How to Check Your Tax Refund Status in the UK (HMRC)
Sarah ThompsonIn short
Sign in to your HMRC personal tax account or the HMRC app to see if you're owed a refund and track it. Online claims usually pay within 5 working days to 2 weeks.
7 steps in this guide
The quickest way to check a UK tax refund is to sign in to your HMRC personal tax account on GOV.UK or the HMRC app. Both show whether you’ve overpaid, let you claim the refund, and show its status while it’s processed. If you file Self Assessment, check your Self Assessment online account instead.
This guide covers each route, how long refunds take, what “pending” means and what to do if your money hasn’t arrived.
What you need
- Your Government Gateway user ID and password (you can create one when you first sign in)
- Your National Insurance number
- Photo ID such as a passport or driving licence, if you need to prove your identity for the first time
- Your P800 letter (tax calculation), if HMRC sent you one — it has a reference number you can use to claim
- A UK bank account: HMRC only pays refunds into UK accounts, according to GOV.UK
Steps
Step 1: Work out which refund you’re checking
How you check depends on how you pay tax:
| Your situation | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Employed or on a pension (PAYE) and got a P800 letter | P800 online service, personal tax account or HMRC app |
| Employed or on a pension, no letter | Personal tax account or HMRC app |
| You file a Self Assessment tax return | Self Assessment online account |
| You run a business | Business tax account |
Step 2: Sign in to your personal tax account or the HMRC app
Go to GOV.UK and sign in to your personal tax account, or open the official HMRC app. Both use the same records, so you’ll see the same figures. Look at the current and previous tax years: if you’ve paid too much, HMRC shows the overpayment and a Claim a tax refund option, as described on GOV.UK’s claim a tax refund page.
Step 3: Claim using your P800 letter if you have one
A P800 is HMRC’s tax calculation letter. It tells you how to get your refund. According to GOV.UK’s tax overpayments page, you can claim through the online bank transfer service or request a cheque online using:
- the reference number on your P800
- your National Insurance number
You can also claim through your personal tax account or the HMRC app. HMRC no longer sends most P800 refunds as automatic cheques, so you usually need to claim, as the Association of Taxation Technicians explains. If your letter says HMRC will send a cheque, you don’t need to do anything — it arrives automatically.
Step 4: Request a repayment through Self Assessment
If you file a tax return, sign in to your Self Assessment online account, check your balance and select Request a Repayment. If you have tax due within the next 45 days — for example a payment on account — HMRC may take the refund off what you owe instead of paying it out, according to GOV.UK’s Self Assessment guidance.
Step 5: Track the status of your refund
After you claim, return to your account to follow progress:
- Pending means the refund has been created but still needs to be approved and paid (GOV.UK).
- Paid refunds show in your account and arrive in your bank as a payment from HMRC.
If you’ve been given a submission reference, don’t claim again — a duplicate request can delay your refund.
Step 6: Check HMRC’s expected reply date
If you sent a claim or letter and are waiting to hear back, use HMRC’s Check when you can expect a reply from HMRC tool. Enter the date you contacted HMRC and it shows when you should get an answer. The tool is updated weekly and covers Income Tax, Self Assessment, National Insurance and more. The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group has a plain-English guide to checking progress with HMRC.
Step 7: Contact HMRC if it’s late
Contact HMRC through your online account, the HMRC app or the Income Tax helpline when your refund is overdue. GOV.UK says security checks can add up to 12 weeks, so contact HMRC if nothing has arrived 14 weeks after you claimed.
How long does an HMRC tax refund take?
| How you claimed | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Online claim (personal tax account, HMRC app, Self Assessment) | Usually within 2 weeks |
| P800 refund claimed online by bank transfer | Within 5 working days |
| P800 refund — cheque requested | Within 6 weeks |
| P800 letter says a cheque is coming | Within 14 days of the letter date |
| Any refund held for security checks | Up to 12 extra weeks |
Sources: GOV.UK claim a tax refund and GOV.UK tax overpayments and underpayments.
Tips
- Ignore refund emails and texts. HMRC does not send details of tax refunds by email. Never click a refund link in a message — type GOV.UK into your browser yourself.
- Keep your bank details and address up to date in your personal tax account so payments and letters reach you.
- Check your tax code in your account. A wrong code is a common reason for overpaying, and fixing it stops you overpaying again.
- Avoid paid “refund claim” firms for simple claims. Claiming directly through GOV.UK is free.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Account shows no refund but you think you overpaid | Check every tax year in your account; if you changed jobs or stopped working, ask HMRC to review your tax |
| Refund stuck on “pending” | Wait for it to be approved; contact HMRC if it’s been 14 weeks |
| Can’t pass the identity check | Use another form of photo ID or contact HMRC to verify by phone |
| Refund was smaller than expected | Tax you owe in the next 45 days may have been deducted |
| Got a cheque you can’t pay in | Contact HMRC and ask for a bank transfer instead |
FAQ
How do I check my tax refund status in the UK?
Sign in to your HMRC personal tax account on GOV.UK or the HMRC app. If you file Self Assessment, sign in to your Self Assessment online account. Your refund and its status appear there.
How long does a tax refund take from HMRC?
Online claims usually arrive within 2 weeks, and P800 refunds claimed online by bank transfer within 5 working days. Cheques take up to 6 weeks, and security checks can add up to 12 weeks.
What does “pending” mean on my HMRC refund?
It means HMRC has created the refund but hasn’t yet approved and paid it. You don’t need to do anything unless it’s been more than 14 weeks.
Will HMRC email or text me about a tax refund?
No. HMRC does not send details of tax refunds by email, so any refund email or text with a link is likely a scam. Report suspicious messages through GOV.UK.
Can I check my tax refund without a P800 letter?
Yes. Sign in to your personal tax account or the HMRC app to see whether you’ve overpaid in the current or previous tax years and claim directly.
Conclusion
Checking a UK tax refund takes a few minutes: sign in to your personal tax account, the HMRC app or your Self Assessment account, claim any overpayment and watch for the status to change from pending to paid. Claim online for the fastest payment, keep your bank details current and never trust refund messages that arrive by email or text.
