Will new (old) employer know I was unemployed?

[namechanger1105]

I left a company (let's call them company A) in February that I had been with for many years.

Started a new job, hated it and quit within the week. Struggled to find work since then. Been unemployed.

Company A then phoned me last week asking if I wanted to rejoin them as multiple projects had started and they were understaffed. I played it cool but knew I was going to say yes. Also acted like I was really enjoying my new role. This helped leverage a higher salary as they were worried I wouldn't rejoin them.

I go back next week. No references or anything as they've known me for years.

Question is, will they be able to find out I lied about being in employment since I left them? Can they check my employment history? Or find out via my tax codes, or work it out by calculating my NI etc etc?

It wouldn't be the end of the world as they're super chill but it would be rather embarrassing.

Well your p45 will have your pay date on it and how much tax you paid. Unless you opt to not hand it in, but then you will be on emergency tax rate until HMRC sort themselves out or you do the dance of digital death and sort it through the govt gateway/ hang on the phone for hours.
I really really doubt payroll will would say anything regarding your p45, they have better things to do!!

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 I think I'm going to have to not give my P45 in then and just fill out a new starter form. The company is small and everyone talks....

Will I need to phone government gateway then or will HMRC have the information to fix it themselves?

I think you should mention you expect confidentiality regarding your last role when you hand in your P45 its not an unreasonable request

@Chocolatelabradors The girl in payroll is the girlfriend of my manager. And she is also the sister-in-law of the Director. No chance there will be any confidentiality. We don't have a HR department either as it's a small company.

Op we are only just at the start of a new tax year, will you have a P45?

Have you signed on at benefits agency?

The government gateway is accessible by making an account on line via the govt website. - it takes you through it step by step. You can ring HMRC, and may have a long telephone wait.
if you just decide to sit it out and wait for HMRC to manually sort it,be warned it could take until next tax year for them to do so. They then send a cheque for the overpaid tax rebate.
it is quicker to either use the gateway or phone at 8am. ! I think I’ve pasted the link for you.

www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services

Read your last post, don't give them the p45 blame rubbish company b for not giving you it 😉

Think you've gotten good advice so far so nothing to add there, but I'm curious what was so wrong with new job you left in a week?

I believe we get "vibes" from people, places etc and your instinct is usually right, so I'm just curious what set off alarm bells?

Kudos to you for being so decisive!

The office was just so dull, there was no energy. Completely the opposite from what I know and love. Colleagues weren't bothered about training me up on their systems and I could see on their face that they thought I was a nuisance for constantly asking questions (this was on day 1). So I called it a day by the end of the week as I knew I was never going to build up a rapport with them. Just a gut feeling.

I work in a niche area (won't say what it is as it's going to out me) so struggled to get another role. But just my luck my old boss called me and asked me to rejoin.

Was too embarrassed to tell them the truth.

Op just a thought, if you stopped work in February. And didn't earn again for the rest of the 2001/22 tax year you might be due some tax back.
On the logic they divide your tax free allowance over 12 mths so you'll only have used 11mths worth of it. Might not be much you'll get back but worth an email to HMRC.

Good luck in new job.

You won't need to hand in a P45 as you left your other job in the previous tax year. Your new (old) company will just add you to the payroll system with the information given and HMRC will send through any updated tax code information if it is required. Good luck in your new (old) job and relax they won't know anything unless they ask for an updated reference which you will have to own up for.

@iwannascream I did leave the other job in previous tax year but my new (old) company think I am still working there now so would expect a P45.

I'll just have to go with what someone above said and say I haven't received it from them and then hope and pray that there is no other way for them to find out. I was just scared they would be able to look at my tax deductions/NI contributions throughout the year and figure out that I definitely haven't been working this tax year prior to rejoining them.

Why not say you were working freelance for the other company on a self employed basis? No P45s involved then

It's a new tax year. Your old P45, if it is from last tax year is now almost null and void. I'd fill out starter forms and tick box B.

Yeah my old P45 won't really matter, it's only that my new(old) employer thinks that I'm still working there so will be expecting a P45 for the current tax year.

I'll just say I haven't been given it and fill in a new starter form!