Have you ever wondered if HMRC might owe you money? Many UK taxpayers are unaware they’ve overpaid tax and could be due a refund. Overpayments can happen for various reasons, wrong tax codes, job changes, or unexpected deductions.
Thankfully, HMRC now offers easy-to-use digital tools to check your status and claim any refund. In this guide, you’ll learn how to identify refund triggers, check your tax history, and avoid common mistakes.
We’ll also explain key deadlines and what to expect once you file a claim, so you won’t miss out on what’s rightfully yours.
Does HMRC Owe Me Money?
Many UK taxpayers unknowingly overpay tax due to incorrect tax codes, job changes, or having multiple income sources. If too much tax is taken through PAYE, HMRC often spots this after the tax year ends (5 April) and issues a P800 tax calculation or Simple Assessment letter.
You can check for overpayments by logging into your Personal Tax Account on the HMRC website, where you can view your tax summary, payments, and any refund notices. If you receive a P800 showing you’re owed money, you can claim it online for a quick bank transfer or wait for a cheque.
For Self Assessment taxpayers, overpayments are usually handled through your tax return, but you can also request a refund manually. Remember, you have up to four years to claim. Don’t leave your money unclaimed — check your tax status today.
Why Might You Be Owed a Tax Refund from HMRC?
There are several scenarios in which HMRC may owe you money. Overpaid tax typically happens when too much income tax is deducted through PAYE or other systems due to inaccurate or outdated information.
- Incorrect tax codes: If your tax code doesn’t accurately reflect your financial situation, you may end up overpaying. This can happen when HMRC holds incorrect records about your income, benefits or personal circumstances.
- Job transitions: When you leave one job and start another within the same month, both employers might apply full tax codes independently, resulting in a duplicated tax payment.
- Multiple incomes: If you have more than one source of income, such as a pension and employment, it’s possible that incorrect assumptions about your total earnings could lead to over-taxation.
Refunds often follow after the tax year ends on 5 April. HMRC evaluates your tax position and issues either a P800 or a Simple Assessment letter. The P800 will indicate whether you’ve paid too much and provide instructions on how to claim the refund.
So, if you think your financial situation changed during the tax year and wasn’t accurately reflected in your tax code, you might be owed a refund from HMRC.
How Can You Use HMRC’s Online Services to Check for a Refund?
HMRC provides several digital tools to help you check if you’ve paid too much tax. The primary method is through the Personal Tax Account, accessible via the HMRC website. This portal allows you to view your tax history, payments, and refunds in real time.
Where to Find the Tax Year Summary on HMRC?
Once logged in, you can access your Income Tax summary, which shows how much tax you paid from 6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025. This summary will help determine if you’ve overpaid or underpaid.
What Is a P800 Tax Calculation and Why Does It Matter?
The P800 is critical because it’s the official notification HMRC uses to communicate overpayments or underpayments.
If your summary shows a discrepancy, a P800 is likely on its way. It details your earnings, deductions, and the final tax position for the year. If it says you’re owed money, you can claim via your tax account or HMRC’s online bank transfer service.
If you can’t access the online tools, the HMRC app offers similar functionality, allowing you to review past payments and check for eligible refunds on the go.
What to Do If HMRC Owes You Money?
If you discover or suspect that HMRC owes you money, there are a few ways to claim it. First, verify that you’ve received a P800 tax calculation letter or check your Personal Tax Account for refund notifications.
Depending on how you were taxed, you can take different steps:
- PAYE Employees: Log in to your tax account and follow the refund process using your P800 reference.
- Self Assessment Taxpayers: Overpayments are addressed directly through your return. If HMRC doesn’t issue a refund automatically, you can request it during your return submission.
- HMRC App Users: Claim directly using the app, which also provides updates on processing.
If the P800 says you’ll automatically receive a cheque, you won’t need to do anything. Otherwise, initiate your refund online by entering your P800 reference number, National Insurance number, and bank account details for a direct transfer.
If more than one tax year is involved, the refund may be consolidated into a single payment. Keep in mind, refunds claimed online are usually issued within five working days, while cheque requests take up to six weeks.
How Do You Check If HMRC Has Received Your Payment?
Sometimes, confusion arises not from overpayment but from verifying whether HMRC has received a payment you’ve made. This situation is common after submitting Self Assessment tax returns or arranging payments for underpaid tax.
To check the status of a payment:
- Log into your HMRC account and view your tax payment history
- Look under “Payments made” for the date, method and reference used
- Confirm your bank account shows a matching debit transaction
If the payment hasn’t shown up on your HMRC account after 5 working days, contact their helpline for clarification.
Using the correct payment reference is crucial. If it’s entered incorrectly, HMRC might not be able to allocate the payment to your account, resulting in continued liability or even penalties.
Additionally, if your payment was made by cheque or via postal methods, processing might take longer. In such cases, it’s advisable to call HMRC with your payment details so they can manually verify receipt.
What Happens If HMRC Owes Me Money but Doesn’t Contact Me?
It’s entirely possible for HMRC to owe you money and never send a notification. This typically happens if:
- Your tax overpayment isn’t flagged automatically by HMRC systems
- Your contact information is outdated
- The refund relates to a year outside HMRC’s regular review period
If you believe you overpaid, but haven’t received a P800 or Simple Assessment letter, you can still claim. Log in to your Personal Tax Account or call HMRC to initiate a refund query.
If the tax year has passed, you can still file a manual refund request within four years of the end of that tax year. For example, overpayments for the 2021–22 tax year must be claimed by 5 April 2026.
In rare cases, HMRC will issue refunds outside of the four-year window using the Extra-statutory Concession B41, but only when it’s clear that a government error caused the overpayment. You must provide detailed evidence and documentation for such claims.
Can You Claim Tax Back Without a P800 or PAYE Notice?
Yes, it’s entirely possible to claim a tax refund without a P800 or PAYE notice, especially in situations where you’re certain that an overpayment occurred, but HMRC hasn’t picked it up.
How to Claim Tax Back UK Without PAYE?
You can submit a claim through your Personal Tax Account or by completing a postal form. These forms are available on HMRC’s website, and you’ll need to supply details such as:
- Your income and deductions
- Tax already paid
- Reason for overpayment
Claiming Self-Assessment Refunds Manually
If you filed a Self Assessment return and realise you’ve overpaid, you can amend the return within 12 months of the deadline.
Alternatively, you can request a refund through your HMRC account or contact them directly. Refunds from Self Assessment are usually processed faster when submitted online.
In either scenario, it’s critical to keep all supporting documents like P60s, P45s, and bank statements. If you suspect an error in HMRC’s calculations, you have the right to challenge the assessment and request a new one.
How Long Does It Take to Receive a Tax Refund from HMRC?
The time it takes to receive a tax refund from HMRC depends on how you submitted your claim and the method of payment you chose. Generally, the timelines are as follows:
| Refund Method | Expected Timeframe |
| Online Bank Transfer | Within 5 working days |
| Cheque (Online Claim) | Within 6 weeks |
| Automatic Cheque | Within 14 days |
| Self Assessment Online | Usually within 10 working days |
| Paper Form Submission | Up to 8 weeks |
Several factors may influence these timeframes:
- Security checks by HMRC
- Missing or incorrect information
- Manual processing for older claims
Claims through the Personal Tax Account or HMRC app are typically faster and more secure. To avoid delays, ensure your National Insurance number, bank details, and P800 reference (if available) are accurate.
If your refund hasn’t arrived within the suggested window, it’s best to contact HMRC to track its status. Keep a copy of all correspondence and your claim reference number handy when you do.
Conclusion
Checking whether HMRC owes you money isn’t just a smart financial move; it’s your right as a taxpayer. With many refunds going unnoticed due to outdated information or unclaimed entitlements, you could be missing out.
Using HMRC’s online services, reviewing your tax code, and understanding your P800 letter are key steps to identifying and reclaiming overpaid tax.
Whether you’re employed under PAYE, self-employed through Self Assessment, or juggling multiple income streams, understanding your tax position is essential. And even if HMRC doesn’t reach out, you have several avenues to take control and claim your refund.
Don’t let tax overpayments go unclaimed. Take a few minutes to check your Personal Tax Account or contact HMRC to make sure everything’s accurate. It could mean reclaiming hundreds or even thousands of pounds that rightfully belong to you.
FAQs About How to Check if HMRC Owes You Money
How Do I Know If My Tax Code Is Correct?
You can verify your tax code by checking your payslip or logging into your Personal Tax Account. It should reflect your circumstances, including allowances and benefits.
Can I Claim a Tax Refund for Previous Years?
Yes, you can claim refunds for up to four years from the end of the tax year in question. Older claims may qualify under Extra-statutory Concession B41 in special cases.
What If I’m No Longer Employed but Think I Overpaid Tax?
You can still claim a refund by providing HMRC with your P45 or final payslip from your former employer. Use your tax account or submit a paper form.
Is There a Deadline for Claiming Overpaid Tax?
Yes, the deadline is four years after the tax year ends. For example, for the 2021–22 tax year, the claim must be submitted by 5 April 2026.
How Secure Is the HMRC Online Refund Service?
HMRC’s online systems use two-factor authentication and identity verification. Always use official channels and avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts.
Can I Receive My Refund via Bank Transfer?
Yes, if you claim online and provide your UK bank details, HMRC will issue the refund via BACS within five working days.
What Happens If I Made a Mistake in My Tax Return?
If you submitted a Self Assessment return with an error, you can amend it within 12 months after the deadline. Contact HMRC if you need help correcting it.
