can find their National Insurance number quickly and easily in the HMRC app, to help you with the onboarding process. In the app they can download their number to their digital wallet or download a digital version of the letter. 

This can be accessed in minutes and saves time as they won’t need to wait 10 working days for it to be sent in the post.

As an employer you do not need proof of their National Insurance Number, you just need the number itself. 

If your employees are still unsure on the best way to find their National Insurance number they can use this interactive guidance tool on GOV.UK.

Employees can also use the HMRC app to check their tax code information and understand what tax they will pay.

Help your employees be 'on it' with their money and tax this festive season by downloading the HMRC app today!