Getting a tax rebate is not always simple even when you use a specialist service like Tax Rebate Services. In over twelve years of trading we’ve seen and dealt with most of the reasons why a refund claim can be delayed.
The average time it takes a tax rebate claim to complete is around four to twelve weeks. It can sometimes be quicker and sometimes longer.
What you have to remember is that HMRC is a huge organisation and like many working people the staff at HMRC are often under pressure and trying to do their best to work with a system that is not perfect.
The timescale can vary depending on a number of factors like:
- Busy times of year – like the end of a tax year in April or the Self Assessment deadline in January. HMRC needs to give priority to certain types of work when necessary.
- Missing pay and tax details – this can happen for various reasons meaning you or your employer will have to provide the missing information in the form of a P45, P60, or statement of earnings.
- Lost papers – HMRC deals with huge volumes of post and it is always possible some information is going to be misplaced.
- Questions – Further information is needed in relation to a refund claim. For example clarification on your job title or duties. Some claims are more complex than others. HMRC have to work within set legislation and are perfectly within their rights to ask questions when they see fit.
Nothing is perfect and the tax system in the UK is no different…
Tony Shanks