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 ↗ takes too much tax from millions of workers each year. This often happens because of emergency tax codes. It can also happen when you change jobs mid-year. Or when you do not claim reliefs you are owed. Check your Personal Tax Account. Most people claim a refund online in 5 minutes. HMRC also sends P800 letters for many overpayments.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Free
- Total time:
- 5 min check; online refunds usually within 2 weeks
- Steps:
- 6 steps
- Where to apply:
- gov.uk
Last reviewed November 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due May 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UK sources(November 2026).
0 of 6 steps
- Before You Go 5 min
Check your tax code first
Your tax code tells your employer how much of your pay is tax-free. For example, your code may be 1257L. Wrong codes are the top cause of overpayment. This is often the emergency codes 0T or BR after a job change. You can find your code on every payslip.
Click to mark as done
- Go 10 min
Sign in to your Personal Tax Account
Create a Government Gateway account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account. You need 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 ↗. You also need a recent payslip or P60. Your dashboard shows your tax code for each employer. It also shows your estimated tax. It has an "overpaid tax" checker. This checker starts a refund claim for you.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare
Claim reliefs you are owed
Here are common ones. Uniform tax relief is a flat-rate deduction if you wash your own work uniform. You can claim for this year plus 4 back years. Marriage Allowance lets you transfer 10% of your allowance to a spouse. It is worth up to £252/year. You can also claim for professional fees or subscriptions. Claim in your tax account or on form P87. Watch the 2027 deadline: claims for the 2022/23 tax year must reach HMRC by 5 April 2027. After that date, that year is closed for good.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay 10 min
Respond to a P800 if you get one
If HMRC sees you paid too much, they send a P800 calculation. They send it after the tax year ends. This is usually June to October. Follow the link in the letter to claim online. Refunds claimed in your online account usually reach your bank within 2 weeks. Be careful. HMRC 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 paid too much. Use form P85 to apply for a refund of income tax after you leave. You can also use your Personal Tax Account. Keep a UK bank account open. Or choose an account that accepts sterling for the repayment.
Click to mark as done
- Receive
Fix the cause, not just the symptom
After any refund, check your tax code for this year. Make sure it is correct. If it is wrong, you will pay too much again next April. Ask your employer to check with HMRC. Or update your estimated income in your Personal Tax Account. Then the code will correct itself.
Click to mark as done
Be Careful
Don't make these mistakes
Never checking your tax code. Wrong codes are the top cause of overpayment, often the emergency codes 0T or BR after a job change. Your code is on every payslip, so check it before assuming HMRC has your tax right.
Paying a refund firm a cut of your refund. Refund firms file the same claims you can make for free yourself, and they often take 25 to 50 percent of your refund. Some file false relief claims, and if HMRC reopens them, you are liable.
Falling for a fake P800 message. Real P800s arrive by post, and HMRC never asks for card details by email or phone. A message asking for card details to release a refund is a scam, not HMRC.
Claiming only the current year. You can claim for this year plus 4 back years, so claim uniform relief and marriage allowance for past years at the same time. Older overpayments are gone for good once the 4-year window closes.
Taking the refund but not fixing the cause. After any refund, check your tax code for this year. If it is still wrong, you will pay too much again next April, so update your estimated income in your Personal Tax Account or ask your employer to check with HMRC.
Leaving the UK without claiming. If you leave part-way through a tax year, use form P85 to apply for a refund of income tax after you leave. Keep a UK bank account open, or choose an account that accepts sterling for the repayment.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far back can I claim?
Four tax years plus the current one. For example, until 5 April 2027 you can claim back to the 2022/23 tax year (the 4-year rule: 2021/22 had to be claimed by 5 April 2026). You cannot claim older overpayments. They are gone for good. So it is worth claiming uniform relief and marriage allowance for past years at the same time.
A company says they can get me a bigger refund for a fee.
Be careful. Refund firms file the same claims you can make for free yourself. They take a percentage of your refund. This is often 25–50% of your refund. Some firms file false relief claims. If HMRC reopens them, you are liable. HMRC 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 only get back the tax you overpaid under PAYE for the part of the year you worked. You do not get back all the tax you paid. Your employer gives you a P45 when you leave. Send it with form P85. National Insurance contributions generally cannot be refunded. But some countries have totalisation agreements. These count your contributions toward pensions.
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