01
Have you been on an emergency tax code?
Codes ending in W1, M1, X, BR, 0T or NT often mean you have overpaid tax.
Typical refund: £100 – £2,400
Are you owed a UK tax refund?
Roughly 1 in 3 UK PAYE workers overpay tax at some point. Run through 8 quick eligibility checks, then upload your payslip for a free analysis.
8 reasons HMRC might owe you money
Tick the ones that apply. Each one is a backdatable claim — HMRC lets you go back up to 4 tax years.
02
Did you change jobs and submit your P45 late?
A delayed P45 forces your new employer to use an emergency code. HMRC corrects this — but the refund is yours to claim.
Typical refund: £200 – £1,800
03
Did you stop working part-way through the tax year?
Stopped working but had tax deducted before? You may have used less than your full Personal Allowance.
Typical refund: £300 – £2,500
04
Have you used your own car for work travel?
Self-funded work travel at less than 45p/mile (HMRC rate) is reclaimable. Backdate up to 4 years.
Typical refund: £200 – £1,200
05
Do you wash a uniform with your own washing?
Flat-rate expense allowance for uniform laundry — most workers can claim £60+/year backdated.
Typical refund: £60 – £240
06
Have you bought tools, professional fees, or subscriptions for work?
Tax relief on work-required tools, professional body fees (RICS, CIPD, ACCA, etc).
Typical refund: £120 – £800
07
Have you worked from home regularly?
Working-from-home flat-rate £6/week tax relief, backdated up to 4 years.
Typical refund: £60 – £200
08
Are you a CIS subcontractor?
CIS workers regularly overpay PAYE tax via the 20% deduction. Annual reconciliation often refunds £1,000+.
Typical refund: £800 – £4,000
Ticked one or more above?
Upload a payslip and we will scan it for the markers HMRC looks at — emergency tax, wrong tax code, missing reliefs.
Run free check →Already know you are owed money?
You can claim direct via HMRC for free. If you would rather a specialist firm handle it (no-win-no-fee), here are vetted UK partners. We may receive a referral fee.
RIFT Tax Refunds
UK-leading tax refund firm. CIS workers, mileage, uniform, working-from-home claims.
Visit RIFT Tax Refunds →Disclosure: this is a referral link. We may earn a commission if you start a successful claim.
Tax Returned
No-win-no-fee UK tax refund service. PAYE, CIS, employment expenses.
Visit Tax Returned →Disclosure: this is a referral link. We may earn a commission if you start a successful claim.
RefundNow
Quick PAYE refund processor for emergency tax and incorrect tax codes.
Visit RefundNow →Disclosure: this is a referral link. We may earn a commission if you start a successful claim.
Or claim direct via HMRC (free)
Most refund types can be claimed direct via your HMRC online account at gov.uk/income-tax. No fee. Specialist firms charge 20%–35% of your refund — useful for complex cases (CIS, expenses), often unnecessary for simple emergency-tax refunds.
Common refund FAQs
How far back can I claim?
Up to 4 tax years from the current tax year. So in 2026/27 you can claim back to 2022/23.
How long does HMRC take to refund?
Direct claims via HMRC online account: usually 5–8 weeks. Postal P87 form: 6–12 weeks. Specialist firms: 4–8 weeks plus their commission deduction.
Are tax refund firms legitimate?
The reputable ones are. Avoid any firm that asks for upfront fees, contacts you cold via SMS, or claims to be HMRC. The partners we list are FCA-aware, no-win-no-fee, with clear commission disclosure.
Will claiming a refund affect my tax code?
For one-off refunds (overpaid tax in a year), no. For ongoing reliefs (working from home, professional fees), HMRC will adjust your tax code so the relief is applied automatically going forward.