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If you've overpaid tax or National Insurance through your job or pension or after completing a tax return you can claim it back. If you're on a low income and have savings you may be able to claim back tax deducted from the savings interest before you received it.
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If you pay tax on a workplace or personal pension (including a retirement annuity), or the State Pension through PAYE (Pay As You Earn), there are several reasons why you might end up accidentally paying too much. PAYE is the system used by employers and pension providers to deduct tax from your wages or pension.
Follow the link below to find out why you might have overpaid tax- and how to claim it back if you have.
Claim back tax if you've had too much deducted from your pension
If you change jobs often or have more than one job at the same time you may end up paying too much Income Tax. If you think you've paid too much tax you can apply for a refund. Read the guide below to find out more.
Reclaiming tax if you've overpaid through your job
If you've made an error, left something out on your Self Assessment tax return or think you've paid too much or too little tax it's easy to let HM Revenue & Customs know. If they agree with your new figures they'll make a repayment, or if as a result of the changes you owe additional tax, they will tell you how much is due. Find out how to report an error or apply for a refund by following the link below.
Correcting your tax return and claiming any refund
When you reach State Pension age you no longer need to pay National Insurance contributions if you carry on working as an employee. If you continue working on a self-employed basis you'll still have to pay contributions on any taxable profits for the rest of that tax year. Find out more - including how to claim the money back if you think you've overpaid - by reading the guide below.
Claiming back overpaid National Insurance contributions
If you're on a low income and have savings with a bank or building society you could be paying tax on your interest when you don't need to. If this is the case, you can register to have the interest paid tax-free. You can also claim a refund of any tax you've overpaid.
Getting tax-free interest on savings or claiming tax back
If you get income from UK company shares ('dividends') you can't reclaim the 10 per cent tax credit shown on the dividend, even if you don't pay any tax. This is because Income Tax hasn't been deducted from the dividend paid to you - you've simply been given a 10 per cent 'credit' to offset against any Income Tax due. Read the guide below to find out more about tax and UK dividends.
Claiming a repayment from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (opens new window)
Claiming a tax refund when you stop work
