How to Claim a Tax Refund in the UK
HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ over-collects tax from millions of workers each year through emergency tax codes, mid-year job changes, and unclaimed reliefs. Check your Personal Tax Account — most refunds are claimed in 5 minutes online, and HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ automatically posts P800 letters for many overpayments.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UK sources(2025-Latest).
0 of 6 steps
- Before You Go 5 min
Check your tax code first
Your tax code (e.g. 1257L) tells your employer how much pay to give you tax-free. Wrong codes — especially the emergency codes 0T or BR after a job change — are the top cause of overpayment. Your code is on every payslip.
Click to mark as done
- Go 10 min
Sign in to your Personal Tax Account
Create a Government Gateway at gov.uk/personal-tax-account with your NI numberNational Insurance number — Your UK tax and social security number. You need it to work, pay tax, and claim benefits.Click for official info ↗ and a recent payslip or P60. The dashboard shows your tax code per employer, estimated tax, and an "overpaid tax" checker that starts a refund claim directly.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare
Claim reliefs you are owed
Common ones: uniform tax relief (flat-rate deduction if you wash your own work uniform — claim for the current year plus 4 back years), Marriage Allowance (transfer 10% of your allowance to a spouse, worth up to £252/year), and professional fees or subscriptions. Claim through your tax account or form P87.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay 10 min
Respond to a P800 if you get one
If HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ spots an overpayment they send a P800 calculation after the tax year ends (usually June–October). Follow the link in the letter to claim online — refunds go to your bank in about 2–6 weeks. Beware: HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ never asks for card details by email or phone; P800s arrive by post.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up
Left the UK? Claim before you go
If you leave the UK part-way through a tax year you have usually overpaid. Apply for a refund of income tax after leaving using form P85 (or your Personal Tax Account). Keep a UK bank account open or nominate an account that accepts sterling for the repayment.
Click to mark as done
- Receive
Fix the cause, not just the symptom
After any refund, make sure your tax code is corrected for the current year — otherwise you overpay again next April. Ask your employer to check with HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗, or update your estimated income in your Personal Tax Account so the code self-corrects.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back can I claim?
Four tax years plus the current one. For example, until 5 April 2026 you can claim back to the 2020/21 tax year. Older overpayments are gone for good — which is why the uniform and marriage allowance back-claims are worth doing in one sitting.
A company says they can get me a bigger refund for a fee.
Be careful. Refund firms file the same free claims you can make yourself and take a percentage (often 25–50%) of the refund. Some file false relief claims, leaving you liable when HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ reopens them. HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ only contacts you about refunds through official channels.
I am on a visa and leaving the UK permanently. Do I get all my tax back?
No — you get back only the tax overpaid under PAYE for the part-year you worked, not all tax paid. Your employer gives you a P45 when you leave; submit it with form P85. National Insurance contributions generally cannot be refunded, though some countries have totalisation agreements that count them toward pensions.
Related