Whether you're due a refund depends on how much tax you've paid versus what you actually owe

A tax refund happens when you've paid more income tax to HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) than you needed to. The most common reason is that your employer took too much from your wages, or you stopped work partway through the tax year and overpaid. Self-employed people sometimes get refunds too, usually because they've paid too much through Self Assessment or because their income dropped.

The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year. HMRC works out what you owe based on your total income for that full year, not month by month. If you've paid more than that total through PAYE (the system that takes tax from wages), you get the difference back.

You don't have to do anything to claim a refund if you're employed and paid through PAYE — HMRC spots overpayments automatically and sends the money back. If you're self-employed or have other income, you claim through your Self Assessment tax return.

Key Takeaways

  • HMRC automatically refunds overpaid PAYE tax without you needing to ask, usually within four to eight weeks of the tax year ending.
  • You can check if a refund is on the way by logging into your HMRC online account or calling the Income Tax helpline.
  • Self-employed people claim refunds through their Self Assessment tax return, which must be filed by 31 January after the tax year ends.
  • If you left a job partway through the year, you may have overpaid — ask your employer for a P45 form and contact HMRC to reclaim the excess.
  • Refunds are paid to the bank account HMRC has on file, which is usually the one your employer used for wages.

How to check your PAYE refund status online

If you're employed and paid through PAYE, the quickest way to check is through your HMRC online account. You'll need to register with Government Gateway if you haven't already — this is the login system HMRC uses for all its online services.

Once logged in, go to "Income Tax" and then "Check your income tax". This page shows your tax code, how much you've earned, how much tax has been taken, and whether HMRC thinks you've overpaid. If there's a refund due, it will show the amount and when it's expected to arrive. The page updates after the tax year ends on 5 April, so you won't see a refund status until then.

If you don't have an online account, you can call the Income Tax helpline on 0300 200 3300. They can tell you over the phone whether a refund is due and when to expect it. Have your National Insurance number ready when you call.

When HMRC sends refunds and where the money goes

HMRC processes refunds in batches after the tax year ends. Most people see their money within four to eight weeks of 5 April, though it can take longer if HMRC needs to check something on your record first. If you've had a refund before, it usually arrives around the same time each year.

The money goes to the bank account that HMRC has registered against your National Insurance number. In most cases, this is the account your employer paid your wages into. If you've changed banks since then, you should update your details with HMRC before the refund is processed — you can do this through your online account or by calling the helpline.

If HMRC has sent a refund to an old account and you no longer have access to it, contact your bank first. They can sometimes trace the payment and redirect it. If that doesn't work, contact HMRC and they can reissue the refund to your current account.

Overpayment from leaving a job or changing jobs

If you left employment partway through the tax year, you may have overpaid tax because your employer didn't know you were leaving and continued to use your normal tax code. The same thing can happen if you worked for two employers at the same time — both may have given you a personal allowance, meaning you paid tax on income that should have been tax-free.

When you leave a job, your employer should give you a P45 form. This shows how much you earned and how much tax you paid while you worked there. Keep this form — you'll need it if you start another job, and it helps HMRC work out whether you've overpaid.

If you've left work and don't expect to work again that tax year, contact HMRC and tell them. They can recalculate your tax based on your actual earnings and send a refund if you've overpaid. You can do this through your online account or by calling the helpline.

Self-employed refunds through Self Assessment

If you're self-employed, you report your income and claim your refund through Self Assessment. You file a tax return by 31 January after the tax year ends — for example, for the 2023–24 tax year, you file by 31 January 2025.

When you complete your return, HMRC calculates what you owe based on your profit. If you've already paid tax through payments on account (advance payments HMRC asks you to make), and those payments are more than what you owe, HMRC will refund the difference. The refund is shown on your tax calculation once your return is processed.

Self Assessment returns can be filed online through your HMRC account, or you can use tax software or an accountant to file on your behalf. Once your return is processed, HMRC sends any refund due to your bank account within four to six weeks.

What happens if you think HMRC has made a mistake

If you believe HMRC has calculated your tax wrong and you're not getting a refund you think you're owed, you can ask them to look at it again. This is called a review, and you have the right to request one.

Contact HMRC with details of what you think is wrong — for example, if you had two jobs and both gave you a personal allowance, or if you've had a change in circumstances that affects your tax. You can do this through your online account, by phone, or by post. HMRC will then review your record and either confirm the original calculation or issue a refund if they find an error.

If you disagree with HMRC's decision after the review, you can appeal. HMRC will explain how to do this in their response.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a tax refund?

Most PAYE refunds arrive within four to eight weeks of the tax year ending on 5 April. Self Assessment refunds usually take four to six weeks after your return is processed. Some refunds take longer if HMRC needs to check something on your record first.

Can I get my refund faster?

No, HMRC processes refunds in batches and there's no way to speed up the process. You can check the status through your online account, but you can't request a faster payment.

What if I haven't received my refund after eight weeks?

Check your online account to see if the refund has been processed. If it shows as sent but hasn't arrived, contact your bank to check if it went to an old account. If your bank confirms it hasn't arrived, call HMRC on 0300 200 3300 and they can investigate.

Do I need to do anything to claim a PAYE refund?

No, HMRC automatically spots overpayments and sends refunds without you needing to ask. You only need to contact them if you think there's an error or if you've changed banks since you were paid.

Can I claim a refund from previous years?

Yes, but there are time limits. You can usually claim back up to four years of overpaid tax, though this varies depending on your circumstances. Contact HMRC to discuss a claim for earlier years.