Here’s how to check if you’re owed a tax refund using the HMRC app
Brits have been urged to check whether they’re owed any money. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned that up to one million people annually fail to claim back overpaid tax.
In a post on social media platform X, HMRC encouraged people to use its app to check. It said: “Could you be one of the million missing out on a tax refund?
“Log onto the HMRC app to easily manage your money and claim any tax you’re owed. Download today”.
On the GOV.UK website it explains that HMRC should contact you if you’ve overpaid tax. If you’ve paid too much or too little tax by the end of the tax year (5 April), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will send you either:
- A tax calculation letter (also known as a P800)
- A Simple Assessment letter
This should inform you how to receive a refund or pay tax you owe. You’ll only receive a letter if:
- You are employed
- You receive a pension
However, if you’re registered for Self Assessment, your bill will be adjusted automatically if you’ve underpaid or overpaid tax. You will not receive a tax calculation letter or a Simple Assessment letter.
These letters are usually sent out between June and March of the following tax year.
Why you might have overpaid
You might be owed a refund because you:
- Were placed on the wrong tax code, for example because HMRC had incorrect information about your income
- Finished one job, started a new one and were paid by both in the same month
- Started receiving a workplace pension
- Received Employment and Support Allowance or Jobseeker’s Allowance
If you believe you have overpaid tax and HMRC has not sent you a tax calculation letter, you should make a claim for a refund. This can be done online, via the app, or by ringing 0300 200 3300.
The HMRC app
The HMRC app can be used not only to check whether you’re owed any tax, but also allows you to:
- Get an estimate of the tax you need to pay
- Make a Self Assessment payment
- Make a Simple Assessment payment
- Set a reminder to make a Self Assessment payment
- Access your Help to Save account
- Use our tax calculator to work out your take home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance deductions
- Track forms and letters you have sent to HMRC
- Ask HMRC’s digital assistant for help and information
- Update your name
- Update your address
- Save your National Insurance number to your digital wallet
- Check for gaps in your National Insurance contributions and the benefits of paying them
- Check if you can make a payment for gaps in your National Insurance contributions
- Choose to be contacted by HMRC electronically, instead of by letter
To access the app, open it and enter your Government Gateway user ID and password to sign in for the first time. If you do not yet have a user ID, you can set one up directly through the app.