How to Check if You're Owed a Tax Refund UK 2025-26
Millions of UK taxpayers overpay income tax each year. Here is how to check whether you are owed a refund, why overpayments happen, and how to claim what you are owed.
Why Do People Overpay Tax?
The PAYE system is designed to collect the right amount of tax automatically, but it does not always succeed. Common reasons employees overpay tax include:
- Wrong tax code: An incorrect code means too much tax is deducted from each pay packet
- Emergency tax: New employees on emergency codes (0T or W1/M1) are taxed as if they have no Personal Allowance until the correct code is issued
- Changing jobs: The transition between employers can leave gaps or duplicate tax deductions
- Multiple jobs: Your Personal Allowance may not be correctly split between employers
- Working for only part of the year: If you start or stop working mid-year, your full annual allowance may not be used
- Pension income: New pensioners receiving pension payments are often put on an emergency code initially
- Unclaimed expenses: Work expenses, professional subscriptions, or working from home relief not previously claimed
How to Check Your Tax Position
1. HMRC Personal Tax Account
The fastest way to check is via your HMRC Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account. Sign in (or create an account) using your Government Gateway credentials. Under "Pay As You Earn", HMRC shows:
- Your current and previous tax codes
- An estimate of your income and tax paid for the current year
- Whether you may have overpaid or underpaid
- Any refunds waiting to be claimed
2. Your P60
Your employer issues a P60 after the end of each tax year (by 31 May). It shows your total pay, income tax deducted, and National Insurance for the year. You can use the figures on your P60 to manually check whether the right amount of tax was paid by comparing against the income tax bands for that year.
3. Your Payslips
Review your payslips throughout the year. Your tax code should match the code HMRC has issued. If any payslip shows an unusually high tax deduction, or a code like 0T, W1, or M1, investigate it.
4. P800 Letter from HMRC
HMRC automatically reconciles income tax accounts after the end of each tax year and sends a P800 tax calculation to people who have overpaid or underpaid. P800s are typically issued between June and October. If you receive one showing an overpayment, you can claim the refund online or HMRC may send a cheque automatically. See our dedicated P800 guide for full details.
How to Claim a Tax Refund
Depending on the reason for the overpayment, you claim a refund in different ways:
| Reason | How to Claim |
|---|---|
| Wrong tax code | Contact HMRC to correct the code; refund through PAYE |
| P800 showing overpayment | Claim online via Personal Tax Account or by post |
| Work expenses not claimed | Submit P87 form online or by post |
| Emergency tax on new job | HMRC corrects automatically, or contact HMRC |
| Self Assessment return | Overpayment shown on return, refund requested online |
How Long Does a Refund Take?
Timelines vary by method:
- Online claim via Personal Tax Account: Usually 5 working days
- P800 online claim: Usually 5 working days
- P87 form online: 2-4 weeks
- P87 by post: Up to 6 weeks
- Self Assessment refund: Usually 5 working days if claimed online
Refunds are paid by bank transfer if HMRC holds your bank details, or by cheque otherwise. Do not use third-party tax refund companies that take a percentage of your refund, HMRC's service is free and usually just as fast.
How Far Back Can You Claim?
You can claim overpaid tax for up to 4 complete tax years. In the 2025-26 tax year, you can claim back to 2021-22. From April 2026, the 2021-22 year becomes time-barred. If you have unclaimed work expenses or a missed refund from several years ago, claim it before the window closes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if HMRC owes me a tax refund?
Log in to your HMRC Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account. Under "Pay As You Earn (PAYE)", HMRC shows your estimated tax position. You can also look for a P800 letter issued after the tax year end.
What is a P800 letter from HMRC?
A P800 is a tax calculation letter sent by HMRC showing whether you have overpaid or underpaid tax for the year. Overpaid amounts can be claimed online or HMRC may send a cheque automatically.
How long does a tax refund take from HMRC?
Online claims are usually processed within 5 working days. Postal claims can take up to 6 weeks. Refunds are paid by bank transfer or cheque.
How far back can I claim a tax refund?
You can claim for up to 4 complete tax years. In 2025-26, the oldest claimable year is 2021-22.