Get your tax refund ready
Sorted gathers your details and a what-to-have-ready checklist, then links you straight to the official HMRC claim — never a paid rebate firm.
Lots of UK workers quietly overpay tax — usually because of a wrong tax code, emergency tax on a new job, or stopping work part-way through the year. The good news: HMRC reviews everyone's tax after the year ends, and if you've paid too much you can claim it back free through your own HMRC account — and you can usually go back the last four tax years. This guide explains what your tax code means, how a P800 works, exactly how to check and claim, and the two traps to avoid: HMRC refund scam texts (never real) and rebate firms that take a big cut of money that's yours.
If your tax code is wrong, or you've been on emergency tax, you may have paid HMRC more than you owed — and you can get it back. HMRC often spots it and posts you a P800 saying you're due a refund, but you can also check yourself any time in your free HMRC account.
Claiming directly is free and quick — you keep every penny. Two rules keep you safe: never click a "tax refund" link in a text or email, and never pay a company a cut to claim what you can claim yourself.
Income Tax is mostly collected through PAYE — your employer or pension provider deducts it from each payslip using a tax code sent by HMRC. When that code doesn't match your real situation, the wrong amount comes off. Across a year that can add up to hundreds of pounds you didn't owe — money that's sitting waiting for you to claim.
You don't have to have done anything wrong. The most common reasons HMRC ends up holding too much of your money:
You can also underpay, in which case the P800 or a Simple Assessment will ask you to pay the difference — but for most PAYE workers who've had a code change, the surprise is a refund.
Your tax code is on your payslip, P60 or P45, and in your HMRC account. The number is your tax-free allowance with the last digit removed; the letters describe your situation. For 2026/27 the standard code is 1257L — the 1257 reflects the £12,570 Personal Allowance, which has been frozen until at least 2028, so 1257L stays the normal code.
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1257L | The standard code — you get the full £12,570 tax-free allowance. Most people with one job or pension. |
| L | You're entitled to the standard tax-free Personal Allowance. |
| BR | All income from this job/pension taxed at the basic rate (20%) — usually a second job or pension. Can mean overpayment if your allowance isn't all used. |
| D0 / D1 | All income from this source taxed at the higher rate (40%) / additional rate (45%) — usually a second job/pension. |
| 0T | Your allowance has been used up, or you've started a job and your employer doesn't have your details yet. A common over-taxation flag. |
| NT | No tax is being taken from this income. |
| K | You have untaxed income greater than your allowance (e.g. owed tax or a benefit). The calculation works differently. |
| W1 / M1 / X | Emergency code. Tax is worked out on that week's or month's pay alone, ignoring earlier months — so you can be over-taxed until HMRC sends the right code. |
| S… / C… | An S prefix means Scottish rates; a C prefix means Welsh rates (e.g. S1257L, C1257L). |
If your code ends in W1, M1 or X — or you see BR or 0T when your situation is straightforward — it's worth checking. Emergency codes are normal for a few weeks when starting a job, but if one sticks, you can ask HMRC to fix it, and reclaim anything overpaid.
After each tax year ends (5 April), HMRC checks whether your PAYE deductions matched what you actually owed. If they don't, HMRC usually sends a P800 tax calculation — a letter, by post, typically between June and November — telling you either that you're owed a refund or that you've underpaid.
HMRC will never tell you about a refund, or ask for your bank details, by text or email. If a "P800" or "tax refund" arrives as a text or email with a link, it's a scam — see below. Check any refund in your own HMRC account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account.
You can check your code and claim a refund yourself, free, in a few minutes:
You can normally claim back overpaid Income Tax for four years from the end of the tax year. For example, tax overpaid in 2024/25 (year ended 5 April 2025) can be claimed until 5 April 2029. After that the year usually closes and the money is lost — so check sooner rather than later.
If you think you might be owed tax back, here's the calm, free order:
If you owe money instead, HMRC will tell you and usually collect it gradually through your code — don't panic.
For free, independent help: Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) explains refunds in plain English, and Citizens Advice can help if your tax affairs are tangled. The HMRC Income Tax helpline is 0300 200 3300.
Fake HMRC refund texts and emails are one of the most common UK scams. They say you're owed money and push you to click a link "before you lose it" — the link steals your bank and personal details. HMRC never tells you about a refund, and never asks for bank or card details, by text or email. A real refund shows in your HMRC account or arrives by post.
Do this: don't click the link. Forward scam texts to 60599 and scam emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk, then delete them. Not sure if a message is real? Run it through Sorted's free scam check →
"Tax rebate" or "tax refund" companies offer to claim for you, then take a commission — often around a third, and sometimes much more — out of money you could have claimed free yourself. HMRC does not "approve" or endorse any agent, whatever an advert says, and once you've signed up you may be tied in for future claims too.
If you're owed tax back, you keep every penny by claiming directly at gov.uk/claim-tax-refund. It's quick, free and the refund is all yours.
HMRC reviews everyone's tax after each tax year ends (6 April). If you've paid too much, they usually send a P800 tax calculation letter (or a Simple Assessment) between June and November telling you you're owed a refund. You can also check yourself any time through your free HMRC Personal Tax Account or the HMRC app at gov.uk. Common reasons people overpay: an emergency tax code (W1, M1 or X) when starting a new job, stopping work part-way through the year, having more than one job or pension, or never claiming tax relief you're due (working-from-home, uniforms, professional fees). You can claim back overpaid tax for the last four tax years.
For 2026/27 the standard tax code is 1257L — the 1257 reflects the £12,570 tax-free Personal Allowance (frozen until at least 2028) and L means you get the standard allowance. Other codes: BR taxes all the income from that job or pension at 20% (common with a second job); D0 taxes it all at 40% and D1 at 45%; 0T means your allowance has been used up or your employer doesn't have your details yet; NT means no tax. W1, M1 or X on the end is an emergency code, which can mean you're being over-taxed until HMRC gets the right information. If your code looks wrong, check it in your HMRC account or call HMRC on 0300 200 3300.
You can usually claim back overpaid Income Tax for the last four tax years. The deadline runs four years from the end of the relevant tax year — for example, tax overpaid in 2024/25 (which ended 5 April 2025) can be claimed until 5 April 2029. After that the year normally closes and the money is lost, so it's worth checking sooner rather than later.
Almost certainly not. HMRC never tells you about a tax refund — and never asks for your bank or card details — by text message or email. Fake 'tax refund' texts and emails with a link are one of the most common UK scams; the link steals your details and money. A genuine refund is shown in your HMRC online account, or HMRC writes to you by post (a P800). Never click a refund link. Only ever claim through gov.uk or the official HMRC app. Forward scam texts to 60599 and scam emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk, then delete them.
You don't need to. If you're owed tax back you keep 100% of it by claiming directly with HMRC for free at gov.uk — it's quick and simple. Third-party 'tax rebate' or 'tax refund' firms charge a commission that can take a large slice of your money (often around a third, and sometimes much more), and HMRC does not 'approve' or endorse any agent. Once you've signed up to one, you may be tied in for any future claims too. Claim yourself through your HMRC Personal Tax Account and the whole refund is yours.
If your tax code's been wrong or you've had emergency tax, you may be owed money back. Check it free in your HMRC account, claim online, and go back up to four years — without a rebate firm's cut, and without ever clicking a refund link in a text or email.
A tax refund is rarely the only thing people are owed. Sorted's "What am I missing?" cross-checks benefits, allowances and reliefs most people never claim.