Resignation acceptance letter template

£14.99

UK-specific • Editable • Instant download • 12 months' updates

The Resignation Acceptance Letter formally acknowledges an employee's resignation and confirms the arrangements for the end of their employment. It sets out the resignation date, notice period, final working or termination date and any important arrangements concerning holiday, Company property, handover and final pay.

Use this template to:

  • Formally acknowledge an employee's resignation.
  • Confirm the employee's notice period and termination date.
  • Confirm any agreed arrangements during the notice period.
  • Address outstanding holiday and Company property.
  • Confirm final pay and other termination arrangements.
  • Create a clear written record of the employee's resignation.
Resignation acceptance letter template
2026 Reviewed

What's included in this template?

This template brings together the key information, sections and considerations you need to create a clear, comprehensive and professional HR document. Preview the document below.

  • Resignation acknowledgement
  • Notice period confirmation
  • Final working and termination date
  • Holiday arrangements
  • Handover and Company property
  • Final pay and benefits
  • Post-employment obligations
Specifications
Access 12 months (includes updates)
Length 2 pages • 705 words
Jurisdiction England, Wales and Scotland
Based on UK employment law, ACAS guidance
Last review 26/08/2026
Next review 26/02/2027
Delivery Instant download
Formats .doc · .txt · email

Download .doc

Copy [to paste]

Email
Template

[Sender name]

[Sender address]

[date]

[Recipient name]

[Recipient address]

 

Dear [Recipient first name],

Acceptance of Resignation

I am writing to formally acknowledge receipt of your resignation dated [date of resignation], in which you confirmed your intention to resign from your position as [job title].

I confirm that the Company accepts your resignation. In accordance with your contract of employment, your notice period is [number] weeks and your employment will therefore terminate on [termination date].

Notice period

You are expected to continue working during your notice period until [last working day], unless we agree otherwise.

During this period, you will remain subject to the terms and conditions of your employment and are expected to continue carrying out your duties and responsibilities as normal.

[If applicable: During your notice period, you will be required to assist with the handover of your duties and responsibilities to [name / role].]

Holiday entitlement

Your holiday entitlement will continue to accrue during your notice period in accordance with your contract and applicable legislation.

As at your termination date, you will have [number] days/hours of accrued but untaken holiday remaining.

[Choose as applicable:

You should take your remaining holiday entitlement during your notice period. The dates will be agreed with your manager in the normal way.

OR

Any

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What is a resignation acceptance letter?

Resignation acceptance letter template preview

A Resignation Acceptance Letter is used by an employer to formally acknowledge an employee's decision to resign and confirm the arrangements for the end of their employment. It provides a clear written record of when the resignation was received, the applicable notice period and the date employment will end.

The letter can also confirm practical leaving arrangements, including outstanding holiday, handover, Company property, final pay and any continuing contractual obligations.

What is it used for?

The letter gives the employee clear confirmation of what happens following their resignation. It can help avoid misunderstandings about the notice period, final working day and termination date and provides an appropriate record for the employee's personnel file.

It can be adapted where the employee is working their notice normally or where separate arrangements, such as garden leave, have been agreed.

Who should use it?

The template is suitable for HR professionals, managers and employers dealing with the resignation of an employee.

What should be confirmed?

The employer should confirm the date the resignation was received, the contractual notice period and the resulting termination date. Where relevant, the letter should also explain arrangements for holiday, handover, Company property, benefits and final pay.

Example

An employee with three years' service submits their resignation on 26 August. Their contract provides for four weeks' notice.

HR checks the contract and confirms that their employment will terminate on 23 September. The manager agrees that the employee will work their normal notice period and will complete a handover before leaving.

HR issues a Resignation Acceptance Letter confirming receipt of the resignation, the four-week notice period, the termination date and the arrangements for outstanding holiday and Company property.

The employee's final pay is then processed, including any accrued but untaken holiday that remains due, and the normal offboarding process is completed.

The wider HR process

Related HR resources and workflow

Explore the HR resources that may be relevant before and / or after using the Resignation acceptance letter, helping you understand the wider process, maintain appropriate documentation and follow a consistent approach.

Previous
Letters
Resignation letter

Our resignation letter template can be used by an employee as a formal method of submitting notice that they intend to resign from their employment.

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Resignation acceptance letter
Next
Guides
Managers guide to employee resignations

Our Guide to Managing an Employee Resignation offers step-by-step instructions for a smooth transition, ensuring professionalism and maintaining positive relationships.

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Implementation guidance

Use these best practice actions, recommended timescales and process stages to understand when and how the Resignation acceptance letter should be used, helping ensure each step is handled consistently and appropriately documented.

Step Description Responsibility Timing (Days from Issue)
1 Receive the Resignation: Confirm the employee's resignation, the date it was submitted and the employee's intended final working date. Manager / HR Day 0
2 Check the Contract: Confirm the employee's contractual notice period and calculate the correct termination date. HR Day 0 to Day 1
3 Agree Leaving Arrangements: Confirm handover, holiday, Company property, system access and any other arrangements applying during the notice period. Manager / HR Day 1 to Day 3
4 Issue the Acceptance Letter: Confirm the resignation, notice period, termination date and relevant leaving arrangements in writing. HR / Management Day 1 to Day 3
5 Complete the Departure: Process final pay, accrued holiday and benefits and complete the Company's normal offboarding arrangements. HR / Payroll / Manager Termination Date
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Common mistakes

Understand the common mistakes to avoid when using this HR template, helping you reduce risk, prevent unnecessary costs and ensure the process is handled correctly.

  • Failing to confirm the resignation and termination date in writing.
  • Calculating the notice period or termination date incorrectly.
  • Assuming the employee's intended leaving date is necessarily the contractual termination date.
  • Failing to deal with accrued holiday and other final payments.
  • Forgetting to arrange the return of Company property.
  • Failing to communicate handover and system access arrangements.
  • Making promises about final pay or benefits without checking the employee's contract.
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HR considerations

UK employment law and best practice

This template is designed to support the process, but the document should be used alongside the relevant HR procedure and applied to the circumstances of the individual case.

There is no general statutory requirement for an employer to issue a separate resignation acceptance letter. However, confirming the resignation and resulting termination arrangements in writing is good HR practice and helps create a clear record of what has been agreed.

Notice period

The employer should check the employee's Contract of Employment to establish the applicable notice period. The contractual notice may be longer than the statutory minimum, but cannot normally provide less than the applicable statutory minimum.

Termination date

The employer should calculate the termination date carefully based on the date notice was given and the applicable notice period. The date should be clearly confirmed to the employee to avoid uncertainty about when employment ends.

Holiday entitlement

Holiday entitlement continues to accrue during the notice period. Where an employee leaves part way through a holiday year, the employer should calculate the holiday entitlement accrued and deal appropriately with any untaken holiday in accordance with the contract and applicable legislation. https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

Final pay

Final pay should include salary and any other sums properly due under the employment contract and applicable legislation. This may include payment for accrued but untaken holiday, approved expenses or other contractual payments.

Resignation and withdrawal

An employee who has clearly resigned will generally be expected to serve their notice. If an employee subsequently attempts to withdraw their resignation, the employer should consider the circumstances and does not necessarily have to agree to the withdrawal.

Post-employment obligations

Where the employee remains subject to contractual obligations after employment ends, such as confidentiality or valid post-termination restrictions, these should be handled in accordance with the terms of the employee's contract.

You may also need these resources

FAQs

Does an employer have to accept an employee's resignation?

Where an employee has clearly resigned, the employer would normally treat the resignation as notice of termination rather than something requiring formal approval. An acceptance letter is useful for confirming that the resignation has been received and setting out the resulting arrangements.

What should a resignation acceptance letter include?

It should normally confirm the date the resignation was received, the notice period, termination date and any relevant arrangements concerning holiday, handover, Company property and final pay.

Why use HRDocBox for a Resignation Acceptance Letter?

HRDocBox combines deep HR knowledge, practical application and years of experience with real employee departures and HR processes. The template helps employers confirm the key arrangements clearly without turning a straightforward resignation into an unnecessarily complicated process.

Why use HRDocBox rather than asking AI to create the letter?

AI can produce a basic resignation acknowledgement, but a useful HR letter also needs to prompt the employer to check notice, holiday, final pay, Company property and continuing contractual obligations. HRDocBox combines UK employment-law knowledge, practical HR experience and best practice to provide a more complete starting point.

Can an employee withdraw their resignation?

An employee does not generally have an automatic right to withdraw a resignation once it has been clearly given, although the circumstances can matter. If an employee asks to withdraw their resignation, the employer should consider the situation and confirm its decision clearly.

What happens to unused holiday when an employee resigns?

Holiday continues to accrue during the notice period. Where an employee leaves with accrued but untaken holiday, the employer will generally need to make the appropriate payment for the outstanding entitlement in the final pay calculation, subject to the applicable contractual and statutory arrangements.

How this content is developed and reviewed

The Resignation acceptance letter template is developed using a practical HR methodology that considers current UK employment legislation, ACAS guidance, CIPD good practice and the real-world HR process it supports. Templates are regularly reviewed and updated, with additional reviews triggered by significant changes to legislation, guidance or established HR practice, helping ensure each document remains practical, relevant and suitable for UK employers.

About the author

Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director

Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.

He has extensive practical experience of managing resignation processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.

HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.

Executive recommendation

"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."

"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."

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