How do I know if I'm owed a tax refund?

You may be owed a refund if: you were on the wrong tax code, you have unclaimed work expenses (uniforms, tools, professional fees), you worked from home, you paid into a pension without claiming higher rate relief, or you left a job part way through the year.

How far back can I claim a tax refund UK?

You can claim tax refunds for the last 4 complete tax years. For example, in 2025/26 you can claim back to 2021/22. Claims older than 4 years are generally not accepted.

How long does HMRC take to process a tax refund?

HMRC typically processes tax refunds within 5 days for online claims. Paper claims can take up to 6 weeks. Refunds are paid by cheque or directly to your bank account.

2025/26 Tax Year

UK Tax Refund Calculator

Check if HMRC owes you money. Many people overpay tax due to wrong tax codes, unclaimed expenses, or missed reliefs.

Your Potential Refund

Based on 20% tax rate

£0

Estimated Tax Refund

No refund identified

Add expenses above to check for potential claims

Claim for Previous Years

You can claim tax refunds for the last 4 tax years. If you've been missing out, multiply your annual refund by up to 4.

Check Your Tax Situation

See if you're owed a tax refund for 2025/26

Annual Salary

Your Tax Code

Work From Home Days/Week

£6/week tax relief if required by employer

Uniform/Tools Expenses

Cleaning/maintaining work uniform or tools

Professional Body Fees

HMRC-approved professional subscriptions

Business Mileage (£ value)

45p/mile for first 10,000, 25p/mile after

Common Reasons for Tax Refunds

Wrong Tax Code

If you're on an emergency tax code (like BR or 0T) instead of 1257L, you could be overpaying by hundreds or thousands of pounds.

Work From Home

If your employer required you to work from home, you can claim £6/week (£312/year) tax relief, worth £62-£140 depending on your tax rate.

Uniform & Tools

If you wash your own work uniform or buy tools for work, you can claim a flat rate allowance of £60-£140 per year depending on your job.

Professional Subscriptions

Subscriptions to HMRC-approved professional bodies (like CIMA, RICS, BMA) are tax deductible if required for your job.

How to Claim Your Refund

For PAYE employees, you can claim many refunds through HMRC's online portal without needing a Self Assessment. For larger claims or multiple sources of income, you may need to file a Self Assessment tax return.

Avoid Tax Refund Companies

Be cautious of companies offering to claim refunds for you. They often charge 20-50% of your refund as fees. You can claim directly from HMRC for free using forms P87 (expenses) or P50 (overpaid tax).

Check Your Tax Code

Your tax code is shown on your payslip. The standard code 1257L means you get £12,570 tax-free. If yours is different, use our tax code checker to see what it means.

Search Calculators