
Although the United Kingdom remains one of the most popular work destinations, many people still do not know that they can claim back overpaid income tax. Below you will find the key information that will help you prepare for the UK tax refund process.
You can usually claim a refund of overpaid income tax from the UK for the last 5 tax years. This means you can still submit a claim for previous periods, as long as the limitation period has not expired.
In the United Kingdom, the tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April of the following year. You can start the refund process even before the tax year ends — especially if you have already left the UK. If you plan to return to the UK in the same tax year, it is usually better to wait until the end of the tax year.
To start the tax refund process, you should have at least one of the following documents:
If some documents are missing, RTTAX specialists can help obtain them directly from your employer or the UK tax authorities.
If you worked as self-employed in the UK, you are required to submit a tax return every year. The deadline depends on how you file:
Late submissions may result in penalties starting from £100 and increasing monthly. If the return is not submitted for a full year, the fine can exceed £1,000. In such cases, it is worth contacting specialists, as some penalties may be reduced or cancelled.
If you worked in the United Kingdom and believe that you overpaid income tax, you can start the process online. Complete the registration form , upload the documents you have, and RTTAX specialists will assess your situation and help you submit your claim.
You can also use our free tax refund calculator to find out whether you may be entitled to a refund and how much you could receive.