Tax Rebate Calculator —
Does HMRC Owe You Money?
Millions of UK workers overpay income tax every year without realising it. Enter the figures from your P60 below and find out in 10 seconds if you're owed a refund.
Where to find these figures: Your Total Gross Pay and Tax Deductedare in the “Total for year” section of your P60 (issued by your employer by 31 May). You can also use your final payslip of the tax year, or your HMRC Personal Tax Account.
Find this on your P60 (Box 'Total for year') or final payslip of the tax year.
Box 'Tax deducted' on your P60.
Standard code is usually 1257L.
Estimated Tax Verdict
You may have overpaid by £515.80
Based on the figures provided, it looks like you paid more tax than necessary. You might be due a tax rebate from HMRC.
Why you might be owed a tax rebate
The PAYE system works well in straightforward cases, but life rarely stays the same for a whole tax year. These are the most common reasons people overpay:
Emergency tax code (BR or 0T)
Overpayment up to £2,514/yearIf you started a new job without a P45, HMRC may have applied BR or 0T — taxing all earnings at 20% or 40% with no personal allowance. This is the most common cause of significant overpayments.
Didn't work the full tax year
Overpayment depends on earningsYour personal allowance is £12,570 a year. If you only worked 6 months, you should only owe tax on earnings above £6,285. But PAYE may have taxed you as if you earned more.
Multiple jobs — wrong code on one
Overpayment or underpayment possibleYour main job should have your full allowance (1257L). A second job should use BR. If the codes were swapped or both jobs applied full allowances, the total tax will be wrong.
Bonus or one-off payment
Typically £100–£500 overpaidPAYE taxes a large bonus as if your monthly income were that high all year. For a March bonus, HMRC may never self-correct in the same tax year — leaving a refund due.
Left a job part-way through the year
Often £500–£2,000+ refundIf you left employment before 5 April and didn't immediately start another job, the cumulative PAYE system may not have refunded unused personal allowance.
How to claim your tax refund — step by step
Check your Personal Tax Account first
Log in at gov.uk/personal-tax-account. Under 'Check your Income Tax', HMRC shows your tax position for the current and previous years. If a refund is showing, you can claim it directly to your bank account — usually paid within 5 working days.
Wait for a P800 letter from HMRC
HMRC automatically reviews most PAYE records after 5 April. If they calculate that you overpaid, they send a P800 letter by post (usually June–October). The letter explains how to claim online or receive a cheque.
Call HMRC directly
If you can't access your Personal Tax Account and haven't received a P800, call 0300 200 3300 (Mon–Fri 8am–6pm). Have your National Insurance number and P60 ready. HMRC can process a refund over the phone.
For older years — write to HMRC or submit R40
To claim for years where you weren't in employment (e.g. you had savings interest taxed at source), submit an R40 form. For employment income, call or use your Personal Tax Account. The 4-year deadline applies to all methods.
💡 Do it yourself — it's completely free
You do not need to pay a tax refund company. Claiming through your HMRC Personal Tax Account is free, fast, and straightforward. Tax refund companies charge 25–48% of your refund as a fee. On a £1,000 refund, that's up to £480 you could keep yourself.
Been on the wrong code for years?
RIFT Tax Refunds have helped over 850,000 UK workers claim back money they were owed. They check up to 4 years for free — no refund means no charge.
Partner link — we may earn a referral fee. No charge to you unless a refund is found.