Nearly One Million Taxpayers in the UK Still Need to Claim Their Tax Refunds From HMRC

HMRC is urging nearly one million taxpayers to claim refunds they may be owed. Many individuals may not be aware of overpaid taxes and can check their eligibility through the HMRC app or Gov.uk website.

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HM Revenue & Customs papers
Nearly One Million Taxpayers in the UK Still Need to Claim Their Tax Refunds From HMRC Credit: Shutterstock | en.Econostrum.info - United Kingdom

HMRC has issued an alert to nearly one million taxpayers across the UK, urging them to check whether they are owed a tax refund. The tax authority has emphasized that many individuals may not be aware of the funds they are entitled to.

According to information reported by DevonLive, HMRC highlighted that refunds could result from overpaid taxes due to various factors, including income, pensions, and savings.

How to Check for a Tax Refund

Taxpayers can check if they are eligible for a refund by using the HMRC app or the online checker tool available on the official Gov.uk website.

Refunds are often issued when individuals have overpaid taxes across various income streams, such as income from a job, pensions, redundancy payments, or savings.

Common Reasons for Overpaid Taxes

A frequent cause of tax overpayments is an incorrect tax code. People may also be eligible for refunds if they have paid excess tax on foreign income or interest from savings or payment protection insurance.

The P800 Letter and Claiming Refunds

Those who are due a tax refund should receive a P800 tax calculation letter. HMRC is expected to send out four million of these letters this summer.

If you believe you’re owed a refund but haven’t received a letter, it might be due to the calculation still being in progress. All P800 letters are expected to be delivered before November 30, 2025.

How to Claim Your Refund

Refund claims must be made following the instructions in the P800 letter. Taxpayers can claim refunds online or by contacting HMRC directly.

Online claims will usually result in refunds being processed within five working days, while cheque payments take up to six weeks.

If you have been notified that HMRC will send you a cheque, it should arrive within 14 days of the date on the P800 letter.

Beware of Scams

HMRC has also warned taxpayers to be vigilant for fraudsters attempting to impersonate the tax authority. Scammers may contact individuals through emails, calls, or texts offering refunds. HMRC will always notify taxpayers by letter, and will never ask for banking details via email or phone.

Taxpayers who have already received a P800 letter are urged to review the refund calculations carefully. If any discrepancies are noticed, they should contact HMRC directly to address any concerns.

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