Employment records in the UK: what documents are required when hiring an employee

When hiring an employee in the UK, employers collect key payroll data including personal details, address, start date, National Insurance number, and tax information for PAYE. Without this information, payroll processing and HMRC reporting cannot be completed correctly.

A Right to Work check must be carried out before the employee’s first working day. The employer also needs to define the employment type — full-time, part-time, zero-hours, or contractor — as this affects tax, holiday entitlement, and payroll calculations. A written employment contract must also be prepared, outlining job role, pay, working hours, and holiday entitlement. This information is used for payroll setup and RTI reporting to HMRC from day one.

We are happy to help you correctly onboard employees, set up payroll, check documentation, and ensure full compliance with HMRC requirements from the very start.