By PaySlipCheck Editorial
· Reviewed by PaySlipCheck Editorial Standards Team
· 14 June 2026
· 5 min read
Every UK worker has a statutory right to an itemised payslip (Employment Rights Act 1996, s8). Payslips must be issued on or before payday and show gross pay, deductions, and net pay. If your employer has failed to provide one — or the payslip is incomplete — you have specific legal remedies. This guide walks through the steps: raise informally, formal grievance, ACAS conciliation, employment tribunal.
Verified against 5 official sources · Last reviewed 14 June 2026
Under Section 8 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, all workers must receive an itemised payslip that shows:
- Gross pay
- Deductions (Income Tax, NI, pension, student loan, other)
- Net pay
- Payment method
- Hours worked (if variable pay)
Payslip must be issued on or before payday. Format can be paper or electronic.
Common breaches
No payslip at all
Payslip missing required information
Payslip issued after payday
Deductions not itemised
Step 1 — Informal request
Ask your employer/HR directly. Many payslip failures are administrative errors — resolved within days.
Step 2 — Formal grievance
If informal doesn't work, raise a formal written grievance under your employer's grievance procedure. Employer must investigate.
Step 3 — ACAS Early Conciliation
Before an employment tribunal claim, you must notify ACAS. Free conciliation service; 6-week window.
Step 4 — Employment tribunal
If unresolved:
- File ET1 claim within 3 months (less 1 day) of the breach
- Tribunal can:
- Order employer to issue correct payslip
- Award damages for unauthorised deductions
- Costs award in exceptional cases
Related rights
Right to National Minimum Wage records — employer must keep for 6 years
Right to pay statement without prejudice — asking for payslip cannot be grounds for dismissal
Right to statutory itemised statement — includes tax code + NI category
In short
UK workers have statutory right to itemised payslip. Missing payslip = breach. Escalate: informal → grievance → ACAS → tribunal.
Frequently asked questions
What if my employer keeps giving me payslips late?
Still a breach if not on or before payday. Raise formally + escalate via ACAS if repeated.
Can I be sacked for asking about a missing payslip?
No — that would be unfair dismissal + potentially discrimination. Employer cannot retaliate for asserting statutory rights.
Do casual workers get payslips?
Yes — the right to itemised payslip applies to workers (not just employees). Casual + zero-hour workers included.
What if I've left the job?
You can still bring a tribunal claim within 3 months of leaving (or of the last breach). Contact ACAS first.
Do I get a payslip for freelance/self-employed work?
No — payslips only for employees + workers. Freelancers receive invoices/remittance advice from clients.
UK monthly budget planner — A workable UK monthly budget planner: confirm your real net pay, list fixed essentials, list variable essentials, set a discretionary cap, set a savings target. Total must equal net pay. Use 50/30/20 as a starting guide, adapt for your housing situation.
How to read a payslip — A UK payslip has up to 20+ separate lines, each with a specific
UK tax codes — A complete UK tax code reference for 2026/27. Covers every letter and
More on related topics
Attachment of earnings — AEO = court order requiring employer to deduct debt from wages. Protected earnings threshold applies.
Auto-enrolment duties — Auto-enrolment = employer duty since 2012. 8% total minimum. Re-enrolment every 3 years.
Bank holidays — No statutory right to bank holiday off. Contract decides. 2026 UK has 8 bank holidays.
All tax figures on this page use the same configuration that powers our
calculators — see our
editorial standards for the review process.
Last reviewed: 14 June 2026.
Next review due 14 December 2026.
Recent changes: Reviewed + updated for 2026/27 tax year — figures verified against HMRC current-year rates.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information based on published HMRC and gov.scot figures. It is not personal tax or financial advice. For your specific situation, please consult a qualified accountant or contact HMRC directly.