The title compound, C(12)H(17)FNO(+)·Cl(-), is a degradation impurity of paroxetine hydro-chloride hemihydrate (PAXIL), an anti-depressant belonging to the group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Similar to the paroxetine hydro-chloride salt with protonation having taken place on the basic piperidine ring, the degradation impurity also exists as the hydro-chloride salt. The cyclic six-membered piperidinium ring adopts a chair conformation with the hydroxy-methyl and 4-fluoro-phenyl groups in the equatorial positions. The ions form a tape along the b axis through charge-assisted N(+)-H⋯Cl(-) hydrogen bonds; these tapes are connected by O-H⋯Cl(-) hydrogen bonds along the a axis.