Am I due a Tax Rebate?

A tax rebate is a refund of overpaid income tax which is paid to you by the government’s tax department called HMRC.

The tax system is set up in a way that relies on each individual to check and manage their own tax affairs to make sure tax rebates are repaid.

HMRC allows for various tax reliefs and allowances to be reclaimed which reduce your taxable income. They aren’t given automatically and need to be claimed through an online or postal submission process.

Many taxpayers miss out because they don’t realise what they can claim for and the timescales involved.

What can I be owed a Tax Refund for?

Your eligibility for a tax rebate and its impact on your tax position depends on your individual circumstances.

Many overpayments happen under the Pay As You Earn system, often for surprisingly simple reasons. If you switched jobs, were given an incorrect tax code, or you haven’t claimed back work expenses.

It’s key to regularily check your tax status especially when life changes happen like moving jobs or becoming self employed.

Tax Tip

You can backdate a claim for the last four tax years. This means you could be sitting on a substantial lump sum. Don’t delay checking, as the oldest tax year becomes invalid every 6th of April.

What type of Tax Rebates can I claim?

If you are an employee under PAYE you need to find out about employment expenses and other tax allowances. They exist to give you something back by reducing your tax bill.

HMRC needs you to make a claim through the proper channels so they can refund the tax rebate you are eligible for.

Examples of the type of tax rebate you can claim are:

• Uniform tax refund – Learn how to claim for cleaning, repairing, or replacing work clothing.
• Mileage tax rebate – Navigate the rules for claiming business travel expenses.
• Union or professional fees tax relief – Discover which memberships qualify for tax relief.
• Marriage tax allowance – See if you are your partner qualify for a reduced tax bill.
• Tools and equipment tax refund – Find out the best way to claim tool tax relief.
• Work from home tax relief – Understand what you can claim when working remotely.

This list isn’t exhaustive and there are many other reasons why you could be entitled to a refund.

Our tax guides and FAQ’s cover lot’s of the most common scenarios including pension tax relief, leaving the UK tax back, and gift aid tax relief.

They can help you identify if you’ve overpaid and walk you through the steps to get your money back from HMRC.

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