Guides › Work and Employment › Paid Below the Minimum Wage: How to Complain to HMRC
Paid Below the Minimum Wage: How to Complain to HMRC
If you are paid less than the minimum wage for your age, your employer is breaking the law and must pay back what you are owed. Talk to them first and ask to see your pay records in writing. If they do not put it right, you can complain to HMRC, which enforces the minimum wage for the Fair Work Agency. HMRC can order the arrears to be paid, fine the employer and take them to court. You can also go to an employment tribunal.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
What You Can Do
Ask for Your Records
You can ask your employer to see your pay records. Ask in writing. You can bring someone with you and make copies. source
Complain to HMRC
You can complain about your employer or employment agency, or on behalf of someone else. HMRC enforces the minimum wage on behalf of the Fair Work Agency. source
What HMRC Can Do
HMRC can send your employer a notice to pay the arrears plus a fine. If the employer still refuses, HMRC can take them to court on your behalf. source
The Fair Work Agency
One Place for Help
The Fair Work Agency is part of the Department for Business and Trade. It takes on minimum wage enforcement, agency worker rules, gangmaster licensing and parts of modern slavery law. Holiday pay and sick pay enforcement are due to be added later. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- £12.71National Living WageAn hour, aged 21 and over, from 1 April 2026
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Write down your hours and pay for each pay period.
Step 2 of 5
Ask your employer in writing to see your pay records.
Step 3 of 5
Ask them to pay the arrears.
Step 4 of 5
Complain to HMRC if they do not.
Step 5 of 5
If you are dismissed for raising it, get advice about an unfair dismissal claim.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Complain to HMRC (GOV.UK)
Free. You can also complain for someone else.
Acas Helpline
Free and confidential. 0300 123 1100, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Acas Early Conciliation
You must tell Acas before you make most tribunal claims. It is free.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
You are also protected if you are dismissed for asking about the minimum wage.
Rules here are for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own employment law, the Labour Relations Agency and industrial tribunals; see nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/national-minimum-wage/worker-disputes-over-minimum-wage Checked 15 October 2026
- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696126a5d6532b76df7dcd75/fair-work-agency-factsheet.pdf Checked 15 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/contact Checked 8 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/early-conciliation/how-early-conciliation-works Checked 8 October 2026