Brits have been urged to check if they’re owed any money. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) warned that up to one million people a year fail to claim back any overpaid tax.
In a post made to social media platform X, HMRC instructed people to use its app to check.
It said: “Could you be one of the million missing out on a tax refund? Log onto the HMRC app to easily manage your money and claim any tax you’re owed. Download today”
On the GOV.UK website it explains that HMRC should contact you if you’ve overpaid on your tax. If you’ve paid too much or too little tax by the end of the tax year (5 April), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will send you either:
This should tell you how to get a refund or pay tax you owe. You’ll only get a letter if:
- You are employed or
- You get a pension
But if you’re registered for Self Assessment, your bill will be adjusted automatically if you’ve underpaid or overpaid tax. You will not get a tax calculation letter or a Simple Assessment letter.
These letters are typically sent out between June and March of the following tax year.
Why you might have overpaid
You might be owed a refund because you:
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.
