What is a Payroll Number?
Your payroll number is the employee reference your employer gives you. Look for it on your payslip, P60 or P45 (shown as works or payroll number), in your payroll portal, or ask payroll or HR. It is not your National Insurance number.
In one sentence
A payroll number is a unique reference assigned by an employer to identify an individual employee within their payroll software and HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) submissions.
Quick answer
- Found on payslips, P60, P45, or HMRC Personal Tax Account
- Different from your National Insurance number and your employer's PAYE reference (ERN)
- Used by employers and HMRC to track individual pay runs and tax codes accurately
What is a payroll number?
A payroll number (sometimes called an employee ID, staff number, or works number) is a unique reference allocated to an employee by their employer's payroll department.
It identifies your specific employment record within your employer's payroll software and HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) submissions. It is different from your National Insurance number and different from your employer's PAYE reference number.
Where to find your payroll number
If an official form, mortgage lender, benefits application, or new employer asks for your payroll number, you can find it in several standard documents:
1. On your payslip
Most UK payslips display the payroll number near the top of the slip, alongside your name, tax code, and pay date. It is usually labelled as "Payroll No", "Emp No", "Employee ID", or "Works No".
2. On your P60 end-of-year certificate
Your P60 summarises your total pay and tax deducted for the tax year ending 5 April. Your payroll number is listed in the "Employee Details" section at the top of the certificate.
3. On your P45 leaving document
When you leave a job, Part 1A and Part 2 of your P45 display your employee payroll number under the employer information section.
4. In your HMRC Personal Tax Account
Log in to the GOV.UK Personal Tax Account or HMRC app. Under the employment history section, HMRC lists your employer name, PAYE reference, and payroll ID submitted by your employer via RTI.
Payroll number vs National Insurance number vs Employer PAYE reference
| Identifier | Format example | Who issues it? | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Number | 10482 or EMP-0094 | Your employer | Identifies your job within a specific company payroll |
| National Insurance No. | QQ 12 34 56 A | DWP / HMRC | Your unique individual UK tax and social security ID for life |
| Employer PAYE Ref | 123/AB56789 | HMRC | Identifies the company's payroll scheme with HMRC |
Why employers and HMRC use payroll numbers
Under HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) rules, employers must send a Full Payment Submission (FPS) every time staff are paid. HMRC relies on the payroll number (Payroll ID) to:
- Distinguish employees with identical names: Prevents tax records from mixing up staff sharing the same name working for the same company.
- Track multiple jobs correctly: If an employee has two roles within the same organisation or changes roles mid-year, distinct payroll IDs ensure tax codes and Personal Allowances apply to the right income source.
- Reconcile P45 starter and leaver filings: Ensures tax and National Insurance calculations remain continuous across employment transitions.
Read our employer guide on UK payroll services and RTI compliance or view our small business payroll guide for setup requirements.
Is an employee number the same as a payroll number?
Usually yes in small firms. Many employers use one reference, labelled payroll number, employee number, staff number, works number or clock number.
Larger employers, such as the NHS, councils and big retailers, may keep a separate HR employee number and payroll ID. If a form asks for one, use the label that appears on your payslip.
Is a payroll number the same as an assignment number?
Not quite. In the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR), an assignment number identifies a specific post. One person with two posts has two assignment numbers but one employee number. Check the label on your payslip.
How long is a payroll number?
There is no fixed format: your employer's payroll software sets it. A payroll number is often 4–10 digits long, sometimes with letters, such as EMP-0094. Unlike a National Insurance number, it does not follow an HMRC pattern.
How to find your payroll number without a payslip
Ask your payroll or HR team, or your manager. You can also check your online payslip portal, P60, P45, offer letter or contract, or staff ID badge.
In the HMRC app or Personal Tax Account, your employment record may show the payroll ID your employer sent, but it is not always available. HMRC cannot issue your payroll number: only your employer allocates it.
What is the employer PAYE reference (ERN) on a payslip?
The employer PAYE reference, also called the Employer Reference Number (ERN) or tax office reference, has a three-digit HMRC office number, a slash, then letters and numbers, for example 123/AB56789. It identifies your employer's PAYE scheme, not you.
It is on your P60 and P45 and often appears on payslips labelled Tax office ref or PAYE ref. Employees are often asked for it on tax refund claims or in the HMRC app when an employment is missing.
It is different from the Accounts Office reference, a 13-character reference such as 123PA00045678 that employers use to pay HMRC.
Setting up or managing employer payroll?
Book a 30-minute consultation with our UK payroll team. We set up compliant PAYE schemes, issue P45s and P60s, and manage RTI submissions.
Book a call →Frequently asked questions
Where is the payroll number on a payslip?
It is usually near the top of the payslip, next to your name and tax code. The label varies: payroll number, employee number, works number, staff number or clock number. On a P60 or P45 it appears in the box marked works or payroll number.
Is a payroll number the same as a National Insurance number?
No. Your National Insurance number is issued by HMRC and stays with you for life. Your payroll number is set by each employer, so it changes if you change job, and two employers can use the same number for different people.
Is an employee number the same as a payroll number?
Usually yes in small firms: employers often use one reference labelled payroll number, employee number, staff number, works number or clock number. Larger employers may keep separate HR employee numbers and payroll IDs, so use the label on your payslip.
Is a payroll number the same as an assignment number?
Not quite: in the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR), an assignment number identifies a specific post. A person with two posts has two assignment numbers but one employee number, so check the payslip label.
How long is a payroll number?
There is no fixed format because the employer's payroll software sets it. Payroll numbers are often 4–10 digits and may include letters, such as EMP-0094; they do not follow an HMRC pattern like National Insurance numbers.
How to find your payroll number without a payslip
Ask payroll, HR or your manager, or check your online payslip portal, P60, P45, offer letter, contract or staff ID badge. Your HMRC app or Personal Tax Account employment record may show the payroll ID your employer sent, but not always. Only your employer allocates it; HMRC cannot issue it.
What is the employer PAYE reference (ERN) on a payslip?
The employer PAYE reference, also called the Employer Reference Number (ERN) or tax office reference, identifies the employer's PAYE scheme and looks like 123/AB56789. It appears on P60s and P45s and often on payslips as Tax office ref or PAYE ref; employees may need it for tax refund claims or to add a missing employment in the HMRC app. It differs from the 13-character Accounts Office reference, such as 123PA00045678, used by employers to pay HMRC.
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