Around one million people missed out on payments last year, according to HMRC
People are being urged to check whether they qualify for any tax rebates. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned that roughly one million people each year fail to claim back tax they have overpaid.
In a post shared on social media platform X, HMRC urged the public to use its app to verify their status. It said: “Your tax refund could still be waiting.
“Last year, almost one million people didn’t claim back the money they’re owed. Download the HMRC app to check.”
The GOV.UK website explains that HMRC should inform you if you have overpaid tax. If by the conclusion of the tax year (5 April) you have paid either too much or insufficient tax, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will issue either:
- A tax calculation letter (also known as a P800)
- A Simple Assessment letter
This correspondence should outline the procedure for receiving a refund or paying any tax owed. You’ll only receive a letter if:
- You are employed
- You receive a pension
However, if you’re registered for Self Assessment, your bill will be adjusted automatically if you’ve underpaid or overpaid tax. You will not receive a tax calculation letter or a Simple Assessment letter.
These letters are usually dispatched between June and March of the subsequent tax year.
Why you might have overpaid
You might be owed a refund because you:
- Were put on the wrong tax code, for example because HMRC had the wrong information about your income
- Finished one job, started a new one and were paid by both in the same month
- Started receiving a pension at work
- Received Employment and Support Allowance or Jobseeker’s Allowance
If you think you have paid too much tax and HMRC have not sent you a tax calculation letter, you should claim a refund. You can do this online here, on the app, or by calling 0300 200 3300.
The HMRC app
The HMRC app can be used not only to check if you’re owed any tax but you can use it to:
- Get an estimate of the tax you need to pay
- Make a Self Assessment payment
- Make a Simple Assessment payment
- Set a reminder to make a Self Assessment payment
- Access your Help to Save account
- Use our tax calculator to work out your take home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance deductions
- Track forms and letters you have sent to HMRCX
- Ask HMRC’s digital assistant for help and information
- Update your name
- Update your address
- Save your National Insurance number to your digital wallet
- Check for gaps in your National Insurance contributions and the benefits of paying them
- Check if you can make a payment for gaps in your National Insurance contributions
- Choose to be contacted by HMRC electronically, instead of by letter
To access the app open the app and enter your Government Gateway user ID and password to sign in for the first time. If you do not have a user ID, you can create one via the app.