Overview

• The tax office reiterated on social media that many who received a P800 tax calculation letter could be due a refund averaging £473 and encouraged using its official app.
• Around four million P800 letters were sent between June and August to notify people of possible overpayments.
• Refunds can be claimed via the HMRC app, a personal tax account or the online bank transfer service, or by requesting a cheque using details from the P800 alongside a National Insurance number.
• Online claims are typically paid within five working days, whereas cheques can take up to six weeks, or 14 days if the letter specifies a cheque will be issued automatically.
• Common overpayments stem from incorrect tax codes or multiple income sources, so taxpayers are advised to check codes such as 1257L on payslips or in their personal tax account and to avoid scams by using GOV.UK and not sharing banking details in unsolicited contacts.