How to Claim a Tax Refund After Leaving a Job (Form P50)
Stopped working part-way through the tax year and paid too much tax? Form P50 asks HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ to check and refund the overpayment — it takes 15 minutes online and repayments usually arrive within 4 weeks.
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 7 steps
- Before You Go 15 min
Check you actually overpaid
You overpay when you stop working mid-year and your tax was calculated as if you would earn your salary all year. Rough check: total tax paid versus the tax due on your actual income using the year's bands. If you started a new job soon after, the P45 usually sorts it automatically — a P50 is for people who stopped working entirely.
Click to mark as done
- Before You Go —
Wait until you have your P45
You need the P45 (your employer must give it when you leave — parts 1A, 2, and 3). If they never sent it, ask payroll first; after that, HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ can find your record from 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 ↗ alone, but the P45 makes everything faster.
Click to mark as done
- Before You Go 10 min
Confirm you qualify for P50
You can claim if you have stopped working and will not receive taxable benefits or Jobseeker's Allowance (contribution-based) in the current tax year, and will not be claiming a taxable state pension. You must claim within 4 years of the April after the tax year ended.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare 15 min
Fill in the P50 online
Complete the form at gov.uk (search "P50"). You will need: leaving date, P45 figures (total pay and tax), whether you had other jobs or benefits after leaving, and your repayment preference (bank transfer or cheque). Save a note of the reference number.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay up to 4 weeks
Submit and wait for HMRC to check
HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ recalculate your tax for the whole year using your actual income. If you are owed money, they repay it — typically within 4 weeks online, longer by post. If you underpaid instead, they usually collect through next year's tax code rather than demanding it immediately.
Click to mark as done
- Receive —
Choose how you get repaid
Direct bank transfer is fastest and safest. Cheques can expire and cost time to replace. If you owe tax for a different year, HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ may offset the refund against it first and pay you the balance.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up 15 min
Track it and claim older years too
If nothing happens in 6 weeks, call HMRCHM Revenue & Customs — The UK tax authority. It collects income tax, issues National Insurance numbers, and runs Self Assessment.Click for official info ↗ (0300 200 3300) with your reference. You can backdate claims for up to 4 tax years — if you left jobs in earlier years without claiming, file P50s for each year separately.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
I started a new job right after leaving. Should I still file a P50?
Usually not — give your P45 to the new employer and their payroll corrects the overpayment through your tax code within a month or two. A P50 is for when you stopped working completely or took a long gap.
Can I claim a P50 refund if I left the UK entirely?
Yes — leaving the country part-way through a tax year is a classic P50 situation. You can also be due refunds on uniform washing, professional fees, or overpaid National Insurance; claim those before you go, as bank repayments to overseas accounts take longer.
What is the difference between a P50 and a P53?
P50 is for income tax when you stop working mid-year. P53/P53Z is for overpaid tax on a workplace or private pension — typically lump sums taxed with the emergency "Month 1" code, which pushes you into the wrong band.
Related