{"id":1423,"date":"2025-11-13T14:15:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T14:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/\/knowledge\/business-tax\/hmrc-tax-refund\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T14:15:48","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T14:15:48","slug":"hmrc-tax-refund","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/hmrc-tax-refund\/","title":{"rendered":"HMRC tax refund: what to do if you\u2019ve paid too much tax"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re self-employed or own a business and believe you\u2019ve paid too much tax, you might be entitled to an HMRC tax refund.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve made a mistake on your tax return, or if you think you\u2019ve overpaid, read our guide on how to claim a tax refund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#is-there-an-hmrc-tax-refund\">Is there an HMRC tax refund?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#tax-refunds-slow\">Are HMRC tax refunds slower than usual?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#why-you-might-need-an-hmrc-tax-refund\">Why you might need an HMRC tax refund<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#how-to-do-an-hmrc-tax-refund\">How to do an HMRC tax refund<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#how-to-correct-a-tax-return\">How to correct a tax return<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#is-there-a-time-limit\">Is there a time limit for correcting an HMRC tax return?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#how-long-does-hmrc-take\">How long does HMRC take to refund Self Assessment tax?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-there-an-hmrc-tax-refund\">Is there an HMRC tax refund?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HMRC is required to refund you if you\u2019ve paid too much tax. If you\u2019re employed and paid through PAYE, this is often calculated automatically \u2013 though sometimes you\u2019ll have to double check your records and contact HMRC.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But getting a Self Assessment refund can be trickier. &nbsp;In some cases, HMRC will work out that you\u2019re owed a tax refund and send you a P800 tax form to let you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it can be difficult for HMRC to know you\u2019ve overpaid, particularly if your claim is due to expenses. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to keep good records and contact HMRC immediately if you think you\u2019ve paid too much tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tax-refunds-slow\">Are HMRC tax refunds slower than usual?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HMRC is taking longer than usual to process refunds, according to a report in the <a href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/inews-lifestyle\/money\/hmrc-tax-refund-issues-weeks-waiting-3722989\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">i newspaper<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tax body is regularly criticised for poor communication and long phone waiting times, and the latest reports suggest some taxpayers are waiting more than four months for refunds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The worst delays seem to affect employers\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ww\/knowledge\/staff\/paying-paye-tax-guide-for-employers\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">PAYE bills<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www\/knowledge\/trades\/construction-industry-scheme-guide\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Construction Industry Scheme<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But more Self Assessment taxpayers have experienced delays since the <a href=\"https:\/\/www\/knowledge\/business-tax\/hmrc-companies-house-close-tax-return-service\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">suspension of HMRC\u2019s tax refund phone service<\/a>. This means small business owners have been left with no option but to request refunds by post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-you-might-need-an-hmrc-tax-refund\">Why you might need an HMRC tax refund<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You might require a Self Assessment tax refund because you think you\u2019ve overpaid when making your payments on account.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s also quite common for self-employed people to make mistakes on their Self Assessment tax return, which results in them paying too much tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a number of reasons why this happens. You might have simply miscalculated how much you\u2019ve been paid over the year, and paid tax on money you haven\u2019t actually received.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also easily make mistakes when it comes to your expenses. For example, if you accidentally input an expense as \u00a3100 instead of \u00a31,000, your overall <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/self-assessment\/self-employed-expenses\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1511\">allowable expenses<\/a> will be lower. As a result you\u2019ll pay tax on more of your taxable profit, which means you\u2019ll have paid more than you owe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tax rebate calculator<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you think you\u2019ve overpaid your tax bill, you can use RIFT\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.riftrefunds.co.uk\/tax-rebates\/tax-rebates-calculator\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">tax rebate calculator<\/a> to work out how much you could be owed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have an estimate, you can follow the steps below to amend your tax return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-do-an-hmrc-tax-refund\">How to do an HMRC tax refund<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we\u2019ve mentioned, you\u2019re likely to need an HMRC tax refund for two main reasons \u2013 because you\u2019ve overpaid when making your payments on account or because you\u2019ve made a mistake on a return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you overpay your payments on account, HMRC will usually refund the excess amount to you. The refund will be made after HMRC has processed your tax return for the relevant tax year. Alternatively, you can put it towards your next tax bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also request a refund of any overpayment by contacting HMRC directly. You\u2019ll need to provide evidence of the overpayment, such as a copy of a bank statement showing any relevant payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you overpay your payment on account but still have outstanding tax liabilities, HMRC will use the excess payment to offset the outstanding liabilities. Any remaining balance will then be refunded to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes, however, the opposite may be the case \u2013 you may have been paid too much, for example in tax credits, and will be required to make a repayment to HMRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve received a tax credit overpayment but are also entitled to a separate refund, HMRC will deduct the amount you owe from the amount to be repaid to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-correct-a-tax-return\">How to correct a tax return<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can correct a tax return through the government\u2019s Self Assessment portal \u2013 the same place that you completed your return in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To make a correction to your tax return:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Log into your HMRC account<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Navigate to your Self Assessment account<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Click on \u2018More Self Assessment details\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Click \u2018At a glance\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Select \u2018Tax return options\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Choose the tax year you want to amend<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">Make the amendment directly in the tax return form<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember \u2013 you may have to provide supporting evidence if you want to correct a tax return. As always, it\u2019s important that you keep full and accurate records of your business finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-there-a-time-limit\">Is there a time limit for correcting an HMRC tax return?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Normally, tax returns can only be corrected up to 12 months after the Self Assessment deadline for the relevant tax year. So, if you made a mistake on your 2024-25 tax return, you would normally only be able to amend it up to 31 January 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, there are some circumstances when you may still be able to claim your tax refund even after this deadline has passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HMRC has a scheme called \u2018overpayment relief\u2019 for these situations. However, the process for claiming a refund through overpayment relief is different \u2013 you\u2019ll need to contact HMRC directly and explain the mistake and how it was made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To do this, you\u2019ll need to write to HMRC using the contact details on your most recent letter from them. You should explain the mistake, and make sure you provide supporting evidence to back up your claim (for example P45s if you moved from employment to self-employment).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, make sure you get proof of postage from the Post Office when you send your letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-long-does-hmrc-take\">How long does HMRC take to refund Self Assessment tax?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re owed a tax rebate you\u2019ll normally get paid within two weeks, according to HMRC. However, some tax specialists suggest it can take up to 12 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve made an online claim for a tax rebate, HMRC says you should wait four weeks before contacting them about your payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Useful guides for the self-employed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/business-tax-guide\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"25366\">Business tax \u2013 a guide for small businesses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-tax\/small-business-tax-relief\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1527\">What is tax relief? A guide to small business tax relief<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/knowledge\/business-tax\/hmrc-scam-email\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1400\">Dodgy email from HMRC? Here&#8217;s how to avoid falling for a scam<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"\/business-insurance\/faq\/do-i-need-business-insurance\/\">Why do I need business insurance?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-upsell-001\" class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"lookingforselfemployedinsurance\">Looking for self-employed insurance?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">With Simply Business you can build a single <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/self-employed-insurance\/\">self employed insurance<\/a> policy combining the covers that are relevant to you. Whether it&#8217;s <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/public-liability-insurance\/\">public liability insurance<\/a>, <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/professional-indemnity-insurance\/\">professional indemnity<\/a> or whatever else you need, we&#8217;ll run you a quick quote online, and let you decide if we&#8217;re a good fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/quote.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business\">Start your quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>NDABCREATIVITY\/stock.adobe.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The self-employed can apply for a tax refund from HMRC if they\u2019ve overpaid tax.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"","sb_review_date":"","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[336,344,110],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[20],"class_list":["post-1423","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-structure","category-business-tax","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>HMRC tax refund: what to do if you\u2019ve paid too much tax<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re self-employed and have paid too much tax, here\u2019s everything you need to know about getting an HMRC tax refund.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/hmrc-tax-refund\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to get a tax refund if you&#039;re self-employed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you&#039;ve overpaid tax as a self-employed person, you can apply to HMRC for a refund.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/hmrc-tax-refund\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Simply Business UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-11-13T14:15:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/how-to-claim-a-self-employed-tax-rebate.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"HMRC tax refund: what to do if you\u2019ve paid too much tax\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Conor Shilling\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/hmrc-tax-refund\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/hmrc-tax-refund\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Conor Shilling\",\"description\":\"Conor Shilling is a professional writer with over 10 years\u2019 experience across the property, small business, and insurance sectors. 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