Lied about current salary

Mktio

Hi, need a bit of advice. I'm looking to leave my current job because I'm getting underpaid. Recently, I lied about my current salary when talking to a recruiter to avoid getting a low-ball salary offer later.

I've since realised that if I got a job offer and accepted, an employer could possibly find out my previous salary from my P45. Is this correct? Will it matter? Should I continue with the interview process or drop out to avoid getting caught in a lie?

MarkR

How much of a difference are we talking? If it's in the same ballpark, I wouldn't worry.

techdiver

Mktio wrote: »

Hi, need a bit of advice. I'm looking to leave my current job because I'm getting underpaid. Recently, I lied about my current salary when talking to a recruiter to avoid getting a low-ball salary offer later.

I've since realised that if I got a job offer and accepted, an employer could possibly find out my previous salary from my P45. Is this correct? Will it matter? Should I continue with the interview process or drop out to avoid getting caught in a lie?

In my opinion it's a bull**** question that deserves an equally bull**** answer.

You played the correct hand in order to negotiate a better position for yourself. It's unlikely that the person you were interviewed by will be processing your tax affairs anyway, so they probably won't see your previous salary.

Senna

You do not need to provide a new employer with a p45, you can just transfer your tax credits to the new job. Most people starting a new job won't have got a p45 in time, so I really wouldn't worry at all.

LD89

Mktio wrote: »

Hi, need a bit of advice. I'm looking to leave my current job because I'm getting underpaid. Recently, I lied about my current salary when talking to a recruiter to avoid getting a low-ball salary offer later.

I've since realised that if I got a job offer and accepted, an employer could possibly find out my previous salary from my P45. Is this correct? Will it matter? Should I continue with the interview process or drop out to avoid getting caught in a lie?

As far as I know If you accept an offer you can get their employer tax number, and then phone revenue/tax office yourself, eliminating the need for your new employer ever seeing your p45

eezipc

techdiver wrote: »

Mktio wrote: »

Hi, need a bit of advice. I'm looking to leave my current job because I'm getting underpaid. Recently, I lied about my current salary when talking to a recruiter to avoid getting a low-ball salary offer later.

I've since realised that if I got a job offer and accepted, an employer could possibly find out my previous salary from my P45. Is this correct? Will it matter? Should I continue with the interview process or drop out to avoid getting caught in a lie?

In my opinion it's a bull**** question that deserves an equally bull**** answer.

You played the correct hand in order to negotiate a better position for yourself. It's unlikely that the person you were interviewed by will be processing your tax affairs anyway, so they probably won't see your previous salary.

It's correct here. They would not have offered you the job if they were not willing to pay that amount. It's a game that recruiters play all the time. Last time I changed jobs, I said my salary was 10k higher than it really was.

allybhoy

If they wish to hire you, the new company will make you an offer on what they think you are worth and can afford and that you will accept, not on what your previous employer thought was acceptable, you are obviously not happy with that salary hence the reason you are looking for alternative employment.

Usually you send the P45 to Payroll not HR, payroll will have no idea (or interest tbh) on what you told HR in the interview so i wouldnt worry about it, just get the job first. You also wont get a P45 until a week or two after you have left your previous employment and are active in your new employment, and once you are active in the new role you will have payrolls contact details so you could possibly either email it or drop it at their desk directly, but again i really wouldnt sweat too much about it.

Mktio

MarkR wrote: »

How much of a difference are we talking? If it's in the same ballpark, I wouldn't worry.

About 10k difference, so probably not in the same ballpark? ;P

CIARAN_BOYLE

Mktio wrote: »

About 10k difference, so probably not in the same ballpark? ;P

If you want you can always fudge. I mentioend a salary inclusive of a customary 10K Christmas bonus. Or company had financial trouble for a few weeks and we were on short hours. Or whatever you want to say.

Bandana boy

I would not worry about it
1 its not likely to be seen by the person who will realize that you fudged the current salary
2 if they do they will most likely not really care
3 it can easily be explained as having taken some unpaid leave , They deducted College fees etc from your salary
4 you can say you baked your bonus into your current salary and it has not been paid yet
5 short hours

bmwguy

You dont need to give new employer a P45. I changed jobs in February, never got a P45 from previous employer (I know they are obliged to but I never pushed it becuae I knew I didnt need it for anything). I simply called revenue, gave employer number and transferred my credits over. All done, 5 minutes.

Mktio

Senna wrote: »

You do not need to provide a new employer with a p45, you can just transfer your tax credits to the new job. Most people starting a new job won't have got a p45 in time, so I really wouldn't worry at all.

Could they figure it out from the P60 though?

dubrov

Don't worry about it.

By the time they get around to processing your P45 they won't even remember the interview.

Senna

Mktio wrote: »

Could they figure it out from the P60 though?

Really don't worry about it, no they can't work it out by any correspondence they get from revenue.
You are really over thinking this.

stooge

If they ask about it (which they wont), then just mention that you assumed the question was regarding your overall package (including health insurance, bonuses, pension etc etc).

Laura_A

Don't worry about it - as a recruiter working inhouse I wouldn't care what people said they were earning or how much of a jump they get as long as the work you put in is worth the cost. I only ever ask what they expect not the current salary as current salary is irrelevant... Companies will accept that you are underpaid and as others said - they wont even look and you dont have to give a P45 ...

toadfly

Mktio wrote: »

Could they figure it out from the P60 though?

You are over analysing, no-one in Payroll will care and they don't need your P60.

They might ask it as part of reference checks though.

zoobizoo

No one checks

Everyone bumps it up a bit

Accounts won't talk to the interviewer

Interviewer won't go to payroll

stoplooklisten

Well done! You played your hand and they believed your poker face. Congratulations! As others said, the person processing your tax will not be the person that interview you and even if the are, meh!

zoobizoo

Once was at work dinner where Director said "no one has every lied to me about salary in an interview" to which a lad at the end of the table piped up "I did.... I told you I was on 5k more".... "no you didn't".... "yes I did".....

Great team building night that was.

Don't worry about it

matrim

Also if asked again don't give your current salary, instead give your expected salary

Recruiter: What is your current salary?
You: I expect a salary of X for a role of this type

jimmycrackcorm

When recruiting I take into account what the person is asking for because I don't want a situation where they get settled in and then leave a short time later for more pay.

Having said that, I recently got in a c.v. and discarded it before consideration because the salary the candidate was looking for was a bit like the luas workers demand.

thesimpsons

Mktio wrote: »

Could they figure it out from the P60 though?

if you ring revenue yourself and ask that new cert doesn't give the new employer the P45 figures, they will never see them. its done very regularly, Revenue have no issue in doing this and the new employer won't ever need or even want, to know.

uck51js9zml2yt

New employer never needs to see your p45.
Just call revenue with their employer number and a new cert is sent to them.

reallyrose

Don't worry too much.
For one thing, recruiters know that people will often up their current salary a bit. You'll often hear people around the office musing "well, he said he was on €45K so he's probably on €40, so his asking salary is fine"*
For another thing, the offered salary is based on your skill-set, how much they want you, and internal salary dynamics.

I would be astonished if your new company pulled your P45 and decided to lower your salary based on it.
(If they did, it would be a massive red flag - in my opinion)


*Statistically speaking, 20% of Irish people lie about their salaries to the tune of +/- 10% of earnings. I read a study!

super_furry

You're overthinking it and they won't ask.

Congratulations.

Etc

You've done exactly the right thing. Bear in mind future wage increments will be small so what you go in on will be the biggest hike bar promotions.

Well done you !

Wendolene

OP, I've been on both sides of this situation on a few occasions. I fully agree with other posters here that you're over-thinking this. I understand why you are, but you are If you do not want your new employer to see your P45, then you don't have to give it.

What your new employer needs are details of your tax credits - not your year-to-date salary. So, to facilitate that, all you need it to contact Revenue yourself and provide them with your new employers tax reference number (from a HR contact, perhaps). Then, Revenue will write to your new employer to inform them of your tax credits so they can begin to deduct tax at source from you wages. No previous salary details are involved here ... because they are not required.

If there are any issues at the end of the tax year with over-paying or under-paying tax, then you'll have to sort those out with Revenue yourself using whatever documentation you'll have from both employers.

Old you + old experience + old qualifications = old job + old salary
New you + new experience + new qualifications = new job + new salary

As an aside, I particularly dislike it when recruiters ask about current salary details. That question is an old-fashioned and anachronistic hangover from a time when it was considered relevant to a new job. It's not, and never was.

It gets asked because some recruiters (and employers) try to use it as leverage in salary negotiations. Don't let them. Don't entertain the question (and it seems you didn't). Focus on what salary you're looking for in a new role ... "going forward"

If your new employer wasn't comfortable with offering a particular salary for a particular job ... then they just wouldn't offer it. I hope you get the job.

ebayissues

If a recruiter misled you about the salary on offer & benefits on offer. And you get the job but no benefits stated on the contract. How would respond ?

Stheno

ebayissues wrote: »

If a recruiter misled you about the salary on offer & benefits on offer. And you get the job but no benefits stated on the contract. How would respond ?

Go back to the recruiter with queries?

sawfish

Senna wrote: »

Really don't worry about it, no they can't work it out by any correspondence they get from revenue.
You are really over thinking this.

They are NOT overthinking this. You don't know the size of the company, the boss could have very easy access to the payroll department.

OP needs to tell the new employer they have not gotten a p45 yet, ask for the new employer ID and contact revenue to sort out the tax credits.

Senna

sawfish wrote: »

They are NOT overthinking this. You don't know the size of the company, the boss could have very easy access to the payroll department.

OP needs to tell the new employer they have not gotten a p45 yet, ask for the new employer ID and contact revenue to sort out the tax credits.

Your new boss could be the payroll department, doesn't mean they will know previous earning from any correspondence.

sawfish

Senna wrote: »

Your new boss could be the payroll department, doesn't mean they will know previous earning from any correspondence.

They will know, if you give them your p45, thats my point.

Dial Hard

sawfish wrote:

They will know, if you give them your p45, thats my point.

And the point everyone else is making is that the OP doesn't have to give them his P45.

Mellor

ebayissues wrote: »

If a recruiter misled you about the salary on offer & benefits on offer. And you get the job but no benefits stated on the contract. How would respond ?

I'd go back to the recruiter and highlight those omissions before signing.

When I took my current my current job, the recruiter suggested the intended salary was $Xk. I got the job offer the following day and it ended up being $5k less than she had suggested. I declined and said I had only interviewed based on X and had I know I wouldn't have wasted their time. They came back very quickly with an offer in the middle. I said no again and I had my contract with $Xk by the end of the day.

sawfish wrote: »

They are NOT overthinking this. You don't know the size of the company, the boss could have very easy access to the payroll department.

OP needs to tell the new employer they have not gotten a p45 yet, ask for the new employer ID and contact revenue to sort out the tax credits.

sawfish wrote: »

They will know, if you give them your p45, thats my point.

I think you need to re-read the thread.
OP told a recruiter he is on more than he is. He hasn't said anything to any employer. He hasn't even had a job offer (a lot of people missed that I think). If he gets offered a job the salary he wants and accepts, that's between him and the employer. He previous salary isn't relevant unless the employer specifically asked during interview/salary negotiations what it was.

kravmaga

Mktio wrote: »

Hi, need a bit of advice. I'm looking to leave my current job because I'm getting underpaid. Recently, I lied about my current salary when talking to a recruiter to avoid getting a low-ball salary offer later.

I've since realised that if I got a job offer and accepted, an employer could possibly find out my previous salary from my P45. Is this correct? Will it matter? Should I continue with the interview process or drop out to avoid getting caught in a lie?

You know you can just send your P45 into Revenue district to where you live and thats it sorted.

You dont have to give it to your employer directly.

worded

You send the p45 to the revenue yourself as far as I know that way the previous
Pay is not known to the new employer - simple

seamus

Unless your next job is a really small company where the boss will be processing the payroll, then I wouldn't worry about it.

The person who receives your P45 and clickity-clacks it into the payroll software won't give two fncks what your previous salary was; they won't have been part of the recruitment process.

As others have said, if you're really worried about it, you can send your P45 to Revenue who will then send an adjustment Tax Credits statement to your new employer. They could still technically work out an estimate of your old salary from that though; if they really cared that much about it.

They don't, not really. The person who is hiring you is paying you money based on what they think you're worth, not what you used to get paid.

Musketeer4

Unless you work for an SME where your boss/manager also processes your salary and tax affairs, then you've probably nothing to worry about.

bpmurray

When interviewing someone, I assume they'll push their current salary - it's part of the game and the negotiations. It's basically you saying "my starting point for negotiating is ...", and the hiring company will counter that with an offer. They upshot is they couldn't care less, just will think you're a good negotiator and may hold you in even higher esteem.

secondrowgal

I cannot believe all the advice to the OP that it's ok to LIE about his/her salary! It doesn't matter what the lie is, the fact is that it is a lie, and if I found out, he/she would be out on their ear toute suite.

witchgirl26

secondrowgal wrote: »

I cannot believe all the advice to the OP that it's ok to LIE about his/her salary! It doesn't matter what the lie is, the fact is that it is a lie, and if I found out, he/she would be out on their ear toute suite.

I don't understand this to be honest. Ok not great to lie but a lot of people do it with recruiters to get a better salary. If you're a hiring manager, you're going to have a budget for a new staff member. If you've offered someone a salary based off the interviews, their skills etc & you find out they were paid something less in their old place, it affects you how?

A hiring manager should only offer a salary they are comfortable paying that individual.

I told my recruiter my real salary & he was the one who was just a bit vague with it when going to companies (i.e. "she'd like upwards of €x rather than telling them exactly what I was on).

Squatter

secondrowgal wrote: »

I cannot believe all the advice to the OP that it's ok to LIE about his/her salary! It doesn't matter what the lie is, the fact is that it is a lie, and if I found out, he/she would be out on their ear toute suite.

And then you'd be in the Labour Court! Because YOU would have broken the employment contract, NOT not the employee!

Sure, you'd be entitled to sack them if they've lied about a professional qualification that is required for the position.

But for telling a recruitment agency a porkie about their salary scale in their current job - not a chance! Firstly, it's not really any of your business, and secondly, you made (or should have made) the job offer (and remuneration level) to the recruit based on YOUR assessment of what the position was worth in terms of salary, NOT based on what they were earning previously!

techdiver

I always lie about my salary. It's a valid tactic in negotiation. If the employer doesn't want me at that price, then they don't have to hire me!

Mellor

secondrowgal wrote: »

I cannot believe all the advice to the OP that it's ok to LIE about his/her salary! It doesn't matter what the lie is, the fact is that it is a lie, and if I found out, he/she would be out on their ear toute suite.

How could a recruiter turf the OP out on their ear? More importantly why?

Even if it was the employer she lied to, she still has a contract.

sawfish

Dial Hard wrote: »

And the point everyone else is making is that the OP doesn't have to give them his P45.

That's exactly the point I made Dial Hard

sawfish

Mellor wrote: »

I'd go back to the recruiter and highlight those omissions before signing.

When I took my current my current job, the recruiter suggested the intended salary was $Xk. I got the job offer the following day and it ended up being $5k less than she had suggested. I declined and said I had only interviewed based on X and had I know I wouldn't have wasted their time. They came back very quickly with an offer in the middle. I said no again and I had my contract with $Xk by the end of the day.





I think you need to re-read the thread.
OP told a recruiter he is on more than he is. He hasn't said anything to any employer. He hasn't even had a job offer (a lot of people missed that I think). If he gets offered a job the salary he wants and accepts, that's between him and the employer. He previous salary isn't relevant unless the employer specifically asked during interview/salary negotiations what it was.

I think you need to consider the possibility the recruiter has a good relationship with the employer and has told them what the OP's "current salary" was

witchgirl26

sawfish wrote: »

I think you need to consider the possibility the recruiter has a good relationship with the employer and has told them what the OP's "current salary" was

I doubt it. Recruiters are generally paid a percentage of the salary of the person they place so it's in their interest to get them the best salary possible. Therefore why tell them you're on €45k and have an employer offer €47.5 potentially than tell them you're looking for offers above €50k.

mitresize5

The drama ...

Any one recruiting will know most people moving jobs will do so for a increased salary so the previous salary is irrelevant.

No matter what the person was on previously the new company will offer what they think the person is worth for the role.

The recruiter in this case must be inexperienced - the question is not 'What is your current salary' ... the question is ' 'What is your salary expectations'

And its madness to suggest that the new company will be delving into P45's to see what the person was on previously. The new company will have offered a salary commensurable with what the candidate can bring to the role ... they dont give two hoots what they person was on previously.

OP - your fine, you did what everyone does, its not dishonest, its not lies, your looking after your career in the exact same way as everyone else is

Mellor

sawfish wrote: »

I think you need to consider the possibility the recruiter has a good relationship with the employer and has told them what the OP's "current salary" was

That's irrelevant. The OP didn't mislead the employer. The recruiter puts forward candidates for various roles. It's not on them to set the salary. The employer makes an offer of their own free will. They aren't forced to match anything.

tea and coffee

sawfish wrote: »

They are NOT overthinking this. You don't know the size of the company, the boss could have very easy access to the payroll department.

OP needs to tell the new employer they have not gotten a p45 yet, ask for the new employer ID and contact revenue to sort out the tax credits.

Yeah, but he was talking to a recruitment agency- that information may get lost in translation along the way to the company, esp with the passage of time. I really wouldn't be worrying about it