What Should I Do If My Payslip Is Wrong

Why accurate payslips matter

Your payslip shows exactly how your pay is calculated, including wages, bonuses, tax, and deductions such as National Insurance and pensions. It is more than a formality; it’s a legal record of your employment income.

Payslip accuracy ensures you receive the correct amount of pay and that your tax, pension, and other contributions are properly reported to HMRC. Errors can cause underpayments, incorrect tax deductions, or even issues with mortgage applications and benefit claims.

Common payslip errors

Payslip mistakes are more common than many people realise, especially when businesses use multiple systems or process payroll under time pressure. Typical errors include:

Incorrect gross pay or hours worked

Missing overtime or bonuses

Wrong tax code or tax deductions

Missing or inaccurate pension contributions

Unauthorised deductions

National Insurance not deducted correctly

Outdated personal details such as address or job title

Spotting these early prevents long-term financial problems.

Check your payslip carefully

When you receive your payslip, check each section line by line. It should include:

Your gross pay (before deductions)

Your net pay (what you take home)

Income tax and National Insurance deductions

Pension contributions

Any other deductions such as student loans or union fees

Your tax code and National Insurance number

Pay period and employer details

Compare it with your employment contract, recent payslips, and any agreed overtime or bonus records. Keep copies for your own records in case you need to refer back to them later.

Step 1: Speak to your employer or payroll department

If something doesn’t look right, raise it with your employer straight away. The payroll or HR department should be your first point of contact.

Be clear and factual when explaining the problem. For example, say “My payslip for June shows 35 hours, but I worked 40 hours according to the rota.” Providing evidence such as timesheets or previous payslips helps resolve issues faster.

In many cases, mistakes are simple data-entry errors or timing issues between payroll runs. Employers usually correct them in the next pay run or issue an immediate adjustment.

Step 2: Keep written records

If the problem isn’t resolved immediately, follow up in writing by email. Keep a record of all correspondence, dates, and people you’ve spoken to. This creates a clear audit trail if the issue needs to be escalated.

Attach copies of any relevant evidence, such as:

Previous payslips showing correct pay

Work rotas or timesheets

Pension or HMRC correspondence

Good documentation shows you’ve acted promptly and reasonably.

Step 3: Check your tax and pension records

If the issue involves tax or pension deductions, log in to your HMRC Personal Tax Account and your pension provider’s portal to check whether contributions and payments have been received correctly.

For example, if your pension contribution doesn’t appear on your payslip or in your pension account, ask your employer for confirmation that the payment has been sent. Employers must pay these within statutory deadlines.

Similarly, if your tax deductions look unusual, compare your tax code with HMRC’s current standard code (usually 1257L) and query any unexplained changes.

Step 4: Escalate the issue if needed

If your employer does not fix the error or refuses to investigate, you can escalate the issue.

For tax or National Insurance errors: Contact HMRC directly to check your PAYE records. They can tell you whether the correct information is being reported.

For unpaid wages: Speak to Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service). They provide free advice and can help you raise a formal complaint.

For pension issues: Contact The Pensions Regulator if contributions are missing or delayed.

You also have the right to make a formal grievance to your employer if internal discussions don’t resolve the problem.

What happens if you’ve been underpaid

If an error has led to an underpayment, your employer must correct it. Depending on the company’s payroll schedule, you may receive a backdated payment on your next payday or an immediate adjustment.

Under UK employment law, employers cannot refuse to pay wages owed for work completed. Any delay in correcting underpayment should be minimal.

If the underpayment is substantial or repeated, you may be entitled to make a claim to an employment tribunal for unlawful deduction of wages.

What if you’ve been overpaid

If your employer overpays you by mistake, they are usually entitled to recover the overpayment. In most cases, this is done by adjusting your next salary or agreeing a repayment plan.

You should be notified in writing before any deductions are made. If the overpayment was caused by your employer’s mistake and reclaiming it would cause hardship, you can request to spread repayment over several months.

Always confirm repayment arrangements in writing to avoid further confusion.

Check for repeat errors

After your payslip has been corrected, keep an eye on future payslips to make sure the same issue does not happen again.

If errors recur, it may indicate a problem in the payroll system that needs to be addressed at a higher level. Consistent mistakes can affect not only your finances but also your tax, pension, and employment records.

Legal rights and responsibilities

All employees and workers in the UK are legally entitled to a detailed payslip under the Employment Rights Act 1996. This must show gross pay, deductions, and net pay.

Employers are responsible for ensuring payroll accuracy and must correct any genuine mistakes promptly. Employees, in turn, should check their payslips regularly and report discrepancies in good time.

If an employer refuses to issue a payslip or repeatedly fails to correct mistakes, you may be able to raise the issue with Acas or an employment tribunal.

Preventing future payslip problems

To reduce the risk of future errors, you can:

Keep personal details up to date with your employer

Track your hours, overtime, and bonuses in writing

Review your tax code at least once a year

Check pension contributions appear correctly

Save every payslip in case of later disputes

A quick monthly review can prevent small issues turning into bigger financial headaches.

Final thoughts

Payslip errors are frustrating, but they can be fixed quickly when handled the right way. The key is to act fast, keep clear records, and follow up in writing until the issue is resolved.

Your payslip is more than a document; it is your financial proof of earnings and deductions. By checking it regularly and knowing how to respond when something looks wrong, you protect both your income and your peace of mind.