HMRC tax refund: how to claim it and when it will arrive

How you claim an HMRC tax refund depends on why you overpaid. If a P800 letter says you are owed money and you claim online, HMRC says it will pay you within 5 working days. Self Assessment refunds are claimed through your online account and usually take longer, especially if HMRC runs security checks.

Which refund route applies to you?

The route depends on how the tax was paid. Use this list to find yours.

• You are employed or get a pension, and HMRC sent a P800: claim from the letter online, in your personal tax account or in the HMRC app.
• You file a Self Assessment return: the refund shows in your online account after the return is processed. Request it there.
• Tax was taken from savings interest and you do not file a return: use form R40.
• You paid for work expenses such as uniform or working from home: claim tax relief online or by post, or on your return if you file one.
• You have no letter but think you overpaid: use the GOV.UK check how to claim a tax refund tool, which covers pay, redundancy, foreign income, PPI interest and more.

Pension tax refunds (for example after taking a lump sum) have their own GOV.UK service, separate from the main tool.

How long does an HMRC refund take?

Timescales differ by route. These are the figures HMRC gives, checked on 6 November 2026.

The Self Assessment figures come from HMRC staff answers on its community forum, not a GOV.UK guidance page. For other claims, such as R40 or job expenses, HMRC does not publish a fixed time. Its check when you can expect a reply tool gives current processing times and is updated weekly.

How to claim a P800 refund

A P800 is the tax calculation HMRC sends between June and March after the tax year ends. Our guide to the P800 letter explains how it is worked out.

1. Find the reference number on your P800 and your National Insurance number.
2. Use the online bank transfer or cheque service on GOV.UK, your personal tax account or the HMRC app. The app needs a UK bank account.
3. Choose a bank transfer for the fastest payment.
4. If your letter says a cheque will be sent, do nothing. You get one cheque even if you are owed for more than one year.

If you think the P800 figures are wrong, contact HMRC and say which amounts are incorrect and what they should be.

How to claim a Self Assessment refund

A Self Assessment refund is claimed from your HMRC online account once your return shows you have overpaid.

1. File your return. You can file the 2025/26 return now; the online deadline is 31 January 2027.
2. Sign in to your online account and check the balance on your Self Assessment statement.
3. Request the refund to your bank account.
4. Track it. A status of “pending” means the refund has been created but still needs approval and payment.

GOV.UK warns that you may not get the refund if you have tax due in the next 45 days, such as a payment on account. In that case HMRC sets the money against what you owe. If you ask for a refund in early January, it may be kept for the 31 January payment.

Is there a time limit for claiming a refund?

Yes. Most claims must be made within 4 years of the end of the tax year concerned. HMRC’s manual at SACM12155 says claims “must be made within 4 years after the end of the relevant tax year”.

For tax taken from savings, the R40 guidance says you can claim for the current tax year and the previous 4 years, with a separate application for each year. R40 is for people not registered for Self Assessment with gross savings income of £10,000 or less. Form R38 lets you claim by post or have the refund paid to someone else, such as an agent.

Beware of refund scams

HMRC does not tell you about a refund by text, email or phone call with a link to click. Fraudsters use fake refund messages to steal bank details. See our guide to HMRC scam calls and texts for how to check and report them.

What to do now

1. Check your personal tax account for any P800 or refund due.
2. Look back four years. A 2022/23 overpayment must be claimed by 5 April 2027.
3. If you file Self Assessment, check whether your refund will be kept for a January payment on account.
4. If a refund is late, check HMRC’s reply tool before you call the Self Assessment helpline.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an HMRC tax refund take to arrive?

A P800 refund claimed online is paid within 5 working days. A Self Assessment refund can take up to 10 working days, plus up to 6 weeks if it is selected for security checks.

Why has my Self Assessment refund not been paid?

HMRC may have set it against tax due in the next 45 days, such as a payment on account. If it shows as pending, it has been created but is still waiting for approval, which can include security checks.

How far back can I claim a tax refund?

Usually 4 years from the end of the tax year. Claims for 2022/23 must be made by 5 April 2027.

Do I need to claim a P800 refund?

Only if the letter tells you to claim. If it says a cheque will be sent, it should arrive within 14 days of the letter’s date without you doing anything.

Can I get a refund of tax on savings interest?

Yes. If you do not file a return, use form R40, which covers the current year and the previous 4 years. If you file a return, claim through the return.