Your payslips are the most complete record of your working life: what you earned, what you paid in tax and NI, and what went into your pension. Keeping them costs nothing and regularly saves weeks of admin when a lender, landlord, HMRC or a new employer asks for proof.
Why payslips matter
- Checking payroll accuracy — errors are only provable if you have the original payslips
- Proof of earnings — mortgages, tenancy applications, loans and some applications ask for recent payslips
- Employment records — redundancy calculations, holiday pay queries, references and dispute matters
- Tracking annual earnings — year-to-date figures on payslips support tax checks and personal budgeting
- Pension checks — contribution history supports queries with your provider
How long to keep them
There's no single legal requirement for individuals, but sensible practice is:
- Keep payslips for at least three years — long enough to cover most pay disputes and queries
- Keep the final payslip of each tax year, and P60s or year-end summaries, indefinitely — they're the compact record of each year
- Keep anything relating to an unresolved dispute or claim until it's fully closed
Employers must keep their own payroll records for at least three years after the tax year they relate to; your payslips are your independent copy of that record.
How to organise payslips digitally
- Scan or photograph paper payslips promptly and store them with clear names: employer, pay period, year
- Group by employer so each job's history stays together
- Keep them with related documents: contracts, P45s, P60s, tax code notices
- Back up — a single folder on one device is not a filing system
How MyPay helps
MyPay is built for exactly this. You can store payslips and employment documents privately against each job, compare two payslips when something changes, and keep the full history in one place rather than scattered across email attachments and desk drawers. It's the easiest way to make "keep your payslips" actually happen.
Frequently asked questions
Can I throw away old payslips if I have my P60s?
P60s summarise each year, but interim payslips prove monthly detail. Keep at least the year-end documents indefinitely and recent payslips for three years.
What if I've lost older payslips?
Ask the employer — they must keep payroll records for at least three years after the tax year. Beyond that, HMRC's employment history can help for State Pension purposes.
Information applies to the 2026/27 UK tax year and is general information, not legal advice.