You've submitted a tax refund claim - now what? HMRC's actual processing timeline depends on the route you used and how busy HMRC is. This guide breaks down each route week-by-week so you know what's normal, what's slow, and when to chase.
Want to check if your own payslip adds up?
The four refund routes and their timelines
| Route | Typical timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Tax Account (PTA) refund | 5 working days to 3 weeks | One-off PAYE over-deduction |
| P87 expense claim (online) | 6-12 weeks | Work-from-home, mileage, professional fees |
| P87 by post | 8-16 weeks | Same as online, but slower |
| Self Assessment refund | 4-6 weeks after submission | CIS subcontractors, multi-source income, complex |
| P800 (HMRC-initiated) | Auto, June-November | HMRC reconciles your year-end tax |
Personal Tax Account refund - week by week
The fastest route. Used when you've spotted PAYE over-deduction in your Personal Tax Account.
Day 1 - Submit You log into your PTA, see the refund offer (e.g. "You may be due £312"), choose direct payment to your bank, and confirm.
Days 2-5 HMRC verifies the claim against your payroll RTI feed. No human review needed for routine claims.
Days 5-14 Bank transfer initiated. UK Faster Payments - usually arrives same day or next working day.
Day 21 (max) If nothing has arrived, log back into your PTA. Look at "Recent activity" - the refund should show as "Sent" with a reference. If it doesn't show, the claim was rejected; PTA will say why.
If still nothing at day 28: ring HMRC on 0300 200 3300 with your NI number and the PTA reference.
P87 expense claim - week by week
Used to claim work-related expenses (mileage, professional fees, work-from-home, uniforms, tools).
Week 1 - Submit online You complete the P87 via PTA: tax year, expense type, amount, employer details. You upload no evidence at submission stage but must keep records.
Weeks 2-4 Initial validation. HMRC checks the basics: your employer is real, the expense type is eligible, the amount is plausible.
Weeks 4-8 HMRC's R40/expense team reviews. About 80% of claims get auto-approved without human review. The remaining 20% trigger a human check (usually because the expense is large, unusual, or your record contains other anomalies).
Weeks 8-12 Decision letter posted. Either:
- Approved: refund paid by bank transfer within 5-10 working days, OR your tax code adjusted forward to recover the relief through PAYE.
- Refused or queried: HMRC sends a letter explaining what extra evidence they need. Reply with the requested receipts/records, and the clock restarts.
Beyond week 12: chase by ringing HMRC. Mention the P87 reference number from your PTA.
Self Assessment refund - week by week
Used by CIS subcontractors, multi-income earners, and anyone filing a return showing tax overpayment.
Day 1 - File the return You submit your Self Assessment return online. The system shows your final tax position immediately, including any refund due.
Days 1-5 Initial automated processing. The return enters HMRC's queue.
Weeks 1-4 Most refunds process within this window if the return is straightforward. CIS refunds (with verified deductions in HMRC's system) typically clear here.
Weeks 4-8 Returns flagged for verification - usually because of unusual numbers, first-time CIS claims, or returns where the refund is large (over ~£3,000). HMRC may write to confirm bank details or request supporting evidence.
Weeks 8-12 For escalated cases, refund issued after manual review. CIS subcontractors with multiple contractors and complex deduction histories often land here.
Beyond week 12: tax-credit balance still showing on PTA but no refund? Ring HMRC's Self Assessment helpline on 0300 200 3310.
P800 (HMRC-initiated reconciliation) - when to expect
P800 letters land between June and November each year for the previous tax year. If you're due a refund:
June-August Most P800 refund letters arrive in this window. The letter explains the calculation, shows the refund amount, and offers two options: claim via Personal Tax Account (fastest), or wait for an automatic cheque.
Within 14 days of letter Log into PTA, click the P800 reference, choose "Claim my refund online", confirm bank details. Refund processed within 5-10 working days.
Within 60 days of letter HMRC issues an automatic cheque if you haven't claimed online. Cheques take 4-6 weeks to arrive by post.
See our P800 guide for the full mechanics.
What slows down a refund
- Address out of date - HMRC posts cheques and code adjustments to your registered address. Update it via PTA.
- Bank details out of date - verify in PTA before submitting.
- Anti-fraud check triggered - large refunds, first-time claimants, or unusual patterns trigger verification (adds 4-8 weeks).
- Linked to another return - if you owe tax in a separate matter, HMRC offsets first.
- HMRC backlog - January and February (post-Self Assessment deadline) and June-August (post-P800 wave) are the slowest periods.
What speeds up a refund
- Use the Personal Tax Account online claim - anything filed via PTA is processed ~3× faster than postal P87.
- Verify bank details in advance - saves 1-2 weeks of postal cheque processing.
- Submit clean evidence first time - if HMRC has to chase you for receipts, the clock restarts.
- File Self Assessment early in April - cleared in the spring window before the December-January peak.
Tracking your refund
The Personal Tax Account is the single source of truth:
- Sign in at gov.uk/personal-tax-account.
- Go to "PAYE Income Tax History" or "Self Assessment".
- Look for "Recent activity" or "Refunds and balances".
- The status shows: Submitted → Under review → Approved → Issued → Paid.
If the status hasn't moved in 2 weeks for a PTA refund, 6 weeks for a P87, or 8 weeks for SA, ring HMRC.
When to chase HMRC
Phone numbers and best times to call:
- PAYE general / refunds: 0300 200 3300, 8am-6pm Mon-Fri
- Self Assessment: 0300 200 3310, 8am-6pm Mon-Fri
- CIS: 0300 200 3210, 8am-6pm Mon-Fri
Best times to get through with minimal wait: first thing Monday morning (8:00-9:00) or late Thursday afternoon. Avoid Tuesday morning (peak call volume) and the post-deadline weeks (early February, early August).
When a refund firm can help
For straightforward PAYE over-deduction or expense claims, you don't need a refund firm - the PTA route is free and fast. A regulated tax adviser earns their fee when:
- You have 4+ years of CIS deductions to reconcile (complex multi-year claim).
- HMRC has opened an enquiry into a previous claim.
- Your refund is large enough that the 25-35% commission still leaves you ahead of the time you'd spend doing it yourself (rare for under £2,000).
See our tax refund guide for the comparison.
Disclaimer
PayslipIQ provides automated educational guidance based on the figures you supply. It is not regulated tax advice. HMRC processing times vary with workload and the complexity of your record. For substantial overpayment disputes, contact HMRC directly via your Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account or use a CTA-qualified tax adviser for complex multi-year cases.
Ready to check your own payslip?
Enter your figures and get an instant AI-powered analysis. Free, private, no signup.
Check My Payslip FreePayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, payroll, accounting, pension, benefits or employment advice. Always verify your payslip, tax code, deductions and take-home pay with your employer's payroll department, HMRC, your pension provider, a qualified accountant, tax adviser or another appropriately qualified professional.
Related guides
Tax Refund from Your Payslip: How It Works in the UK
Learn how tax refunds appear on your UK payslip, when you might be owed one, and how to claim overpaid tax from HMRC.
CIS Tax Refund Explained: How UK Subcontractors Get £1,000+ Back
How UK CIS subcontractors recover overpaid PAYE tax. Step-by-step Self Assessment, materials offset, expenses, and when an accountant is worth it. 2026/27.
P800 Letter Explained UK 2026: Tax Calculation & Refund Timing
UK P800 tax calculation letter explained - what it is, when it arrives, how to claim a refund, what to do if you owe HMRC, common errors.