How to claim HMRC tax refund with nearly 750k Brits currently overpaying

Personal Finance
22 Apr 2026 • 6:20 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Hundreds of thousands of households are overpaying on their tax, with around 730,000 refunds going unclaimed last year, according to HMRC data.
  • The average unclaimed refund was £855, totalling an estimated £624 million that taxpayers failed to retrieve.
  • Taxpayers typically receive a P800 tax calculation letter detailing their refund, but these are not always automatically paid out and require action from the recipient.
  • Reasons for overpayment include incorrect or outdated tax codes, not working a full tax year, changing jobs, or incorrect state pension amounts in tax codes.
  • Individuals can claim their refund via the HMRC app or their personal tax account online, with a four-year window from the end of the affected tax year to do so.

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