The law states that all employees are entitled to an 'itemised pay statement' to accompany each payment of wages, setting out each element of pay, each deduction and the amount of net pay. Information on fixed deductions, such as union subscriptions, or charity donations, do not need to be separately itemised and may be shown as a consolidated total, provided that a statement explaining the breakdown of each item is given to you at least every 12 months.

The law applies to all employees, including part-timers, and those on fixed-term contracts. Agency workers also have a legal right to information about their pay.

Additionally, each year your employer must give you a P60 certificate which shows your gross pay for the year, your take-home pay and the total deductions made during the year. You should expect to receive this shortly after the close of the tax year in early April.

From 1 April 2019, all workers – not just employees and agency workers – will have the legal right to a written, itemised payslip with each payment of wages from day one.