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Scottish Sun
25-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Are YOU owed money? 1million UK workers can still claim refunds worth £1,000s
Plus, we share how you can check to see if you are owed money back TAXING TIMES Are YOU owed money? 1million UK workers can still claim refunds worth £1,000s Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEARLY one million UK workers are missing out on refunds worth £1,000's. You could be owed money from the taxman if you overpaid on income tax or other forms of taxes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 You can claim money you are owed if you over paid on income tax Credit: Getty - Contributor There are many reasons why you may have overpaid on your tax, such as being put on the wrong tax code when you started a new job or starting to receive a pension at work. Under current time limits, you can reclaim money back for any tax you over paid going back four years. HMRC has issued a call out on social media encouraging working Brits to check if they are missing out on a backdated payment. A statement on X read: "Don't miss out on your tax refund! Almost 1 million people haven't claimed the money they're owed." Typically at the end of each tax year, which runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year, HMRC works out whether you paid the right amount of tax. The taxman usually issues rebates automatically, but if you think you have been overcharged you can put in a claim yourself. There are steps you can take if you think you have overpaid. You can check what income tax you paid for the last year by visiting the website and logging in with your Government Gateway ID. You can then use the government's income tax estimation tool to see how much income tax you should have paid for a previous tax year. This tool can be found here, How to Qualify for Free or Discounted Council Tax! When you know how much tax you paid you can then work out if you are owed a refund. You can also check and claim a refund via the HMRC app, which is free to download. The tool also lets you file a Self Assessment tax return if you are self employed. HMRC issues letters to four million It comes as HMRC said that it is sending out around four million P800 letters to inform people that they are owed an income tax refund. Workers who pay PAYE tax and pensioners who may have overpaid their tax on pension income are among those who could receive the letters. If you receive a letter it will include a link to the Government's website where you can complete an online form to nominate the bank account you want your rebate paid into. It should then be around five working days until you receive your payment. In some cases if you don't complete the form HMRC will send a cheque, your letter will state if this is the case. If you've received a letter but don't have access to a computer or phone with internet, you can contact HMRC via phone or post. USING HMRC APP The HMRC allows users to get information about tax, National Insurance and benefits. You can use it to check your: tax code National Insurance number income and benefits employment and income history from the previous 5 years Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for Self Assessment Self Assessment tax and how much you owe Child Benefit State Pension forecast gaps in National Insurance contributions You can also use it to: get an estimate of the tax you need to pay make a Self Assessment payment make a Simple Assessment payment set a reminder to make a Self Assessment payment access your Help to Save account use our tax calculator to work out your take home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance deductions track forms and letters you have sent to us claim a refund if you have paid too much tax ask HMRC's digital assistant for help and information update your name update your address save your National Insurance number to your digital wallet check for gaps in your National Insurance contributions and the benefits of paying them check if you can make a payment for gaps in your National Insurance contributions choose to be contacted by HMRC electronically, instead of by letter How to access the app Open the app and enter your Government Gateway user ID and password to sign in for the first time. If you do not have a user ID, you can create one via the app.
The Sun
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Are YOU owed money? 1million UK workers can still claim refunds worth £1,000s
NEARLY one million UK workers are missing out on refunds worth £1,000's. You could be owed money from the taxman if you overpaid on income tax or other forms of taxes. 1 There are many reasons why you may have overpaid on your tax, such as being put on the wrong tax code when you started a new job or starting to receive a pension at work. Under current time limits, you can reclaim money back for any tax you over paid going back four years. HMRC has issued a call out on social media encouraging working Brits to check if they are missing out on a backdated payment. A statement on X read: "Don't miss out on your tax refund! Almost 1 million people haven't claimed the money they're owed." Typically at the end of each tax year, which runs from 6 April to 5 April the following year, HMRC works out whether you paid the right amount of tax. The taxman usually issues rebates automatically, but if you think you have been overcharged you can put in a claim yourself. There are steps you can take if you think you have overpaid. You can check what income tax you paid for the last year by visiting the website and logging in with your Government Gateway ID. You can then use the government's income tax estimation tool to see how much income tax you should have paid for a previous tax year. This tool can be found here, When you know how much tax you paid you can then work out if you are owed a refund. You can also check and claim a refund via the HMRC app, which is free to download. The tool also lets you file a Self Assessment tax return if you are self employed. HMRC issues letters to four million It comes as HMRC said that it is sending out around four million P800 letters to inform people that they are owed an income tax refund. Workers who pay PAYE tax and pensioners who may have overpaid their tax on pension income are among those who could receive the letters. If you receive a letter it will include a link to the Government's website where you can complete an online form to nominate the bank account you want your rebate paid into. It should then be around five working days until you receive your payment. In some cases if you don't complete the form HMRC will send a cheque, your letter will state if this is the case. If you've received a letter but don't have access to a computer or phone with internet, you can contact HMRC via phone or post. USING HMRC APP The HMRC allows users to get information about tax, National Insurance and benefits. You can use it to check your: tax code National Insurance number income and benefits employment and income history from the previous 5 years Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) for Self Assessment Self Assessment tax and how much you owe Child Benefit State Pension forecast gaps in National Insurance contributions You can also use it to: get an estimate of the tax you need to pay make a Self Assessment payment make a Simple Assessment payment set a reminder to make a Self Assessment payment access your Help to Save account use our tax calculator to work out your take home pay after Income Tax and National Insurance deductions track forms and letters you have sent to us claim a refund if you have paid too much tax ask HMRC's digital assistant for help and information update your name update your address save your National Insurance number to your digital wallet check for gaps in your National Insurance contributions and the benefits of paying them check if you can make a payment for gaps in your National Insurance contributions choose to be contacted by HMRC electronically, instead of by letter How to access the app Open the app and enter your Government Gateway user ID and password to sign in for the first time. If you do not have a user ID, you can create one via the app.
Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
HMRC begins sending tax letters to four million UK households
As well as employees who are paid by PAYE, this could also impact pensioners who have paid too much tax HMRC is sending around four million tax refund letters between June and August. You might be due a P800 letter in the post if you've overpaid Income Tax. As well as employees who are paid by PAYE, this could also impact pensioners who have paid too much tax. There are lots of reasons why people end up paying too much tax - the biggest reason is that you could be on the wrong tax code. The most common code for the current tax year is 1257L for people who have one job or pension. This means you can earn £12,570 in one tax year before being taxed, as this is the current personal allowance. Have you managed to claim money back from overpaid tax? Let us know: But this tax code doesn't apply to everyone. For example, if you have a second job, this will likely have a BR, D0 or D1 tax code, or if you have no personal allowance, you may have an 0T tax code. You can find your tax code on your latest payslip, on your P45 if you have recently quit your job, or on if you have a Government Gateway ID. This is a 12-digit number that is free to sign up for, and it allows you to access UK government services online. has warned people to be aware of scammers trying to impersonate HMRC. They advised that HMRC will always send a letter about any tax you're owed – it won't text, email or call you. If you're due a refund, HMRC will either send you a text, or you'll be asked to claim it online. has said the correct link is always an official page. You'll need the reference number on your P800 letter and your National Insurance number. If your tax code has been wrong for a while, you can claim back up to four additional years. HMRC may pay back further than four tax years under certain circumstances - for example, if it was their fault that you overpaid tax. If it turns out you've not paid enough tax due to an incorrect tax code, then you will have to pay this back. Don't let this put you off - it is better to sort this out sooner rather than later to avoid being hit with a bigger bill. You can try and get the tax written off if it was not your fault that you underpaid - but this is not a guarantee.
Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Easy loophole to increase your tax-free income to £18,570 – are you eligible?
HOUSEHOLDS are being urged to check if they could earn up to £18,570 without paying tax due to a little-known loophole. Most workers can earn up to £12,570 without paying any tax through the personal allowance. 1 Thousands of people could pay less tax through a little-known loophole Credit: Getty This rate is set by the government and decides how much you can earn before you need to pay income tax. But you may also be able to get up to £5,000 of interest on your savings and not pay tax on it through a scheme called the starting rate for savings. To be eligible for the full amount you need to earn less than £12,570 from work or your pension. On top of this, you may also be able to get another £1,000 of tax-free interest through the personal savings allowance. This would push your total tax-free income to £18,570 a year. The personal savings allowance and starting rate for savings covers interest from: Bank and building society accounts Savings and credit union accounts Unit trusts, investment trusts and open-ended investment companies Peer-to-peer lending Trust funds Payment protection insurance (PPI) Government or company bonds life annuity payments Some life insurance contracts But don't worry if you earn more than £12,570 from your job or the state pension as you may still be able to benefit from the scheme. You can still make use of the allowance if your income is less than £17,570. This is because every £1 of other income above your personal allowance reduces your starting rate for savings by £1. For example, you could earn £16,000 of wages and get £200 interest on your savings. Your personal allowance would be used up by the first £12,570 of your wages. The remaining £3,430 of your wages would reduce your starting rate for savings by £3,430. As a result, your remaining starting rate for savings is £1,570. How do I check my tax code? YOU can check your tax code on your personal tax account online, on any payslips or on the HMRC app. To log in, visit If you have one, you can also check it on a "Tax Code Notice" letter from HMRC. Bear in mind that you might need your Government Gateway ID and password to hand to log in. But if you don't have this you can use your National Insurance number or postcode and two of the following: A valid UK passport A UK photocard driving licence issued by the DVLA (or DVA in Northern Ireland) A payslip from the last three months or a P60 from your employer for the last tax year Details of a tax credit claim if you have made one Details from a self assessment tax return (in the last two years) if you made one Information held on your credit record if you have one (such as loans, credit cards or mortgages) This means you do not have to pay tax on your £200 savings interest. How to claim tax back If you already pay tax on your savings income then you can reclaim it using a self assessment tax return. Plus, you can backdate your claim for any of the past four years, saving you even more money. If you have already submitted your tax return then you can correct it within 12 months of the self-assessment deadline, online or by sending another paper return. If you miss the deadline or need to make a change to a return from an earlier tax year then you will need to write to HM Revenue and Customs. It normally takes around six weeks to get your money back. If you do not complete a self-assessment tax return then you may be able to fill in a R40 form to claim back the tax you were wrongly charged. You can claim if you are not registered for a tax return and your savings and investment income is £10,000 or less. You can make a claim for the current tax year and the previous four ones but you need to submit a separate application for each one. For more information visit Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
How to legally pay less tax on your income as millions hit with stealth taxes
MILLIONS of workers will be hit with higher tax bills in the coming years as frozen thresholds will force them to hand over more of their earnings to the taxman. Around 4.1million extra workers will be dragged into higher tax bands by 2027-28, according to the most recent figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility. 1 Millions of people will be dragged into paying more tax in the coming years Credit: Getty Income tax thresholds are frozen until April 2028, which means that more people could find themselves pushed into higher tax bands through a concept called fiscal drag. The higher rate tax band is frozen at £50,270, which means any earnings over this amount are taxed at 40%. Meanwhile, the additional tax band is currently fixed at £125,140, beyond which any earnings are taxed at 45%. But there are things you can do to prevent a surprise tax bill from landing on your doorstep. Here we explain how you can reduce your tax bill and avoid the tax trap. Apply for tax relief One way to reduce your tax bill is to claim tax relief. You can claim the relief on your job expenses, which means you will take home more of your income and pay less tax. To be eligible you must use your own money for things that you need to buy for your job and you only use for work. You can claim for items including working from home, uniforms, work clothes, tools, vehicles you use for work, travel and overnight costs. You cannot claim tax relief if your employer gives you all the money back or alternative equipment. You will get the relief based on what you have spent and the rate at which you pay tax. For example, if you claim £60 of tax relief and usually pay tax at 20% then you will get £12 back. The exact amount you could get depends on what you are claiming for. For more information and to make a claim visit How do I check my tax code? YOU can check your tax code on your personal tax account online, on any payslips or on the HMRC app. To log in, visit If you have one, you can also check it on a "Tax Code Notice" letter from HMRC. Bear in mind that you might need your Government Gateway ID and password to hand to log in. But if you don't have this you can use your National Insurance number or postcode and two of the following: A valid UK passport A UK photocard driving licence issued by the DVLA (or DVA in Northern Ireland) A payslip from the last three months or a P60 from your employer for the last tax year Details of a tax credit claim if you have made one Details from a self assessment tax return (in the last two years) if you made one Information held on your credit record if you have one (such as loans, credit cards or mortgages) Claim marriage allowance If you are married or in a civil partnership then you may also be able to reduce your tax bill by claiming Marriage Allowance. Every worker has something called a Personal Allowance. This is the amount of money you can earn every financial year before you start to pay Income Tax. For the current tax year the Personal Allowance is £12,570. If you earn less than this then you usually do not have to pay Income Tax. Marriage Allowance is a special tax rule that lets you transfer £1,260 of your Personal Allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner. It is free to apply for and can reduce your tax bill by up to £252 every tax year. To be eligible you need to be married or in a civil partnership. Your income must be below £12,570 and your partner must pay Income Tax at the basic rate, which usually means their income must be between £12,571 and £50,270. Ian Futcher, financial planner at Quilter, said: 'Many eligible couples haven't claimed this, often because they simply don't realise it exists. 'It can be backdated for up to four years if you're eligible.' The fastest way to apply for the allowance is online and you should get an email confirming your application within 24 hours. You can also claim Marriage Allowance by post using the MATCF form. For more information visit Make use of salary sacrifice Salary sacrifice is a great way to top up your income without paying any tax. It lets you exchange some of your wages for a different benefit from your employer, such as a company car, childcare vouchers or pension contributions. Your salary is then reduced by the cost of any benefits you choose. As your salary is lower, you will pay less tax and National Insurance. For example, someone who earns the UK average salary of £37,430 could decide to sacrifice £200 a month into their pension. Over the course of a year they would pay £2,400 into their pension. By using salary sacrifice their wage would fall to £35,030 a year, which would save them around £480 a year in Income Tax. They would also save nearly £200 in National Insurance, which means their total saving would be £672. Salary sacrifice also saves your employer money on National Insurance. Many employers will pass this saving on to you by paying more money into your pension. As a result, your total pension contribution could be more than £2,700. Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said it is worth checking if your employer offers salary sacrifice. She said: 'It will not boost your take-home pay, but it will cut your tax bill and make your money go further.' Pay into pension If you are lucky enough to earn more than £60,000 a year then you may be able to get more Child Benefit with an under-used trick. Child Benefit is paid by the government to parents or other people who are responsible for bringing up a child. It is currently worth £26.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.25 for every additional child you have. You get this full payment if you earn less than £60,000 a year. But beyond this point you need to start paying the benefit back at a rate of 1% for every extra £200 you earn. The payment disappears entirely once you earn more than £80,000 a year. But you may be able to hang on to more of your Child Benefit with a simple trick, Ian Futcher explains. He said: 'If your earnings are close to the threshold, using pension contributions or salary sacrifice to reduce your taxable income could allow you to keep more of your Child Benefit.' For example, if you earned £61,000 a year then paying £1,000 into your pension would allow you to keep all of your Child Benefit. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
